2016 Honda Fit

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) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW.  The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with manufacturer design specifications.  The ECU in the subject vehicles contains a model DS84 application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which controls the communication of the crash sensor signal, firing commands (i.e., when to deploy the airbag(s) and/or pretensioners), and fault information (e.g., diagnostic trouble codes). In September 2016, FCA announced recall 16V-668 for certain model year (MY) 2010 to 2014 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep products manufactured with the subject ZF-TRW ACU.  In this recall, FCA discussed an EOS condition that resulted in a failure of the subject DS84 ASIC, which caused air bag non-deployment.  FCA noted that the defect condition had only been observed in vehicles equipped with sensor harnessing routed across the front of the vehicle.  Other FCA vehicles that also used the subject ACU, but were not equipped with cross-car harnessing, had not experienced EOS failures, despite similar time in service. During the course of this investigation, ODI sent two separate Information Request (IR) letters to six vehicle manufactures (including FCA, Hyundai, Honda, Kia, Mitsubishi, and Toyota) and one IR letter to ZF-TRW.  These IR letters resulted in ODI receiving comprehensive data from these manufacturers and suppliers. Studies of this data found that the DS84 ASIC does not have sufficient protection against negative electrical transients or electrical overstress (“EOS”) that can be generated in certain severe crashes.  An electrical transient occurs when the electrical power supplied to a circuit changes momentarily over a short duration of time.   In these severe crash cases, the crash sensors and other powered wiring can be damaged and short circuited so as to create a negative electrical transient of sufficient intensity and duration (that are outside the vehicle manufacturer's specification) to damage the ASIC before the restraint device deployment signal is received by the SRS ECU.  This damaged signal can lead to incomplete or nondeployment of the air bags and/or pretensioners.  Airbag non-deployment and/or lack of pretensioner operation can increase the risk or severity of injury in a crash.A total of 8 fatalities and 14 injuries were associated with known EOS events. The common element in all investigated manufacturers vehicles is the SRS ECU containing a DS84 ASIC manufactured by ZF-TRW.  The risk associated with the ASIC is equally shared among all OEMS involved in the investigation.  The actual real-world risk can be mitigated by other factors which were assessed by ODI during this investigation. The first mitigating factor involves protections built into the ACU design which protect the DS84 ASIC from damage.  There are multiple strategies and levels of protection employed by different OEMs that provide effective EOS mitigation.  The two most common strategies at the ACU level are circuit protection diodes on the remote senor signal lines, and current limiting resistors that protect critical components. The second mitigating factor is found at the vehicle level and involves the location and routing of the wires leading from the crash sensors to the SRS ECU.  If the wires are well protected in a crash and are not routed with other power wires carrying large currents, the risk for an EOS event is significantly reduced or eliminated. These design specific factors combine to produce a spectrum of risk for the vehicles equipped with ACUs using the DS84 ASIC.  Given the many of years of field exposure, it is possible to divide the subject population into two groups; vehicles which have experienced EOS events, and vehicles which have not experienced EOS field events. Four of the six OEMs involved in this investigation have experienced EOS field events on at least one of their models equipped with a DS84 ASIC.  All vehicle models (including the Toyota models identified in the Failure Report Summary of the opening resume for this investigation) with field events have been recalled.  In an abundance of caution, ODI kept this investigation open five years to monitor field performance and did not identify any field events on vehicles not included in existing safety recalls. Given the spectrum of risk identified in this investigation and that all vehicles with a demonstrated unreasonable risk have been recalled, ODI is closing this investigation. ODI is closing this investigation with the following manufacturer safety recalls: 16V-668, 18E-043, 18V-137, 18V-363, and 20V-024.  With the recall actions taken by the subject vehicle and equipment manufacturers, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exists on other model or model year vehicles outside of the recall scopes. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.

This is the third Dextero DTR1 that has exhibited defects described in their 2016 recall (large cracks at the sidewall/tread area). This is a fatally serious defect: I would not drive at highway speed with these tires. My first complaint resulted in my tire being replaced. my second and third complaints are thus: there are no tires in stock to replace my defective tires and I was informed that a bank and routing number would be needed to pay me $109 for two defective tires. I complied with their request and was asked for additional personal information. I do not want to provide more personal information and have asked for a check instead.

NHTSA ID

11753758

Incident

Dec 31, 1969

I filed a report earlier and uploaded photos. My right front had a bump in the middle of the tire which caused that portion of tire (1/4) to go bald and caused the car bump as you drove it. the company, [XXX] asked for my bank routing number and account number and receipts which I provided. Afterwards, the female employee sent a form which I am uploading to return to their finance dept. I do not like having to give out personal info such as the form requires. When asked if a check can be sent she informed me that they could not send a check. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11750908

Incident

Jul 1, 2026

My yellow 2016 Honda Fit (18560R15) right front tire recently developed a bump in the middle and outside tread wear. My other car, 1994 Honda Ccivic, had its front tire worn as well. This Dextero tire is manufactured in Fujian, China and is distributed by Giti and we bought them from Walmart. I had a similar defect on my Civic back in 11/2025. I found that the Dextero tire was recalled in 2016 for cracks at tread/sidewall area exactly as my tires exhibited. Giti replaced my tire in 11/2025 but refuse to replace my two new defects. I believe these tires are not safe to drive on and would like two replacements.

NHTSA ID

11747455

Incident

Dec 31, 1969

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 update at a dealer to fix the issue. My car has experienced a failing and blank screen for gas and mileage, requiring replacement of the cluster panel. It has, and will, cost me hundreds of dollars to fix an issue that is apparently being fixed for free on other Honda models.

NHTSA ID

11709312

Incident

Dec 30, 2025

Steering wheel airbag cover gets extremely hot after driving, was told this is a serious safety concern.

NHTSA ID

11690307

Incident

Sep 29, 2025

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.

NHTSA ID

11680313

Incident

Aug 12, 2025

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 Steubenville, OH where the front tire failed. AAA (DCP Automotive) came and changed the tire/doughnut. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11677098

Incident

Jul 29, 2025

P185/55R16 Tire wall coming off of the tire. Bubble created.

NHTSA ID

11664490

Incident

Jun 2, 2025

Service Bulletin - The MIL comes on with DTC P0300 (random misfire detected) or P0301–P0304 (cylinder misfire detected) due to carbon buildup on the intake valves may be affecting combustion.

"Service news article - When diagnosing a Fit within the above VIN range with a misfire complaint, start by doing service bulletin, 21-007 (Carbon Buildup with Misfire DTCs) instead of replacing fuel injectors. These vehicles use an improved injector design that addresses the failures that may have occurred in previous model years. In fact, fuel injectors within the above VIN range with misfire complaints were collected and found to have no defects that required part replacement. Replacing those injectors may have reduced the number of misfires temporarily, but most likely didn’t address the actual cause of the misfire. The recommended repair for these vehicles is to do the intake valve cleaning procedure described in service bulletin 21-007, (Carbon Buildup with Misfire DTCs)."

Service bulletin - The MIL comes on with DTC P0300 (random misfire detected) or P0301–P0304 (cylinder misfire detected). Carbon buildup on the intake valves may be affecting combustion.

Service bulletin - The MIL comes on with DTC P0300 (random misfire detected) or P0301–P0304 (cylinder misfire detected). Carbon buildup on the intake valves may be affecting combustion.

"Customer letter - On some 2015-2016 Fit vehicles, certain fuel injectors may not have been installed to proper specifications. An incorrectly installed fuel injector may lead to increased wear inside the injectors. This could result in reduced flow in the injectors and cause misfire, air/fuel ratio imbalance, catalyst deterioration misdetection and/or fuel metering, resulting in MIL (Malfunction Indicator Lamp) turning on."

Service Bulletin - 2015-16 Fit: MIL Is On with DTC P0420