2008 Honda FIT: complaints, problems and recalls

I BOUGHT HONDA FIT, 2008 MODEL A MONTH AGO. THE TRAFFIC STOPPED AND WE STOPPED, BUT THE VEHICLE IN THE REAR DID NOT STOP AND SMASHED THE FIT FROM THE REAR, MY VEHICLE WAS IN THE MIDDLE, STRUCK BY A JEEP IN THE REAR AND WAS PUSHED AGAINST A PICK UP TRUCK IN THE FRONT. THE FIT WAS A TOTAL LOSS WITH ENGINE PUSHED BACK, AND BUMPER AND FRONT END SMASHED. BOTH FRONT AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS WITH FRONT SMASHED IN. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10227802 at NHTSA ↗

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I TRIED TALKING TO HONDA WHERE I GOT THE CAR... AND THEY REFUSE TO PAY FOR ANY DAMAGES TO MY CAR CAUSED BY THEIR FAULTY JACK. WHAT HAPPENED: I HAD A FLAT TIRE. I WENT TO FIX IT USING THE JACK INCLUDED WITH THE CAR/SPARE TIRE. I USED THE SPECIFIED LIFT POINTS (EVEN CHECKED MY OWNERS MANUAL 3 TIMES). I'VE TAKEN AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING CLASSES AT COLLEGE AND EVEN A CAR CARE CLASS IN HIGH SCHOOL- AS I'M NO STRANGER TO WORKING ON CARS. THE JACK BENT SIDEWAYS AND COMPLETELY COLLAPSED- WHILE I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF TA…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10246846 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA FIT. THE HONDA FIT SPORT IS DESIGNED SO THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATES TO FULL BRIGHTNESS AS SOON AS THE IGNITION IS TURNED ON--DAY OR NIGHT. IT CANNOT BE TURNED OFF AT ALL. (THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER CONFIRM THIS.) THE PROBLEM IS THAT I, LIKE, I SUSPECT, MOST DRIVERS, RELY ON A DARK CAR INTERIOR AS A PROMPT TO TURN ON THE HEADLIGHTS AT NIGHT. THIS WEEK I HAVE DRIVEN HOME FROM WORK THREE OUT OF FIVE NIGHTS WITH NO HEADLIGHTS. (ON ONE OCCASION I WAS PROMPTED BY A KIND APPROACHING DRIVER WHO "BLINKE…

Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10252292 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

2008 HONDA FIT SPORT - DASH LIGHTS ARE ON ALL THE TIME, NOT JUST WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED ON AS IS TYPICAL OF EVERY OTHER CAR I HAVE EVER DRIVEN. THIS DESIGN HAS CAUSED ME ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TO DRIVE FOR MILES AT NIGHT THINKING THAT MY HEADLIGHTS WERE ON. TWICE NOW, A CAR HAS PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT SEE MY APPROACHING VEHICLE IN THE DARKNESS. HAD THERE BEEN AN ACCIDENT I WOULD HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE. IF THE DASH LIGHTS WERE LINKED TO THE HEADLIGHTS I WOULD IMMEDIATELY BE ALERTED THAT MY HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT ON AT NIG…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10254635 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH ON A HIGHWAY. I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME FROM BEHIND. THE SPEED OF MY CAR AT THE MOMENT OF THE ACCIDENT WAS ABOUT 45 MPH AS WELL. MY FRONT PART WAS TOTALLY SMASHED, THE BOTH OF THE SEAT BELTS GOT PULL OUT ALL THE WAY AND BROKE. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME ALSO HAD COMPLETELY SMASHED REAR PART OF THE CAR. MY CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE CONDITION THAT WAS TOWED. THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. I DO HAVE NECK, BACK AND CHEST INJURY AND MY PASSENGER HAS THE SAME INJURY AS MIND PLUS KNEE INJURY BY HITTING HIS KNEE STRONGLY ON A DASH. …

Owner-reported narrative. 18,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10259790 at NHTSA ↗

PURCHASED (ONLINE) A SET OF "07-08 HONDA FIT ALTEZZA JDM BLACK TAIL LIGHTS LIGHT NEW" FROM A RETAILER LOCATED IN ONTARIO, CA. (FULL INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE). - AFTER RECEIPT, THE ASSEMBLIES WERE INSPECTED AND DETERMINED TO BE MISSING THE REQUIRED SIDE MARKER AND REFLECTOR COMPONENTS. - ALSO, THE CUTOUTS IN THE HOUSING INTENDED TO MOUNT THE BULB SOCKETS ARE NOT DESIGNED TO SECURELY HOLD THE BULB SOCKETS, PARTICULARLY THE REVERSE LAMP WHICH IS BARELY CAPABLE OF BEING INSTALLED. AFTER THE SOCKET IS INSTALLED, A JARRING BLOW CAN CAUSE THE …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10260991 at NHTSA ↗

AIR CONDITIONING FAILED. TOOK VEHICLE TO HONDA DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT DAMAGE TO CONDENSER WAS CAUSED BY "ROAD DEBRIS" AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. $800+ TO REPAIR, WITH ONLY 22,568 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 22,568 miles reported. Look up ODI 10267100 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2007-12-03 (December 3, 2007)

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA , WISCONSIN AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE WIRE HARNESS FOR THE OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM (ODS) AND THE OCCUPANT POSITION DETECTION SYSTEM (OPDS) IS ROUTED UNDERNEATH THE CARPET ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOORBOARD. IN AREAS WHERE ROAD SALT IS USED, SALT FROM THE SNOW ON THE DRIVER'S SHOES WILL MELT AND MAY PENETRATE THE CARPET AND LEAK INTO THE WIRE HARNESS. IF THE HARNESS IS EXPOSED TO SALT BRINE, CORROSION MAY OCCUR AND THE WIRE MAY BREAK CAUSING THE SRS INDICATOR LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. A FAILURE OF THE ODS AND OPDS MAY NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A CHILD SEAT OR AN OUT-OF-POSITION PASSENGER AND DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER'S FRONTAL AND SIDE AIR BAGS WILL NOT BE SUPPRESSED.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, A DEPLOYING FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG OR FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WILL INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO SMALL OR OUT-OF-POSITION OCCUPANTS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE WIRE HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 12, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 800-999-1009.

Reported: 2010-02-02 (February 2, 2010)

HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 FIT VEHICLES. UNDER SEVERE CONDITION, WATER MAY ENTER THE DRIVER'S WINDOW AND REACH THE MASTER POWER WINDOW SWITCH. IF THE MASTER POWER WINDOW SWITCH IS DAMAGED AS A RESULT OF THE WATER INTRUSION, OVERHEATING AND FAILURE OF THE SWITCH MAY RESULT.

Consequence: AN OVERHEATED SWITCH CAN CAUSE SMOKE, MELTING AND FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SWITCH AND INSTALL A COVER AROUND THE SWITCH HOUSING TO PREVENT WATER FROM ENTERING THE SWITCH. IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, THE SWITCH WILL BE REPLACED AND A COVER WILL BE INSTALLED. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DURING MARCH 19, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.

Reported: 2010-12-15 (December 15, 2010)

HONDA IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 HONDA FIT VEHICLES. DUE TO AN ERROR DURING INSTALLATION OF THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE COMBINATION SWITCH THAT CONTROLS LOW HEAD BEAM FUNCTION, THE WIRES FOR THE LOWER BEAM CIRCUIT WERE PULLED TIGHTER THAN INTENDED. AFTER REPEATED USE OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR TERMINAL FOR THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT CIRCUIT CAN BECOME WORN AS A RESULT OF THIS TENSION, WHICH CAN RESULT IN LOW CONDUCTIVITY AND CAUSE AN ACCUMULATION OF COPPER OXIDE IN THE AREA OF THE CONTACTS.

Consequence: THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS CAN BECOME INOPERATIVE DECREASING THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY AS WELL AS THE VEHICLE'S VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LOW BEAM TERMINAL AND PERFORM NECESSARY REPAIRS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 24, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.

Reported: 2013-06-24 (June 24, 2013)

Honda is re-recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Fit vehicles covered under previous recall 10V-033. The remedy applied in this earlier recall may have been insufficient. In the affected vehicles, over time, the plastic cover may separate from the master power window switch allowing water to enter the driver's window and reach the master power window switch. If the master power window switch is damaged as a result of the water intrusion, overheating and failure of the switch may result.

Consequence: An overheated switch can cause smoke, melting and fire.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners in July 2013 and will instruct owners to take their vehicles to dealers to have a free inspection conducted. If the switch is damaged, it will be replaced free of charge. If the switch is not damaged, the owner will be instructed to await a second notification that will instruct them to return to the dealer to have a replacement switch installed free of charge. Honda anticipates it will have sufficient parts inventory to notify owners of vehicles with undamaged switches to return to dealers for replacement switches in Fall 2013. Renotification was sent out to owners on July 23, 2014. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009. Honda's recall number is JA6.

Reported: 2016-05-23 (May 23, 2016)

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2011 Acura RL, 2005-2006 Honda CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2006-2011 Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or that have ever been registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Honda is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2008 Acura RL, 2005-2006 Honda CR-V, 2003-2008 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2006-2008 Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or that have ever been registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Lastly, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Honda is recalling model year 2002-2004 Odyssey and model year 2003-2004 Acura MDX, Honda Element, and Honda Pilot vehicles originally sold, or registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began June 27, 2016. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KA0, KA1, KA2, and KA3.

Reported: 2017-01-10 (January 10, 2017)

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2005-2006 Acura MDX and Honda CR-V vehicles, 2005-2011 Honda Element vehicles, 2005-2012 Acura RL vehicles, 2006-2012 Honda Ridgeline vehicles, 2007-2008 Honda Fit vehicles and 2005-2008 Honda Pilot vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, if not included in "Zone A" above, Honda is recalling certain 2005-2006 Acura MDX and Honda CR-V vehicles, 2005-2009 Acura RL and Honda Element vehicles, 2007-2008 Honda Fit vehicles, 2005-2008 Honda Pilot vehicles and 2006-2009 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, if not included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Honda is recalling certain 2005-2006 Acura MDX and Honda CR-V vehicles, 2005-2008 Acura RL, Honda Element and Honda Pilot vehicles, 2007-2008 Honda Fit vehicles and 2006-2008 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall bagan March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KD9 and KE0.

Reported: 2019-06-27 (June 27, 2019)

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are E5D and X5C.

Reported: 2020-12-10 (December 10, 2020)

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Acura ILX, 2013 Acura ILX Hybrid, 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid, and 2007-2008 Honda Fit vehicles with a manual transmission and 2009-2013 Honda Fit vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The drive shafts' protective coating may not have been applied properly during manufacturing, making it more susceptible to damage from road salt, or other contaminants, and potentially cause it to break.

Consequence: A broken drive shaft may cause a sudden loss of drive power. The vehicle could also roll away if the parking brake has not been applied before the vehicle has been exited. Either condition can increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the drive shafts, replacing either the left or right drive shaft, if necessary, free of charge. Owners were notified of the safety risk with an interim letter mailed February 2, 2021. A second letter will be sent once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are P9M, PAV, BAY, TAX, CA0, and MAZ.