2016 Honda Fit Safety Report
2016 Honda Fit Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2016 Honda Fit
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2016 Honda Fit. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | Moderate (1) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | High (116) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 5 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Electrical System | Compare electrical system issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2020 | Compare against the 2020 Honda Fit with 31 complaints and 3 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2015 | Check the 2015 Honda Fit before buying across this generation. |
Honda Fit Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Honda Fit years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Honda Fit | 42 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2015 Honda Fit | 275 | 4 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2018 Honda Fit | 109 | 3 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2019 Honda Fit | 130 | 5 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2020 Honda Fit | 31 | 3 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2016 Honda Fit Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2016 Honda Fit, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Electrical System
44 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Honda onlyUnknown Or Other
11 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Honda onlyFuel/Propulsion System
8 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Fuel/Propulsion System issues Honda onlyAir Bags
4 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Air Bags issues Honda onlyTires
4 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Tires issues Honda onlyEngine
4 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Honda onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2016 Honda Fit
Reliability Score
The 2016 Honda Fit receives a reliability score of 85 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates above-average reliability relative to comparable vehicles.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2016 Honda Fit
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2016 Honda Fit
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2016 Honda Fit:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Defective Cluster Panels Reported issues with the instrument cluster panel, causing the fuel gauge, odometer, and other critical information to be blank or scrambled. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Steering Wheel Airbag Cover Heat Steering wheel airbag cover can become extremely hot, potentially causing burns and safety concerns. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Nexen P185/55r16 Tire Issues Sidewall bubbles in Nexen P185/55R16 tires can lead to tire blowouts, posing a significant safety risk. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Fuel Gauge/Odometer Issues Fuel gauge and odometer can go blank or show gibberish, making it difficult to monitor fuel levels and vehicle mileage. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2016 Honda Fit:
Issues with the instrument cluster panel and electrical system are the most common problems.
Nexen P185/55R16 tires have been reported to have sidewall bubbles, leading to potential tire blowouts.
Fuel gauge and odometer issues have been reported, causing confusion about fuel levels and vehicle mileage.
Steering wheel airbag cover heat has been reported as a safety concern.
Recall Details for the 2016 Honda Fit
The following 1 recall has been issued for the 2016 Honda Fit by NHTSA:
Summary: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Fit LX-trim vehicles manufactured April 11, 2014, to July 02, 2015 and not equipped with a sunroof. In the affected vehicles, the rear grab handle brackets were not manufactured properly, and as a result, the brackets may puncture the side curtain air bags upon their deployment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 214, "Side Impact Protection" and number 226, ...
Consequence: If the side curtain air bags are punctured upon deployment, the outboard seat occupants may be at a higher risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear grab handle bracket, free of charge. The recall began on December 18, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is JV8.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2016 Honda Fit
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2016 Honda Fit with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 1 complaint involved crashes.
I see reported everywhere that Honda Fit 2016, including my car, has issues with defective cluster panels. Honda has issued software recalls for instrument panel issues, primarily affecting 2018-2020 Odyssey, 2019-2020 Pilot/Passport, and 2018-2020 Accord/Hybrid models, where incorrect software can cause blank or failing displays for speed, oil pressure, gear, and camera, requiring a free software...
Steering wheel airbag cover gets extremely hot after driving, was told this is a serious safety concern.
1. Nexen-P185/55R16 83H 2. A bubble has formed in the sidewall. Can cause Tire blow out. 3. This is the third Nexen tire to form a bubble. I reported the last one a little over a month ago. Tire service provider to order a new tire and replace today. 4. It has not been inspected by law enforcement or investigators. 5. No, there were not.
Woke up [XXX] to a flat tire. Filled the tire and heard a hiss. We took the vehicle to NTB in Wellsburg, WV where we bought the tires. After inspection we were told two tires had "bubbles" and needed to be replaced (picture of front passenger side attached). We have ordered new Goodyears that will be here in 2 days. Side Note: we had to buy groceries, so we drove the car slowly yo Walmart in Steu...
P185/55R16 Tire wall coming off of the tire. Bubble created.
The fuel gauge-odometer indicator dash cluster goes blank and/or scrambles-then goes dark with no info.
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Fit. The contact stated that while accelerating from a complete stop, the vehicle hesitated to respond. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the spark plugs were replaced twice, and the catalytic converter was replaced at the contact's expense before the failure. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic, where it was di...
The digital gas gauge and odometer on the dashboard is a blank, blue screen or shows partial information but isn't legible. It will happen sporadically, seemingly from cold weather, and eventually the screen appears as normal. This started happening this winter around 82k miles. Not knowing the fuel level is a safety issue, especially with winter driving. There were no warning messages prior to th...
The gas gauge/odometer on the dashboard shows up blank or is total gibberish. Therefore, I have no idea how much gas is left or the current mileage for maintenance timing. It used to only happen in cold weather, but now it happens at any temperature. It usually does this when starting of the engine and it can eventually show up in a minute or 20 minutes into driving. I get this "error" almost dai...
Fuel Injector Failure
I put a deposit down at a dealership & they sold me a car with issues I have the proof I’m trying to file a complaint on the dealer
The cvt transmission is going out. The dealer has conformed this. This vehicle only has 120000 miles on it and has had every transmission service that was recommended. When this goes completely it could cause an accident at freeway speeds. I believe this model year needs to be added to the cvt recall list and should be covered by honda to 150000 since they clearly know they have an issue here.
Gas gauge/odometer goes blank and/or shows gibberish and is unreadable.
The big recall with Honda and Acura, it lists the 2018-2019 Honda fit as having issues with the fuel pump modular. I've had the same issues with my 2016 for a few years now. I've stalled while driving and the steering wheel locks up when that happens. When starting from a stop, it is worse. I once was taking a left turn and it happened. Luckily I wasn't going across during a busy time, I might hav...
The gauge cluster that shows your mileage and fuel levels and maintenance schedule goes out intermittently or altogether blank. It started a couple years ago and at this time I only have 45,000 miles on it. Couple years ago it probably had around 30,000 miles on it. It mainly does it when it’s cold, but it has done it in the summer lately. It gets all sketchy or completely blank. Drive severa...
There have been multiple airbag system warning lights on my Honda Fit over the past couple of months. Initially, the driver side airbag inflator warning illuminated and I was able to reset it. Now the passenger side inflator is setting off the warning and it won't reset.
Fuel Gauge display on Honda Fit 2016 not working properly. Outside temperature between 35 and 40 Fahrenheit. Internet search showed many other Honda Fit owners facing same issue
The odometer is digital only. It started to fail in the last couple months in that the digits would appear jumbled (unintelligible) or would be completely blank. Consequently, I am then unable to see my fuel gauge as well as mileage/oil life, which I believe poses a safety concern. If it fails completely then I am unable to tell when I need an oil change and, worse, when I am out of gas. Fortunate...
The gauge cluster started flickering in cold weather only. I asked Honda to review it and take a picture of the problem and explain. Every explanation online for this existing problems seems to be cracked solder joints. Yet HONDA wants to charge me 1.1K the replace the entire system for what they vaguely described as “internal error” if it was internal error, I’d see lot more of a problem with t...
We own a 2016 Honda Fit with 52,000 miles, and the fuel gauge/speed/odometer display does not work. It completely fails in the cold. This is major safety issue since we can't read the fuel level nor see how fast or slow I'm driving. Our car is currently at the Conicelli Honda dealership. After trying to get this fix or diagnosed for years, Conicelli thinks the problem is a loose or failing solde...
Showing 20 of 116 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
NHTSA Defect Investigations for the 2016 Honda Fit
NHTSA defect investigations are higher-signal than ordinary complaints because they indicate the agency opened a formal review of a potential safety defect. Some investigations later connect to recall campaigns; others close without a recall after review.
Component: Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module
Opened 2019-04-19 · Closed 2024-09-19
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Elec...
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2016 Honda Fit
Has the 2016 HONDA FIT been recalled?
Yes, the 2016 HONDA FIT has 1 recall on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2016 HONDA FIT have?
The 2016 HONDA FIT has 116 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 5 involved crashes. 3 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2016 HONDA FIT?
The 2016 HONDA FIT received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 5/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 HONDA FIT?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2016 HONDA FIT involve electrical system (44 complaints), unknown or other (11 complaints), fuel/propulsion system (8 complaints). Other affected components include air bags, tires, engine.
How many crash reports does the 2016 HONDA FIT have?
There are 5 crash reports associated with the 2016 HONDA FIT out of 116 total complaints (4.3% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2016 HONDA FIT have?
There are no fire reports for the 2016 HONDA FIT in the NHTSA database.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2016 HONDA FIT?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 HONDA FIT.
How many injuries are reported for the 2016 HONDA FIT?
3 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 HONDA FIT. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2016 HONDA FIT?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 HONDA FIT is acceptable with caveats. It has 116 complaints, 1 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2016 HONDA FIT?
The components with the most failures on the 2016 HONDA FIT are: 1. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (44 complaints), 2. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (11 complaints), 3. FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (8 complaints), 4. AIR BAGS (4 complaints), 5. TIRES (4 complaints). ELECTRICAL SYSTEM is the single most-reported problem area with 44 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2016 HONDA FIT?
Be cautious of electrical system issues, particularly with the instrument cluster panel, and check tires regularly for sidewall bubbles. The 2016 HONDA FIT has 116 NHTSA complaints and 1 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2016 HONDA FIT?
The 2016 HONDA FIT receives a reliability score of 85/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 116 owner complaints, 1 recalls, and 5 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Defective Cluster Panels and Steering Wheel Airbag Cover Heat.
What are the known issues with the 2016 HONDA FIT?
Known issues with the 2016 HONDA FIT include: Defective Cluster Panels, Steering Wheel Airbag Cover Heat, Nexen P185/55R16 Tire Issues, Fuel Gauge/ODOMETER Issues. These are based on patterns found across 116 NHTSA complaints. 1 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
What are the most common electrical system issues in the 2016 Honda Fit?
Defective cluster panels and blank/dysfunctional gauges are the most common issues.
Are there any tire issues I should be aware of?
Nexen P185/55R16 tires have been reported to have sidewall bubbles, which can lead to tire blowouts.
What should I do if I experience fuel gauge/odometer issues?
Have the vehicle inspected by a professional to ensure there are no underlying mechanical issues.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of electrical system issues, particularly with the instrument cluster panel, and check tires regularly for sidewall bubbles.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2016 Honda Fit
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2016 Honda Fit. The data includes 116 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 1 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 5 reported crashes, 3 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2016 Honda Fit an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 5 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16