I having intermittent loss of power steering. So far it has happened mostly with low speed turns. I will have to use more effort to complete the turn when this happens. I had the power steering light come on while driving straight ahead once for a few seconds. 60,000 miles on car so far with no problems in the past and no accidents.
2012 Honda Fit steering problems
severe Owners of the 2012 Honda Fit have filed 16 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 46,000 miles at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
16
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2008 Fit | 12 |
| 2009 Fit | 46 |
| 2010 Fit | 17 |
| 2011 Fit | 10 |
| 2012 Fit (this page) | 16 |
| 2013 Fit | 8 |
| 2015 Fit | 5 |
3crashes
When does it fail?
Of the 16 steering complaints filed for the 2012 Honda Fit, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report two main steering failures in the 2012 Fit: intermittent electrical dropouts of the EPS system and sudden steering lock-up or heavy steering that renders the vehicle hard or impossible to control.
The electrical dropout pattern is most common. EPS assist cuts out for seconds, sometimes minutes, while the radio and cabin lights flicker or lose power—then everything comes back on. The EPS warning light flashes. One owner counted 12 occurrences in three-quarters of a mile. Another's problem started in cold weather and occurs whether the car is idle, moving slowly, or at highway speed. Dealers inspected alternators and fuses without finding the problem.
The steering lock-ups are more acute. Three owners describe the steering wheel seizing completely or becoming extremely hard to turn while driving or reversing, making the vehicle uncontrollable. Two of these incidents caused crashes into poles; another into a curb. These happened as early as 500 miles, and again at 10,000 and 37,000 miles. One dealer recommended replacing the EPS unit; only one owner had the rack and pinion replaced.
One complaint documents premature tire wear and alignment failure at 2,000 miles, which recurred after replacement. Another describes uncontrolled lateral drift at highway speeds.
Dealers have been unable to consistently diagnose or repair these failures. Owners note Honda extended the power steering warranty to 150,000 miles on 2007–2010 models but made no similar accommodation for the 2012.
Same Honda Fit steering reports on nearby years: 2009 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Electronic Power Steering (EPS) system electrical dropout
EPS assist cuts out intermittently, often accompanied by radio and cabin light flickering or power loss. The steering assist returns on its own after a few seconds to a few minutes. This suggests an electrical fault disrupting power to the EPS unit rather than a mechanical failure of the steering system itself.
When: 4,300–60,000 miles; can occur at idle, low speed, or highway speeds; often recurs within days or weeks of prior incidents; one report started in cold weather (30–45°F)
Symptoms owners cite: EPS warning light illuminates, often flashing; Power steering assist cuts out momentarily; Radio and interior lights flicker or shut off; Dashboard and seatbelt warning lights cut out; Steering becomes heavy or difficult to maneuver during dropout; Problem resolves itself temporarily; restarting vehicle may reset it
Codes mentioned: EPS warning light (specific diagnostic trouble codes not provided by owners)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers checked alternator and fuses without identifying root cause; one dealer simply reset radio. One owner reports EPS unit replacement recommended by dealer but not completed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda extended warranty on power steering to 150,000 miles for 2007–2010 models per owner research; no accommodation mentioned for 2012 model. Manufacturer was notified in several complaints but no recalls or TSBs cited by owners.
Steering mechanism seize or lock-up
Steering wheel becomes completely unresponsive or extremely difficult to turn, rendering the vehicle uncontrollable. This represents a sudden loss of steering function rather than gradual assist loss. Three complaints resulted in crashes into curbs or poles.
When: 500–37,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel seized or became completely unresponsive; Vehicle uncontrollable; unable to steer in any direction; Steering wheel hard to maneuver during attempted turn; Failure occurred while reversing, turning, or driving straight; Some failures recurring multiple times in same vehicle
Codes mentioned: Power steering warning indicator illuminated (in one case at 60 mph)
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle at 4,300 miles had rack and pinion replaced at dealership; tires replaced twice. Another complaint at 37,000 miles recommended EPS unit replacement but was not repaired. Two complaints at 10,000 and 20,000 miles were not inspected or repaired.
Premature tire wear and alignment failure
Vehicle exhibits abnormal tire wear at very low mileage, diagnosed as alignment failure at dealership. Tires were replaced and vehicle realigned, but the alignment issue recurred.
When: 2,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Tires appeared worn prematurely; Alignment failure diagnosed at dealer
Repairs/costs cited: Tires replaced and vehicle aligned at dealer; failure recurred after repair.
Unintended lane drift at highway speeds
Vehicle drifts laterally at highway speeds (58–70 mph), making it difficult to keep vehicle centered in lane. Owner notes this is not an isolated problem.
When: Mileage not stated
Symptoms owners cite: Unintended drifting at highway speeds 58–70 mph; Vehicle becomes nearly uncontrollable at 70 mph; Difficulty keeping vehicle center-laned
Synthesized from 16 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Http://forums.edmunds.com/discussion/comment/3559372 my car would not start today and eps light displays. Upon research, it appears that 2007-2010 models have no recall but link above deals with someone with a brand new 2012 fit that had a serious issue when their car was 2 months old. Mine is obviously older now, but note that it has less than 24k miles on the odometer. Please investigate if…
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Honda fit. While driving approximately 60 MPH, the steering seized and the power steering warning indicator illuminated. The failure recurred multiple times intermittently. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The mechanic stated that the electronic power steering unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was…
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Honda fit. The contact stated that while driving 20 MPH, the vehicle became uncontrollable. The contact was unable to maneuver the vehicle and crashed into a pole. The contact was not injured and a police report was not filed. The failure was recurring. The vehicle was neither inspected nor repaired to determine why the vehicle became uncontrollable. The approximate…
Had steering trouble with your 2012 Honda Fit?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2012 Honda Fit?
It's a meaningful issue. 16 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 19,000 and 77,037 miles, with the median around 46,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 19,000; a quarter make it past 77,037. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2012/Honda/Fit.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.