2007 Honda Fit Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2007 Honda Fit most often describe losing power steering assist intermittently, with the wheel suddenly becoming hard to turn and an EPS warning light coming on until the car is restarted. Other frequent themes are water leaking into the rear footwell and spare-tire well after rain, low-beam headlights that stop working, and frontal airbags that failed to deploy in crashes or that owners had to wait for under a recall. Many reports come in at higher mileages, though some appear well under 50,000 miles.

1. 1
   Steering

   Power steering assist cuts out or feels heavy

   • 77 complaints (21%)
   • median 55,000 mi at 4.5 yrs old (67 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $734 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2008–2026

   Owners describe the steering suddenly becoming much heavier than normal, sometimes with the power steering warning light on the dash, and say turning the car off and restarting can restore assist for a while. Complaints mention the failure happening at low speed, in a turn, or on startup, and that it can return without warning. Some owners report the dealer recommending replacement of the electric power steering unit or control module, while others were told to keep driving until it happened again. Reported from as low as about 15,000 miles up past 200,000, with many cases between roughly 45,000 and 120,000 miles.

   7 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the electric power steering warranty extension or any EPS control unit replacement was done. On a test drive, note whether the steering feels heavy at low speed and whether an EPS light appears on startup.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “About three weeks ago, while my wife was driving to work, shortly after leaving our home, the steering wheel became extremely rough and started to shake the car violently through a turn and the eps malfunction indicator came on. She turned the car off and back on again and the issue remedied itself and the eps light turned off. This past weekend, as I was driving the car, the same issue presented itself. This time, however, the unexpected loss of power steering caused me to veer into opposing traffic. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10418409, filed 2011-08, 34,900 miles

   “Steering wheel suddenly seized up, range of motion about 10 degrees either way; ps warning light appeared on dash. Was able to slow, turn off road, park, consult manual. Restarted engine, ps warning light went off; was able to drive normally to dealer service dept. For advice. They said continue driving, return if any future incidents.”

   NHTSA complaint #10452920, filed 2012-03, 26,910 miles
2. 2
   Exterior lighting

   Low-beam headlights stop working

   • 60 complaints (16%)
   • median 75,000 mi at 4.1 yrs old (51 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2026

   Complaints describe the low beams and sometimes the fog lights failing while only the high beams work, or the headlights flickering and shutting off while driving at night. Owners who looked into it point to the headlight switch or wiring connector, with reports of heat damage at the switch plug. Some say the dealer replaced the switch or applied a recall repair, while others were told their vehicle was not covered. Mostly reported between roughly 55,000 and 120,000 miles.

   Recall 10V6240001 related service bulletin

   What to check: With the car off and cool, turn on the headlights and confirm both low beams work; ask whether the headlight switch recall was completed for this VIN and whether the switch or connector has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “There are three separate but recurring incidents. First the tail lights and part of the interior lights blew out. The dealer said I was probably hit by lightening and replaced the tail light bulbs and a fuse. Next the headlights went out while I was driving and I was plunged into total darkness. The dealer said it was a switch. Two weeks after replacing the switch the taillights have blown out again. The interior lights go out at the same time. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10507203, filed 2013-04, 75,000 miles

   “Was driving my Honda FIT 2007 last night when my low beams suddenly went out. I had only my high beams and had to drive home with people flashing their high beams at me. I went to the auto parts store to get new fuses to see if this would help the problem and I replaced them but the fuses were fine. Went onto the computer to research this problem and found numerous incidents where this has happened to 2007 Honda fits. This is a very dangerous and expensive situation if I have to pay upwards of 300.00 to repair?”

   NHTSA complaint #10366997, filed 2010-11, 117,000 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Front axle / driveshaft breaking

   Mentioned in 8 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe a loud cracking or snapping sound and then loss of forward or reverse motion, with mechanics identifying a broken front axle or driveshaft. Several reports involve the axle breaking where it meets the damper or at a point away from the joint, and some owners had the other side break later. Complaints mention the vehicle being towed and the part replaced. Mostly reported between roughly 85,000 and 190,000 miles.

   Recall 20V770000

   What to check: Ask whether the driveshaft/axle recall remedy was performed on this vehicle and have a mechanic inspect both front axles and their boots for cracks or corrosion.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “In february 2020, I was stopped at a stoplight and when the light turned green and I went to accelerate I heard cracking/ breaking sound and the car would not move forward or backward. I needed to have the car towed and was informed that the driver side axle had broken. In january 2021, nearly the exact same thing happened. I was stopped at a stoplight when the light turned green I went to accelerate I heard the same sound and the car would not move. I had the car towed I was informed that the passenger side axle had broken. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11389619, filed 2021-01, 170,000 miles

   “1. On 8/18/2016, the left front axle metal snapped in two (not at the joint) while I was driving on route 8 in bellevue ky. The mechanic said this was a manufacturing defect. 2. On 6/1/2017, the right front axle snapped in two (not at the joint) while I was driving on the expressway in the middle lane at >55 miles per hour in heavy traffic. The mechanic said this was a similar manufacturing defect and that I'm lucky to be alive! I have receipts from both repairs and a picture of the axle from the first failure, attached to this complaint.”

   NHTSA complaint #10993554, filed 2017-06, 114,000 miles
4. 4
   Body and structure

   Water leaks into rear floor and spare-tire well

   • 55 complaints (15%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 4.7 yrs old (42 state mileage)
   • filed 2010–2023

   Owners report water pooling in the spare tire compartment and soaking the carpet behind the rear seats, often on the passenger side and usually after heavy rain. Several describe an odor or visible mold developing and connecting it to door, hatch or window seals. Complaints say dealers could not duplicate or locate the leak, and in some cases quoted further diagnostic time at the owner's cost. Appears across a wide range, from a few thousand miles to over 140,000, generally after rain.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Lift the trunk carpet and check the spare-tire well for water lines, rust or a damp, musty smell, and feel the rear footwell carpets after rain.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Water is leaking into trunk spare tire compartment and floor underneath rear seats, especially on the passenger side of the car. Took car to dealer for repair in the morning, left for entire day and was told that they could not diagnose the source of the water leak. Dealer told me I would need to bring back the car for further testing that could take a few hours and at least $300. I cannot afford to keep taking in the car for the entire day, paying a lot of money and not even have a guarantee the problem will be fixed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10583963, filed 2014-04, 70,000 miles

   “After heavy rain, water pools in the spare tire compartment of the trunk, the seeps into the carpet of the trunk and back seat, causing mold to grow. There appears to be a bad seal somewhere (hatchback, tail light, etc). This causes a serious health concern in addition to being a major nuisance.”

   NHTSA complaint #10582802, filed 2014-04, 151,000 miles
5. 5
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light and non-deployment

   • 55 complaints (15%)
   • median 45,166 mi at 5.7 yrs old (28 state mileage)
   • 14 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $700 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2006–2025

   Owners report the airbag warning light coming on, sometimes with a diagnostic code for the driver-side inflator, and several describe frontal airbags that did not deploy in a collision. Complaints also describe waiting long periods for dealers to receive recall parts, and being told no recall applied in some cases. Several recalls and service bulletins for this model year concern front airbag inflators. Warning-light reports range from about 90,000 to over 200,000 miles; non-deployment reports appear from around 80,000 miles.

   Recall 19V501000Recall 19V182000Recall 18V268000Recall 17V029000Recall 16V344000Recall 07V5490005 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check that all open airbag inflator recalls have been completed using the VIN, and confirm the airbag warning light goes out normally after startup.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I received a letter from Honda in mid july saying that I needed to make arrangements to have my air bag serviced. I called 7/17/16 to make the appointment. It also stated to not allow any passengers in the front seat until the repair was made. I am still waiting for my local Honda dealer to get the part. It has been 90 days since I called and made the request. I have been in contact with Honda numerous times and they still do not have the part fro my car. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10916589, filed 2016-10, 87,000 miles

   “Takata recall srs light came on at almost 113,000 miles with code 11-10 for driver side airbag inflator. All open recalls for this vehicle have already been completed. The driver side airbag was recalled in fits from 2009-2014. Only the passenger airbag was covered by recall in 2007 fits.”

   NHTSA complaint #11046021, filed 2017-11, 112,500 miles

Buying note. Have a mechanic inspect the front axles and confirm the airbag and driveshaft recalls were completed for the VIN, and test the steering at low speed for any loss of assist. Check the trunk floor and rear carpets for water damage before deciding.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.