There are 4 owner-reported powertrain & transmission complaints for the 2018 Honda Fitin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
Two separate issues: The variable valve timing control (VTC) actuator is defective. There is a Honda service bulletin on this issue that has impacted many years of Honda Fits and has proven to be a defective unit. Service Bulletin 16-088. This repair should be covered as this defective part can cause severe damage to the engine costing the consumer thousands of dollars to repair. A simple search of Honda Fit VTC issues will show an outsized number of people having this issue. This is Honda's own service bulletin - The exterior paint on the vehicle may peel off. American Honda is extending the warranty on the paint of the affected vehicles to 7 years from the original date of purchase with no mileage limit. This warranty extension does not apply to other paint issues like rock chips, scratches, bird droppings, sap, wraps, dents, collision damage, customer-induced damage, etc. However this only covers a couple colors, Vehicles that are painted NH-788P. AHM referred to the white pearl paint as both White Orchid Pearl and Bellanova White. My car is painted red and is exhibiting the same issues as described in the Honda Service Bulletin 19-064. The same warranty extension should extend to our car as well as the paint and process was defective.
I have noticed a grinding/rattling when starting my Fit from a cold engine. I have taken the car to the dealership and mentioned the noise - they recommended getting a new battery. Afterwards the noice was still happening. I took it in again and stated theres a rattling sound on a cold start. The dealer said that couldn't replicate it and probably related to the exhaust system. Now I have taken it in once again because the noise is getting worse and not just on cold starts and at this point they inform me that it's the VTC Actuator. Upon hearing this I googled the part and this is a long running issue for Hondas and there have been several service bulletins about it. The VTC Alternator has cause the timing chain to stretch in some vehicles according to this search which then can cause total engine failure. I do not feel safe driving a car that has been having issues with the VTC Actuator for years and Honda has not be held accountable for this.
all vehicle warning lights came on specifically the check engine light for an emissions system problem. At the time the car had around 100,000 miles so it was suspected that the issue had to be with the battery, o2 sensors, or spark plug and ignition coil, so those parts were replaced. The vehicle still shows all the warning lights and reads codes for misfires in the first and second cylinder. If the issue with the fuel injectors was recalled and fixed for the 2015-2016 model Honda Fit, then it cant possibly be that the 2017-2020 honda fits also have a fuel injector problem, unless they also do and the issue has been neglected.
THE CVT TRANSMISSION WILL DISENGAGE IF LEFT IN DRIVE AND VEHICLE IS SHUTOFF. YOU CAN TURN OFF VEHICLE WHILE IT IS IN DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE WILL ROLL BACK AND FORTH, AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. FORGOT TO PUT VEHICLE IN PARK, PRESSED THE PUSH TO START AND VEHICLE SHUT OFF. 3 SHORT BEEPS IS THE ONLY WARNING, EXITED THE VEHICLE AND IT ROLLED BACKWARD OUT THE GARAGE AND INTO YARD ACROSS THE STREET. THIS IS A NEW VEHICLE AND NOT USE TO PUSH TO START FUNCTION.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026