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2008 Honda FIT problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

217 owner complaints analyzed

8 distinct recall campaigns

73,600 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 150 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 55 of 217 complaints (25.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior3315.2%
Engine operation219.7%
Transmission and shifting156.9%
Steering behavior156.9%
Electrical and battery issues146.5%
Fuel system concerns20.9%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Air Bags
55
Structure:Body
30
Engine
23
Power Train
21
Electrical System
17
Exterior Lighting
17
Vehicle Speed Control
14
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
13
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags55
Structure:Body30
Engine23
Power Train21
Electrical System17
Exterior Lighting17
Vehicle Speed Control14
Service Brakes, Hydraulic13

Air Bags: 55; Structure:Body: 30; Engine: 23; Power Train: 21; Electrical System: 17; Exterior Lighting: 17; Vehicle Speed Control: 14; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 13

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
26
25,000 to 49,999
30
50,000 to 74,999
20
75,000 to 99,999
29
100,000 to 149,999
34
150,000 and above
11
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00026
25,000 to 49,99930
50,000 to 74,99920
75,000 to 99,99929
100,000 to 149,99934
150,000 and above11

Under 25,000: 26; 25,000 to 49,999: 30; 50,000 to 74,999: 20; 75,000 to 99,999: 29; 100,000 to 149,999: 34; 150,000 and above: 11

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (34). 67 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2008
3
2009
8
2010
23
2011
15
2012
14
2013
20
2014
21
2015
18
2016
38
2017
20
2018
10
2019
3
2020
5
2021
11
2022
3
2023
2
2025
2
2026
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20083
20098
201023
201115
201214
201320
201421
201518
201638
201720
201810
20193
20205
202111
20223
20232
20252
20261

2008: 3; 2009: 8; 2010: 23; 2011: 15; 2012: 14; 2013: 20; 2014: 21; 2015: 18; 2016: 38; 2017: 20; 2018: 10; 2019: 3; 2020: 5; 2021: 11; 2022: 3; 2023: 2; 2025: 2; 2026: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 33 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 21 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 15 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10253664 · 2009-01-03 (January 3, 2009)

UNSAFE DESIGN - RECALL REQUEST I AM THE OWNER OF A 2008 HONDA FIT WITH STANDARD TRANSMISSION. THE TEN-MINUTE TEST DRIVE DID NOT ALERT ME TO THE INSUFFICIENT LEGROOM THAT MAKES ME APPLY BOTH THE BRAKE AND THE GAS AT THE SAME TIME. THE EXPLANATION FOLLOWS. LONG DRIVES OF OVER TWENTY MINUTES CAUSE MY LEG TO CRAMP AND I NEED TO SHIFT MY RIGHT HEEL TO THE RIGHT. THAT PUTS MY HEEL DIRECTLY BEHIND THE GAS PEDAL INSTEAD OF THE NORMAL POSITION DIRECTLY BEHIND THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN THE TOE OF THE FOOT MOVES TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE SOLE OF THE …

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10253664 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10282552 · 2009-09-01 (September 1, 2009)

2008 HONDA FIT AUG. 29 2009: VEHICLE IN REVERSE, FOOT ON BRAKE, ENGINE SURGED WITH NO USE OF ACCELERATOR, PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, SURGE STOPPED SHORTLY LASTED ABOUT 10 + SECONDS. STRONG SURGE, WOULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH TO PROPEL VEHICLE RAPIDLY. HAVE SINCE GONE ABOUT 20 MILES WITH NO RECURRENCE. NOTIFIED PENSACOLA HONDA, FLORIDA SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THIS DATE AT APPROXIMATELY 1300, SHE WASN?T AWARE OF ANY RECALL AND WAS UNABLE TO LOG THIS EVENT AS HISTORY ON MY RECORD. ASKED ME TO BRING I…

Owner-reported narrative. 19,760 miles reported. Look up ODI 10282552 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10319302 · 2010-03-12 (March 12, 2010)

WE OWN A 2008 HONDA FIT. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT WE HAD APPROX 48K MILES ON THE VEHICLE. ON A FEW OCCASIONS WHEN STARTING THE CAR IN THE MORNING, THE POWER STEERING INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE NO POWER STEERING.. TURNING OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE WOULD RESET THE INDICATOR LIGHT AND POWER STEERING WOULD RETURN. AT THE END OF FEB 2010 MY HUSBAND WAS ON THE FREEWAY TRAVELING AT @75MPH WHEN THE LIGHT CAME ON AND POWER STEERING WENT OUT IN THE VEHICLE. HE WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WIT…

Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10319302 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10439078 · 2011-12-08 (December 8, 2011)

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE,ENGINE LAGS AT ABOUT 50 MPH. ALSO WHEN ENGINE IS STILL COLD AND TRANSMISSION IS IN DRIVE IT STALLS, IT DOES IT REPEATEDLY UNTIL IT REACHES NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE. IT SEEMS SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH FUEL DISTRIBUTION, WHICH MAY BE VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 77,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10439078 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10340176 · 2010-06-26 (June 26, 2010)

MY CLUTCH WENT OUT TWICE IN UNDER 17,000 MILES. DRIVEN A MANUAL TRANSMISSION FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS. FIRST CLUTCH WENT AT 6011 MILES (JANUARY 30, 2008). CLUTCH WOULD NOT ENGAGE ON A BUSY HIGHWAY IN LA. I WAS LUCKY THAT I DID NOT HAVE ANY VEHICLES BEHIND ME. HONDA REPLACED THE CLUTCH, THE FLYWHEEL, THE PRESSURE PLATE, AND BOTH BEARINGS UNDER THE HEADING OF "GOODWILL". THEY CLAIMED IT WAS USER WEAR. AT 6000 MILES? THE SERVICE CONSULTANT SAID THAT IT WAS THE WORST WORN CLUTCH HE HAD EVER SEEN... IT WAS "BLUE". CLUTCH BEGAN SLIPPING AGAIN AT 1…

Owner-reported narrative. 6,011 miles reported. Look up ODI 10340176 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10331268 · 2010-05-19 (May 19, 2010)

MY HUSBAND AND I OWN A 2008 HONDA FIT. SINCE ABOUT OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR, OUR POWER STEERING HAS BEEN RANDOMLY GOING OUT ON US (THE EPS LIGHT COMES ON AND WE CAN'T TURN THE WHEEL). THIS MOST FREQUENTLY OCCURS WHILE WE'RE ON THE INTERSTATE DRIVING AT 65MPH - HOWEVER IT DID HAPPEN ONCE ON A SMALL STREET (AT ABOUT 30MPH) AND ANOTHER TIME IN A PARKING LOT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEING MOVED. LUCKILY, MY HUSBAND AND I WERE ABLE TO SLOWLY AND SAFELY PULL OVER. WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE (THE CAR IS CURRENTLY THERE). AN ON…

Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10331268 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10424586 · 2011-09-10 (September 10, 2011)

BROUGHT CAR TO HONDA DEALERSHIP ON 6/24/11 FOR SERVICE DUE TO CAR DYING TWICE THAT DAY. UPON ARRIVAL CAR DIED AND HAD TO BE JUMPED TO SERVICE. ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED AS WELL AS THE BATTERY THAT DAY. THEN IN AUGUST CAR DIED ON THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING TWICE AND WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICES AT HONDA DEALERSHIP AND IMMOBILIZER WAS STATED TO BE THE PROBLEM THEN REPLACED ON 8/24/11. ARRIVE AT HONDA DEALERSHIP 9/6/11 FOR TIRE SERVICE AND CAR BATTERY ISSUES STATED BUT TECHNICIAN RESOLVED BY ADJUSTING BATTERY CONNECTIONS. ON 9/7/11 CAR DIES ON BRUCKNE…

Owner-reported narrative. 75,647 miles reported. Look up ODI 10424586 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10447091 · 2012-02-08 (February 8, 2012)

I STARTED BUILDING CONDENSATION UP IN MY CAR. I TOOK IT TO STRAUB HONDA IN TRIADELPHIA, WEST VIRGINIA. THEY SAID THAT IT SEEMED TO BE A DOOR SEAL WAS LEAKING. THEY CHANGED THE DOOR SEAL AND DRIED OUT THE WHOLE CAR. FIRST OF ALL, FOR A VEHICLE FOR NOT EVEN 18,000 MILES ON IT SHOULD NOT HAVE SEALS GOING BAD. THEN ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER IT WAS LEAKING AGAIN. I COULDNT EVEN SEE OUT OF MY WINDOWS BECAUSE THEY WERE FROZEN FROM THE INSIDE. WHEN THEY THAWED OUT, MY WINDOWS WERE DRIPPING WATER ONTO MY DASH AND DOORS. I TOOK MY CAR BACK INTO STRAUBS AGAIN. …

Owner-reported narrative. 17,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10447091 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10561587 · 2014-01-27 (January 27, 2014)

2008 HONDA FIT ENGINE STALLS WHEN COLD. CAR WILL START, BUT NEEDS TO SIT UNTIL ENGINE IS WARM BEFORE IT CAN BE DRIVEN. IF THE CAR IS PUT IN ANY GEAR BEFORE THE ENGINE IS WARM IT WILL STALL. WHEN THE CAR IS FIRST STARTED IT SOUNDS LIKE THE ENGINE IS IDLING TOO LOW. WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR IN GEAR, IT IDLES EVEN LOWER UNTIL IT STALLS. NO ISSUES WITH THE CAR STALLING ONCE THE ENGINE IS WARM. THIS STARTED HAPPENING AROUND 100000 MILES ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO. AT FIRST IT ONLY HAPPENED ONCE IN A WHILE. ONE YEAR LATER (ABOUT 120000 MILES) IT HAPPENS EVERY TI…

Owner-reported narrative. 105,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10561587 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10958550 · 2017-03-03 (March 3, 2017)

MY 2008 HONDA FIT STALLS EVERY TIME I PUT THE CLUTCH IN FOR THE FIRST 4-6 MINUTES. WHEN I PUT THE CLUTCH IN TO STOP IT STALLS AS SOON AS I ENGAGE CLUTCH. THIS HAPPENS AT SLOW SPEEDS AS WELL AS FASTER SPEEDS FOR THE FIRST SEVERAL MINUTES. I HAVE HAD SPARK PLUGS REPLACES, VALVE TIMING FIXED, NEW BATTERY, GAS TANK CLEANER RUN THROUGH, FLUIDS CHANGED. NOTHING HAS MEDE IT ANY DIFFERENT. IT WON'T SUSTAIN IDLE INITIALLY. STALLS IN TURNS IF CLUTCH PUT IN OR TOO LOW OF SPEED FOR SECOND IN A CORNER. IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS. AT AB…

Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10958550 at NHTSA ↗