How Long Do Honda Fit Last? (Miles & Years)

Subcompacts are popular for many reasons: they are fuel-efficient, practical, and are small enough to navigate crowded city streets.

The Honda Fit possesses all these qualities and Honda’s badge of reliability.

But is it durable? Read on to find out.

Remember, the Honda Fit is called Honda Jazz in Europe. We also have a post here about common problems with the Honda Fit models.

Here is the short answer to how long Honda Fit lasts?

With proper maintenance, the Honda Fit can last up to 200,000 miles to 300,000 miles. This translates to a lifespan of about 13 to 20 years on the average Honda Fit model. Even with its diminutive size, the Honda Fit has the impressive reliability associated with Honda models.

How Many Miles Can You Expect from a Honda Fit?

The Honda Fit may be the smallest car you’ll ever see, but it is as reliable as many large-sized vehicles.

From our research, the Honda Fit can last you about 300,000 miles or more, provided you maintain it regularly. In fact, frequent maintenance is what Fit owners say will guarantee a long life for your vehicle.

Maintenance will prevent minor problems from snowballing into bigger issues, and keep your vehicle in prime condition. Routine maintenance involves changing fluids (coolant, engine oil), replacing worn parts (brakes, bearings), and conducting visual checks on the vehicle.

Check here what years of Honda Fit are most popular.

How Soon Should You Expect Rust on a Honda Fit?

Any vehicle, regardless of how well-built, is susceptible to rust.

On the Honda Fit, rust can appear anytime between the first and third year of ownership.

Particularly if you own an older model (say 2nd gen.), you will face rust problems faster.

Driving in the Northern parts of the US where roads get salted in winter will also lead to a higher incidence of rust on your Honda Fit.

In our search of rust problems on the Honda Fits, we came across complaints of rust around the rear quarter panel.

Specifically, the rust develops in the area where the rear quarter panel meets the bumper cover.

The aforementioned rust problem happens because the space where the quarter panel and the bumper cover meet is prone to trapping moisture and muck.

The moisture corrodes the metal, causing it to rust.

You may also like to read our article which explains about 11 Honda Fit Statistics You Should Know

Another commonly reported rust problem on the Honda Fits is window area rust.

From what we found, the window seal traps moisture, which eventually corrodes the window’s metal.

The problem is quite serious on affected models, with some owners noticing the rust in the first year of ownership.

Honda Fit owners recommend rustproofing your car to prevent it from rusting.

Particularly if you live in Northern US, rustproofing may be your only insurance against rust. We’d also recommend washing your car regularly to eliminate any salt particles that can corrode the components.

Please also read our article on driving the Honda Fit in snow and winter.

How Long Do Honda Fit Last Compared to Similar Car Models?

From all indications, the Honda Fit is a reliable subcompact that will get you a lot of miles. However, the subcompact car segment is filled with many durable models.

How does the Honda Fit against such models in terms of longevity?

We compare the Fit to similar car models to find out:

Honda Fit vs. Toyota Yaris

The Honda Fit and the Toyota Yaris have something in common: both come from Japanese automakers reputed for reliability.

So, it should not surprise you that the two models can last long, with only minimal repairs.

On both cars, you will get an estimated 300,000 miles (or more), before they break down.

RepairPal scores both models high in terms of reliability, giving both models a near-perfect 4.5 reliability rating.

The only difference relates to maintenance. At $390 per year, the Fit is more expensive to maintain than the Yaris, which has an annual servicing cost of $333.

Have a look at our article which talks about How Long Do Honda Crosstours Last?

Honda Fit vs. Hyundai Accent

The Hyundai Accent has received praise for its durability. However, its 200,000-mile lifespan is lesser than that of the average Honda Fit model.

The latter will give you 100,000 miles more, which means an additional six years of use.

Honda Fit vs. Kia Rio

The Kia Rio is another durable subcompact model, but like others, cannot match the Honda Fit’s longevity.

On a Kia Rio, the highest you will get is about 250,000 miles of service. Why settle for that when you can get over 300,000 miles from a Honda Fit?

Moreover, price of maintenance is comparably higher on the Kia Rio than the Honda Fit.

According to RepairPal, you will spend averagely $390 on repairs for the Honda Fit annually. By comparison, you will spend close to $100 more on repairs for the Kia Rio.

Honda Fit vs. Ford Fiesta

If you want a vehicle that will last long, you should pick a Honda Fit over a Ford Fiesta. While you can get close to 300,000 miles on a Honda Fit, you would be lucky to get 200,000 miles out of a Ford Fiesta.

How Reliable Is a Honda Fit?

For a car its size, the Honda Fit has impressive reliability. Good things, they say, come in small packages; nothing could be truer in the Honda Fit’s case.

It has outstanding qualities—fuel efficiency, utility, etc.—and the reliability to help you enjoy those features for long.

There’s plenty of evidence to support the notion that the Honda Fit is reliable.

RepairPal, which ranks vehicle reliability using repair data, gives the Honda Fit an excellent 4.5 reliability rating.

It also ranks the Honda Fit as the 3rd most reliable vehicle in the 21-model subcompact car segment.

Make sure to also read our article on how long Chevrolet Sparks last.

The Best and Worst Years For Honda Fit

Based on the number of complaints about it, the 2015 model holds the ignoble title of the worst year for the Honda Fit.

A widespread problem confronting the 2015 Fit models was uncomfortable seating.

From reports, the seats on the affected vehicles caused a lot of discomfort for drivers. In worse cases, the discomfort led to severe back and neck pain for such individuals.

Another common issue with the 2015 Honda Fit model was recurrent electrical problems. Complaints show that the starter on these vehicles often experienced premature failure.

The problem usually occurred around 46,700 miles and owners spent about $730 on average to fix it.

Since the many problems of the 2015 model year, Honda Fits have gotten better.

In fact, we recommend getting any Fit model released between 2017 and 2019, as these are the best Honda Fit model years.

Not only do they have few recalls, they have the fewest reported problems in the Honda Fit lineup.

Did you know: the Honda Fit is called Honda Jazz in Europe?

What About Recalls for These Models?

Below are recalls for each model year of the Honda Fit since it started production:

• 2007: 8 recalls
• 2010: 8 recalls
• 2009: 7 recalls
• 2012: 7 recalls
• 2011: 7 recalls
• 2013: 6 recalls
• 2008: 6 recalls
• 2015: 4 recalls
• 2016: 1 recall
• 2019: 1 recall
• 2017: 0 recalls
• 2018: 0 recalls

Honda Fit Model Year List

Here are all the model years for the Honda Fit since its introduction in 2007:

• 2007 Honda Fit
• 2008 Honda Fit
• 2009 Honda Fit
• 2010 Honda Fit
• 2011 Honda Fit
• 2012 Honda Fit
• 2013 Honda Fit
• 2014 Honda Fit
• 2015 Honda Fit
• 2016 Honda Fit
• 2017 Honda Fit
• 2018 Honda Fit
• 2019 Honda Fit
• 2020 Honda Fit

Also check our article on how long Honda Accords last.

Are Honda Fit Expensive to Maintain?

From estimates, the Honda Fit strikes us as an incredibly inexpensive car to maintain.

RepairPal estimates suggest that maintenance on a Honda Fit will set you back around $390 annually.

This is comparably cheaper than most subcompacts and cars in general. The annual (average) price of maintenance for subcompacts is $456, while it is $652 for all vehicles.

How Long Do the Brakes Last?

Based on reports from owners, brake components—pads, rotors—on the Honda Fit have a lifespan that ranges from 30,000 miles to 60,000 miles.

How long your brakes last will depend, to an extent, on your driving habits.

For example, if you always drive in stop-and-go traffic, where you have to brake repeatedly, your brakes will wear out faster.

How Long Do the Tires Last?

The general opinion on Honda Fit is that your tires should last between 30,000 miles to 60,000 miles. If your tires wear out earlier, it may be a sign of bad wheel alignment or wheel imbalance.

Also, your tires will need adequate maintenance if they are to last long. Periodic tire rotations will ensure tires wear slowly and increase their lifespan.

How Long Do the Transmissions Last?

Depending o different factors, your Honda Fit’s transmission will last around 120,000 to 180,000 miles.

As with every other part, your tranny requires religious maintenance to stay problem free. Transmission maintenance covers fluid flushes/changes, filter replacements, and so on.

How Long Do the Spark Plugs Last?

Honda Fits use platinum-tipped spark plugs, many of which can last up to 100,000 miles. However, your vehicle’s pattern of use is the real factor that will determine how long your spark plugs last.

What About Insurance Cost?

From our analysis of various estimates, we see the Honda Fit as a cheap car to insure.

On average, you will spend about $1,740 per year on insurance for your Honda Fit. This means you’ll be paying $145 monthly in insurance fees for your vehicle.

Tips to Prolong The Life Of Your Honda Fit

Without a doubt, the Honda Fit is a reliable car with an impressive lifespan. However, you will still need to do the following things to ensure your Honda Fit doesn’t break down early:

1. Visit the mechanic for scheduled maintenance
2. Inspect your car for symptoms of problems and take it for a diagnosis once you notice any issue.
3. Driver your car responsibly; aggressive riding will strain components and cause them to fail prematurely.

Resources

https://www.cars.com/research/honda-fit/

https://repairpal.com/reliability/honda/fit.amp

https://m.carcomplaints.com/Honda/Fit/

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