Small car · 2001–2021 cars
Honda Fit reliability
The Honda Fit fails 11.6% of first MOT tests, 59% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 13,796 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Honda Fit before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 11.6%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 59% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 13,796
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 6,000
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Honda Fit ages
Each point is the share of Honda Fits of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Honda Fit | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 12.4% | 19.1% |
| 7 | 12% | 22.1% |
| 8 | 8.1% | 25.5% |
| 9 | 7.2% | 28.8% |
| 10 | 6.5% | 31.8% |
| 11 | 9.3% | 34.6% |
| 12 | 14.9% | 37.3% |
| 13 | 17% | 39.5% |
| 14 | 28.7% | 41.1% |
By year
The best and worst Honda Fit years
2013 cars come out best and 2011 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 453 | 7.7% | 63% fewer fails | 52,924 |
| 2015 | 499 | 8.6% | 63% fewer fails | 50,700 |
| 2014 Fit | 1,434 | 7.8% | 70% fewer fails | 50,694 |
| 2013 Fit | 2,891 | 6.2% | 78% fewer fails | 52,025 |
| 2012 Fit | 3,591 | 10.6% | 63% fewer fails | 51,169 |
| 2011 Fit | 3,036 | 14.1% | 56% fewer fails | 58,004 |
| 2010 | 891 | 21.1% | 35% fewer fails | 56,649 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Honda Fit
Failures by area, against cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics7.1%34% below avg
- Suspension2.6%72% below avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors2.1%53% below avg
- Tyres1.7%69% below avg
- Brakes1%83% below avg
- Steering0.7%57% below avg
- Body, chassis and structure0.4%87% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags0.3%55% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks0.3%87% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Obligatory rear fog lamp missing 1.09% of tests
A rear fog lamp the car must have is missing, so it is illegal to drive until one is fitted.
- 2
Position lamp not working 1.03% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 3
Rear fog lamp not working 0.82% of tests
A failed rear fog lamp reduces visibility in fog and leaves you less visible to following traffic, so repair it.
- 4
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 0.79% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 5
Anti-roll bar linkage dust cover unsealed 0.72% of tests
A damaged dust cover lets dirt into the linkage joint, speeding wear and possibly needing a future repair.
- 6
Rear fog lamp not steady red 0.63% of tests
A rear fog lamp that is not steady red can confuse following drivers, so the bulb or wiring needs checking.
- 7
Rear fog lamp switch missing 0.62% of tests
Without a working fog lamp switch, the fog lamps cannot be used properly, so the switch needs fitting or repair.
- 8
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 0.49% of tests
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Honda Fit's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit2.95%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking2.58%
- Brake pads wearing thin1.31%
- Headlamp lens has a coating1.23%
- Shock absorber light oil misting0.58%
- Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear0.56%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Honda Fit
- 1
Obligatory rear fog lamp missing
A rear fog lamp the car must have is missing, so it is illegal to drive until one is fitted.
- 2
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 3
Rear fog lamp not working
A failed rear fog lamp reduces visibility in fog and leaves you less visible to following traffic, so repair it.
- 4
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A typical Honda Fit covers about 6,000 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Hybrid77.5%
- Petrol22.2%
- Other0.2%
- Electric0%
- LPG0%
Most common colours
White, Silver, Black, Blue, Red
Average engine size: 1.4 litres.
Compare
How the Honda Fit compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Honda Fit | 11.6% | 59% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Rover Mini | 29.1% | 4% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Rover 25 | 39.7% | 8% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Fiat Qubo | 34.8% | 20% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Peugeot 106 | 44.8% | 20% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Citroën Saxo | 46.3% | 23% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Renault Grand Modus | 47.8% | 33% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every small car ranked in the small car reliability index, or all Honda models.
Questions
Honda Fit questions, answered
Is the Honda Fit reliable?
On MOT results, the Honda Fit is better than average: it fails 11.6% of first MOT tests, 59% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 1 of 63 small car models in our index.
What fails most on a Honda Fit MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Honda Fit are obligatory rear fog lamp missing (1.09% of tests), position lamp not working (1.03% of tests), rear fog lamp not working (0.82% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 7.1% of its tests.
Which Honda Fit year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2013 cars do best (78% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2011 cars do worst (56% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).
How many miles does a Honda Fit do a year?
A typical Honda Fit covers about 6,000 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.
How do I check a Honda Fit before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
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