Should I buy a 2015 Honda Fit with documented airbags problems?

Depends on the price and the specific vehicle. Documented airbags issues should be priced into the purchase — if the seller is asking full retail, negotiate down by the expected repair cost. A pre-purchase inspection from an independent shop tells you whether THIS specific vehicle has already shown the symptoms or not.

2015 Honda Fit airbags problems

severe 14 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →

Failure mileage

Complaints

Recalls

Avg fix

$1,100

9crashes

12injuries

When does it fail?

Of the 14 airbags complaints filed for the 2015 Honda Fit, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.

0-25k

1 (100%)

25-50k

0 (0%)

50-75k

0 (0%)

75-100k

0 (0%)

100-125k

0 (0%)

125-150k

0 (0%)

150k+

0 (0%)

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 airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 9 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.

Related recalls

severe NHTSA 14V563000 July 30, 2014

American Honda Motor Co

The affected vehicles are equipped with side curtain air bags and in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the side curtain air bags, the incorrect A-pillar interior cover may adversely affect the performance of the side curtain air bags increasing the risk of occupant injury.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the A-pillar interior cover and install the correct A-pillar cover, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on September 25, 2014. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009. Honda's number for this recall is JF9.

Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins

The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.

Service Bulletin DEN-K3Q5J-06 May 2016

THIS COMMUNICATION IS INFORMING HONDA OF A DELAMINATION ISSUES WITHIN AN I.C. PRODUCED BY NXP AND ASSEMBLED INTO AIRBAG SENSOR SUPPLIED BY DENSO INTERNATIONAL AMERICA, INC. THIS DELAMINATION ISSUE MANIFESTS ITSELF AS AN OPEN CIRCUIT WITHIN THE SENSOR, CAUSING A DTC TO BE SET ON THE VEHICLE ALONG WITH A DECLARING AIRBAG LIGHT.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Service Bulletin DLR MSG - HONDA Nov 2015

"DEALER MESSAGE - ON OCTOBER 22, 2015, AMERICAN HONDA NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A STOP SALE AND SAFETY RECALL FOR APPROXIMATELY 25,000 MODEL YEAR 2015 AND 2016 FIT LX VEHICLES DUE TO SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS THAT MAY NOT DEPLOY AS DESIGNED. ANY NEW OR USED UNITS IN DEALER STOCK MUST BE REPAIRED PER SERVICE BULLETIN, 15-079, SAFETY RECALL: REAR GRAB HANDLE BRACKETS, PRIOR TO SALE. REFER TO YOUR ERESPONSIBILITY REPORT OR VIN INQUIRY TO DETERMINE WHICH UNITS IN YOUR INVENTORY ARE AFFECTED. AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC. EXPECTS TO BEGIN INITIAL CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION IN DECEMBER 2015."

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Service Bulletin A15-079 Nov 2015

SERVICE BULLETIN - CERTAIN 20152016 MODEL YEAR HONDA FIT VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH A REAR GRAB RAIL BRACKET THAT WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS AND MAY INTERFERE WITH SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, IF THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG DOES NOT DEPLOY AS DESIGNED, THE VEHICLE MAY FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 214, FMVSS 226, AND THE RISK OF INJURY IS INCREASED.

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Service Bulletin A15-079 Oct 2015

"SERVICE BULLETIN - CERTAIN 20152016 MODEL YEAR HONDA FIT VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH A REAR GRAB RAIL BRACKET THAT WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS AND MAY INTERFERE WITH SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, IF THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG DOES NOT DEPLOY AS DESIGNED, THE VEHICLE MAY FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 214, FMVSS 226, AND THE RISK OF INJURY IS INCREASED."

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Service Bulletin DLR MSG - HONDA Oct 2015

"DEALER MESSAGE - YESTERDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2015, AMERICAN HONDA NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A STOP SALE AND SAFETY RECALL FOR APPROXIMATELY 25,000 MODEL YEAR 2015 AND 2016 FIT LX WITHOUT MOONROOF VEHICLES DUE TO SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS THAT MAY NOT DEPLOY AS DESIGNED. ANY NEW OR USED UNITS IN DEALER STOCK MUST BE REPAIRED PER SERVICE BULLETIN, 15-079, SAFETY RECALL: REAR GRAB HANDLE BRACKETS, PRIOR TO SALE. REFER TO YOUR ERESPONSIBILITY REPORT OR VIN INQUIRY TO DETERMINE WHICH UNITS IN YOUR INVENTORY ARE AFFECTED. AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO. EXPECTS TO BEGIN INITIAL CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION IN DECEMBER 2015."

full bulletin at NHTSA ↗

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.

The failure pattern owners describe

Owners describe airbag failures across two main failure modes: non-deployment during crashes and spontaneous deployment during normal driving. In the non-deployment cases, owners were hit hard enough to total their vehicles—at speeds ranging from 22 to 55 mph—yet front, side, or both airbag types remained inactive. One driver sustained a cracked sternum; another incurred burn injuries from the one airbag that did deploy. A third crash involved a double rear-end-then-front-end impact where airbags stayed silent despite severe damage.

On the flip side, one owner reported side curtain airbags deploying for no reason while driving straight on a public road, causing loss of control and a road departure.

One complaint involves a dealer disassembling the dashboard around the passenger airbag to find a rattle and then being unable to reassemble it to factory specs—a genuine safety hazard if the airbag must deploy.

A pending NHTSA recall (Campaign 15V697000, Air Bags, Structure) was noted by one owner, but replacement parts were unavailable and the repair languished beyond a reasonable timeframe. Takata inflators were suspected in one case but not confirmed.

Same Honda Fit airbags reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2013

Failure modes owners describe

Airbag non-deployment in crash events

Front, side, or both airbags failed to deploy during collisions where impact severity would normally trigger deployment. Owners report being hit at 22 mph, 25 mph, 55 mph, and multiple-impact scenarios with significant vehicle damage but no airbag inflation.

When: During crashes ranging from low-speed (22–25 mph) to high-speed (55 mph) impacts. One case noted at 62,046 miles.

Symptoms owners cite: Driver's side airbag did not deploy in front/side-impact crash; Both front and side airbags failed to deploy in multi-impact collision; Front airbag did not deploy despite severe damage requiring sternum-cracking impact; Airbags remained inactive in rear-end collision with sufficient force to total vehicle; Side curtain airbags did not deploy in side-impact crash

Repairs/costs cited: No repairs cited by owners; vehicles were totaled. Owners did not report dealer diagnostics or repair attempts for non-deployment.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 15V697000 (Air Bags, Structure) was issued; one owner reported recall parts were unavailable and repair delayed beyond reasonable timeframe. Takata inflator involvement suspected in at least one narrative but not confirmed by owner.

Airbag deployment without impact (unintended deployment)

Side curtain airbags deployed spontaneously while vehicle was in motion or stationary with no collision or impact event occurring. This caused loss of vehicle control and road departure.

When: During normal driving on a public street; timing relative to mileage not stated.

Symptoms owners cite: Side curtain airbags deployed simultaneously with no impact; Vehicle veered off road due to unexpected airbag deployment; Resulted in bottom-side vehicle damage from road departure

Airbag burn injury from deployment

Driver sustained burn injuries from an airbag that did deploy properly during a frontal crash. The chemical reaction from the airbag inflator caused thermal burns requiring emergency room treatment.

When: During 22 mph frontal/side-impact crash at 62,046 miles.

Symptoms owners cite: Thermal burn injuries to driver from deployed airbag; Pain and redness consistent with chemical burn from inflator

Repairs/costs cited: Owner treated in emergency room for burn injuries. No repair attempts mentioned; vehicle was totaled.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No notification or follow-up recorded by owner.

Dashboard structural failure after dealer airbag access

Dealer dismantled dashboard to locate a rattling noise and subsequently could not reassemble it to factory specifications around the passenger airbag area. This creates a hazard should the passenger airbag deploy, as the broken dashboard may not provide proper structure or may cause additional projectile hazards.

When: Around 17,000 miles; problem discovered during dealer service.

Symptoms owners cite: Loud squeak from dashboard area; Dashboard detached and came apart around passenger airbag housing after dealer disassembly; Dashboard cannot be restored to factory condition

Repairs/costs cited: Cause identified as loose factory bolts on front bumper. Dealer dismantled dashboard to find squeak but failed to reassemble correctly.

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer performed initial investigation and disassembly but left vehicle in unsafe state.

Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.

What owners are reporting 1 most recent

airbags · 9,000 mi · filed 12/30/2016

While parking the car in the parking space, it suddenly self-accelerated, jumped the curb, and crashed into the wall in front of the car resulting in injuries to both the driver (2 fractured neck vertebrae, 3 fractured ribs on right side, and broken left foot) and passenger (laceration to right hand and bruised ribs on left side). The acceleration was too fast for either the driver or passenger…

Had airbags trouble with your 2015 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 airbags problem on the 2015 Honda Fit?

It's a meaningful issue. 14 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.

At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?

Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 17,500 and 87,149 miles, with the median around 62,046. A quarter of owners report trouble before 17,500; a quarter make it past 87,149. 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 $1,100 for airbags 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 airbags?

Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover airbags issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.

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/2015/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.