2008 Honda Fit Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2008 Honda Fit most often describe water getting into the cabin after rain, which shows up as wet carpets, a musty odor and mold growth, and they also report frequent trouble getting front lamps to stay working after the headlight switch recall. A recurring cold-start stall and rough running pattern is the other common theme, typically appearing at higher mileage. Airbag concerns appear in the sample mainly through warnings that the airbag light stays on and through several reports of bags not inflating in a crash.

1. 1
   Body and structure

   Water leaking into cabin and wet carpets

   • 35 complaints (16%)
   • median 48,500 mi at 4.4 yrs old (26 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2020

   Complaints describe rain water collecting in the front and rear floor areas, the rear seat and the cargo area, often leaving standing water and a musty smell. Several owners traced it to door seals and the plastic sheeting inside the doors, and some found mold growing on the carpets. Owners report dealers sometimes resealed or replaced door seals without stopping the leak, and in other cases the dealer did not cover the repair or could not identify the source. Reported from roughly 15,000 to 140,000 miles, most often noticed after heavy or steady rain.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Look for damp or stained carpets and a musty smell under the seats and in the spare-tire well, especially after rain, and check the door seals and hatch area for gaps or rust. Ask whether any leak repairs or seal replacements have been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My car has 38000 miles on it. Within the last few months, I've noticed a bad smell in my car after it has rained and the interior of the car has been allowed to warm up due to sunlight. I've found water underneath my front driver-side floor mat. It seems to be coming from the bottom portion of the seal that surrounds the door frame of the car, not the door itself. This only happens after heavy rains. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10366371, filed 2010-11, 37,979 miles

   “The upper rear panel (where there is a groove where the frame comes together and you could attach a roof rack) on the driver's side separated a little and water came into the car. It soaked the trunk and floor behind the drivers seat. The water also damaged the ABS sensors. I had to replace the ABS sensors and sort of caulk the gap between the panels. I found out about the problem when my ABS light on my dash went on.”

   NHTSA complaint #10734438, filed 2015-07, 96,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Cold-start stalling and rough running

   • 35 complaints (16%)
   • median 78,500 mi at 5.6 yrs old (32 state mileage)
   • filed 2010–2025

   Owners describe the engine stalling during warm-up, at stops and at low speed, sometimes repeatedly, with the problem easing once the engine is warm. Some complaints mention bucking, hesitation and misfires, and several report that dealers and independent mechanics could not find a cause or code. Work described includes spark plugs, coils, sensors, injectors and idle resets, with mixed results. Usually reported between about 30,000 and 150,000 miles, often worse in cold weather or on the first start of the day.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Start the car from cold during the test drive and watch for a low or rough idle and stalling before it warms up. Ask whether the check-engine light has come on and whether ignition coils, plugs or idle control work has already been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My Honda FIT repeatedly stalls from cold engine starts. This has been happening regularly and randomly for the last several months. It will stall both when at a stop (such as at a stop light or sign) and at slow speed, such as when pulling out of a drive or backing up. This stops happening once the engine warms up. I have taken the vehicle to two mechanics, neither of whom has been able to find the problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10452605, filed 2012-03, 60,000 miles

   “Car has been stalling taken it to several mechanics plus the dealership and they can't find the problem. Today was the worse it stalled 3 times at a drive thru and twice while at a busy intersection. It seems the car stalls more often if the air condition is on I do not feel safe driving around with my windows rolled down plus high temps. Today I noticed the car accelerated after idling at a traffic light since I am not the primary driver I don't know how long this has been going on. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10992100, filed 2017-05, 108,000 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light on; bags not inflating in a crash

   • 51 complaints (24%)
   • median 82,712 mi at 7.0 yrs old (20 state mileage)
   • 16 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2020

   Owners report the airbag warning light staying on and testing showing the airbag module needed replacement, which disabled the bags. Other complaints describe front-end collisions in which the airbags did not inflate, or inflated without filling, including a collision where the front structure was badly damaged. Some owners report dealers could not determine why the light was on, and several repaired or replaced the inflator on the passenger side under related recalls. Reported from roughly 18,000 to 250,000 miles, in collisions at moderate speeds as well as with no crash involved.

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

   What to check: Turn the key to the run position and confirm the airbag light comes on and then goes out. Ask whether the passenger inflator recall work and any warranty extension on the airbag inflator have been performed for this vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10259790, filed 2009-02, 18,500 miles

   “Lost control of steering and veered into light post. The post was impacted at approximately 30 MPH. The air bag did not deploy. There was smoke and gun powder smell. The car was a total loss. The airbag obviously fired, but did not deploy.”

   NHTSA complaint #11384459, filed 2020-12, 142,000 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Front axle and driveshaft failure under load

   • 13 complaints (6%)
   • median 113,500 mi at 13.4 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2025

   Complaints describe a sudden loud noise from the driveline at low speed, or an axle breaking under acceleration and leaving the vehicle stuck, with one case noting heavy corrosion under the rubber damper on the shaft. Owners report the vehicle was towed and axles replaced, and some note the supplier's replacement part was installed while factory parts were unavailable. In a few reports, further driveline trouble such as gears skipping or the transmission being damaged followed the repair. Mostly reported between about 80,000 and 200,000 miles, in vehicles driven in road-salt conditions.

   Recall 20V770000

   What to check: Ask whether the 20V770000 driveshaft recall remedy has been applied and whether any axles have been replaced. On a manual-transmission car, have the axles inspected for corrosion, especially where the rubber damper sits.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On 2/17/21 the driver side axle broke and right side axle rusted. I had my vehicle towed to the Honda dealership to have vehicle fixed. They installed aftermarket axles and when the factory Honda axles become available, they said they would contact me to come back and they would switch the parts out for free. I then picked up my car on 2/19/21. On 3/7/21 (after only putting about 400 miles on it) the transmission started skipping gears. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11399973, filed 2021-03, 140,000 miles

   “Right side drive shaft of front wheel drive vehicle failed under acceleration causing vehicle to stop in intersection. Examination of failed drive shaft shows classic failure under torsion. The drive shaft was compromised by severe corrosion that reduced the diameter of the drive by approximately half the original diameter. Severe corrosion is located directly under the rubber vibration damper installed on the drive shaft that trapped water and salt greatly accelerating corrosion. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10723316, filed 2015-06, 190,000 miles
5. 5
   Exterior lighting

   Front low-beam and headlight switch problems

   • 13 complaints (6%)
   • median 114,386 mi at 7.0 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2022

   Complaints describe low-beam headlights and fog lamps stopping working, sometimes more than once, and a related issue where using the right turn signal switches on the high beams while the low beams are on. Owners report melted or worn connectors and replacement of the combination switch. Several mention that the headlight wiring recall service did not resolve the problem or that a dealer charged for diagnosis or declined further work. Typically reported between about 15,000 and 150,000 miles, including shortly after a recall repair.

   Recall 10V624000

   What to check: With the headlights on, try the right turn signal and check that the high beams do not come on, and confirm both low beams work. Ask whether the 10V624000 headlight switch recall was completed and whether the combination switch has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Low beam lights due not function.lots of similar complaints on the computer.called the Honda garage where I purchased the car and they said they would charge me to look at it and troubleshoot the problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10839437, filed 2016-03, 150,000 miles

   “Combination headlight switch was faulty. While low beams are on, toggling the right turn signal activates the high beam. I brought the car to the dealer and performed the headlight switch recall hoping it would get fixed but the recall only addressed the wiring harness. The problem persisted after the recall. I googled it and it is a common problem. Told the dealer about what I found online and was charging me extra for diagnostics and replacing the part. They told me the recall did not include replacing combination switch itself. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10749618, filed 2015-08, 114,386 miles

Buying note. Check for water damage and smell inside the cabin, confirm the airbag and headlight recalls were completed, and start the engine cold to see how it idles. Records of axle and ignition-service work are worth asking for, since several owners describe repeated visits before a fault was pinned down.

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.