Received recall warning
2013 Honda Fit powertrain problems
severe Owners of the 2013 Honda Fit have filed 11 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain, typically surfacing around 75,000 miles at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Fit | 33 |
| 2010 Fit | 13 |
| 2011 Fit | 12 |
| 2012 Fit | 14 |
| 2013 Fit (this page) | 11 |
| 2015 Fit | 36 |
| 2016 Fit | 7 |
| 2017 Fit | 3 |
1crash
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 11 powertrain complaints filed for the 2013 Honda Fit, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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 powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 5 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
The dominant failure is CV axle or drive shaft fracture, hitting owners from 7,000 to 120,000 miles. Breaks happen during acceleration from stops, turns, and gear changes—times when the axle bears load. Owners hear a loud grinding noise before loss of power; the vehicle stalls and may refuse to restart. In several cases, the fracture hides inside the vibration dampener or boot, making it impossible to spot before it fails.
A related NHTSA recall (20V770000) targets improperly heat-treated drive shafts on 2013 Fits made May 24–July 5, 2013. One owner has the broken axle and suggests metallurgist examination. However, Honda has rejected inclusion of some vehicles in the recall, claiming manufacturing dates do not match, leaving owners stranded on warranty coverage.
One owner reports a transmission failure at 7,000 miles—loud noise, warning light, shaking, then complete stalling and no restart.
A separate complaint involves jerking and power loss after a rear-end collision; the dealer refused to diagnose the issue, and it recurred on numerous occasions.
The root cause of non-recall cases remains unconfirmed by the narratives.
Same Honda Fit powertrain reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
CV Axle/Drive Shaft Fracture or Shearing
Front or passenger-side CV axles or drive shafts fracture or shear, often during acceleration from a stop or low-speed maneuvers. Fractures can occur inside the vibration dampener or boot, making pre-failure detection difficult. Some owners reference recall 20V770000 for improperly heat-treated axles manufactured between 5/24–7/5/13, though Honda disputed inclusion of some vehicles in that recall.
When: 7,000 to 120,000 miles; at 18,000 miles in one case; failures occur during acceleration from stops, turns, and gear changes
Symptoms owners cite: Loud grinding or noise from the powertrain; Loss of power or jerking sensation after impact; Vehicle stalling; ABS warning light illuminated; Vehicle rolling forward in Park despite parking brake engaged; No power delivery to wheels when placed in gear
Codes mentioned: ABS warning light activation
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report independent mechanics replacing CV axles; dealership repairs mentioned; one owner holds the broken axle and references potential metallurgist examination
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall 20V770000 issued for improperly heat-treated drive shaft assemblies on 2013 Fits manufactured 5/24–7/5/13. Honda disputed some owners' inclusion in recall; one owner reports recall was 'closed three years prior' when complaint filed at 120,000 miles. One owner filed complaint seeking reimbursement for recall repair costs, citing unreasonable delay.
Transmission Failure and Stalling
Transmission fails at low speed, accompanied by loud noise, shaking, and transmission warning indicator. Vehicle becomes immobile and will not restart. Condition occurs without prior warning or detectible symptoms.
When: 7,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loud noise from transmission; Transmission warning indicator illuminated; Vehicle shaking; Vehicle stalling and refusing to restart
Codes mentioned: Transmission warning indicator
Loss of Power and Jerking (Post-Collision)
Following rear-end collision with airbag non-deployment, vehicle jerks and loses power during subsequent driving. Dealer technician refused to diagnose or duplicate the failure. Failure recurred on numerous occasions after the first collision.
When: 18,000 miles; occurred after first of two rear-end collisions
Symptoms owners cite: Jerking sensation; Loss of power; Failure recurs on numerous occasions
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was made aware; dealer refused diagnosis
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Drivers side cv shaft sheared underneath vibration dampener. I was trying to take off from a stop at an intersection and the shaft broke. I was attempting to make a right hand turn onto a rural state route. This could have been quite bad if anyone was coming. After pushing the car to the side of the road it wouldn't stay put in park almost leading to it rolling into another vehicle while I was…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2013 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 powertrain problem on the 2013 Honda Fit?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 36,000 and 94,000 miles, with the median around 75,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 36,000; a quarter make it past 94,000. 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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/2013/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.