CarBrief

The 2008 Honda Fit has 217 owner complaints on file with NHTSA[1] and 8 recalls[2]. Air bags are the most named component group in those complaints[3], and one drive shaft recall had no remedy available yet when owners were first notified[4].

217owner complaints[1]
8recalls[2]
29–31MPG combined (EPA)[5]

Most reported problems

NHTSA lists 217 owner complaints for the 2008 Fit[1]. Of those, 28 mention a crash and 2 mention a fire, and 28 injuries are reported[1]. No deaths are reported[1]. These are unverified owner reports, and one complaint can name more than one component. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold.

Here are the component groups owners name most often.

Component group Complaints
Air bags[3] 57
Structure[6] 43
Engine[7] 27
Power train[8] 24
Brakes[9] 21
Electrical system[10] 18
Exterior lighting[11] 17
Speed control[12] 14

Air bags. The air bag group has 57 complaints, with 16 crashes and 23 injuries. The median mileage at failure is 80,425[3]. In the sample of air bag complaints we read, owners describe crashes where the air bags did not deploy, sometimes with a totaled car and injuries[3].

Structure. There are 43 complaints, with a median mileage at failure of 57,000[6]. In the sample we read, owners describe water getting into the cabin, the rear floor or the spare tire well. They mention wet carpet, fogged windows and mold, and they point to door, window or hatch seals[6].

Engine. There are 27 complaints, with a median mileage at failure of 96,000[7]. In the sample we read, owners describe stalling, rough idle and trouble when starting cold. Some say the dealer could not find the cause. A couple describe the engine surging when they braked[7].

Power train. There are 24 complaints, with a median mileage at failure of 105,670[8]. The sample is mixed. Owners describe clutch or manual shifting trouble, automatic transmission shifting trouble, and a few drive shaft or axle failures[8].

Brakes and speed control. Brakes have 21 complaints with 7 crashes[9]. Speed control has 14 complaints with 6 crashes[12]. Both groups are small, so we do not draw a pattern from them.

Recalls

NHTSA lists 8 recalls for the 2008 Fit[2]. Here they are, newest first.

Before buying, ask the seller to confirm with Honda which of these recalls were completed on that car.

Fuel economy

EPA lists three versions of the 2008 Fit, all with a 1.5L four-cylinder engine, regular fuel and front-wheel drive[20][5][21].

Transmission City / highway / combined MPG Annual fuel cost
Manual 5-spd[5] 28 / 34 / 31 $2,150
Automatic 5-spd[20] 27 / 34 / 30 $2,250
Automatic (S5)[21] 27 / 33 / 29 $2,300

EPA's annual cost uses its current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new.

Safety ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings list the 4 DR FWD version as not rated[22]. That means there is no star score to compare. The recall and complaint records above are the safety information we have.

Engine and size

EPA lists a 1.5L four-cylinder engine for all three versions[20][5][21]. These dimensions are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, converted to inches and pounds. They can differ slightly from US models.

Measure Value
Length[23] 157 in
Width[23] 67 in
Height[23] 60 in
Wheelbase[23] 96 in
Curb weight[23] 2,515 lb

How 2008 compares with other years

2007: 370 complaints, 11 recalls20072008: 217 complaints, 8 recalls21720082009: 287 complaints, 11 recalls20092010: 184 complaints, 12 recalls20102011: 113 complaints, 11 recalls20112012: 113 complaints, 11 recalls20122013: 176 complaints, 10 recalls20132015: 285 complaints, 4 recalls20152016: 121 complaints, 1 recalls20162017: 43 complaints, 0 recalls20172018: 117 complaints, 4 recalls20182019: 136 complaints, 6 recalls20192020: 36 complaints, 4 recalls2020
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Fit model year. The 2008 is highlighted[2].
Show the numbers
Model yearComplaintsRecalls
200737011
20082178
200928711
201018412
201111311
201211311
201317610
20152854
20161211
2017430
20181174
20191366
2020364

NHTSA's counts for each Fit model year show where 2008 sits[2].

The 2014 year shows 0 complaints[2]. Complaint counts are not adjusted for sales, so read the gaps between years as rough only.

Should you buy a used 2008 Fit?

Three themes show up in the complaint samples we read: air bag non-deployment in crashes[3], water leaks in the structure group[6] and stalling or hard starts in the engine group[7]. The 2008 Fit has 8 recalls[2], fewer than six other Fit years in NHTSA's counts[2], and the drive shaft recall had no remedy available yet when owners were first notified[4]. EPA rates the car at 29 to 31 MPG combined[20][5][21]. If you are shopping, ask the seller to confirm with Honda which recalls were done, look for damp carpet and a musty smell, and ask about the air bag and power window recalls. These are owner reports and not a verdict on every car.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2008 Honda Fit?
Air bags are the most named component group, with 57 of the 217 complaints on file[1][3]. Structure follows with 43[6], and the sample we read describes water leaks. Engine has 27[7].
Does the 2008 Honda Fit have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 8 recalls[2]. They cover a drive shaft, passenger air bag inflators, power window switches, a headlight switch and occupant detection wiring[4][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]. The drive shaft recall had no remedy available yet when owners were first notified[4].
How many miles per gallon does a 2008 Honda Fit get?
EPA rates the manual at 31 MPG combined[5], the 5-speed automatic at 30[20] and the Automatic (S5) at 29[21].
Is the 2008 Honda Fit a reliable car?
Our data does not include a reliability score. It does show 217 complaints[1] and 8 recalls[2], so ask the seller to confirm with Honda which recalls were done.
Which Honda Fit year has the fewest complaints?
Among years with complaints on file, 2020 has the fewest at 36[2]. 2014 shows 0 complaints[2]. The 2008 model year has 217[2].

Facts and sources

  1. NHTSA has 217 owner complaints on file for the 2008 Honda Fit (28 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 28 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  2. Owner complaints and recalls for every Honda Fit model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  3. 57 complaints name the air bags component group (16 crashes, 0 fires, 23 injuries, median mileage at failure 80,425). NHTSA vehicle records
  4. Recall 20V770, filed December 10, 2020: Power Train › Driveline › Driveshaft. NHTSA recall database
  5. EPA rating for Fit, 1.5L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 28 city / 34 highway / 31 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,150. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  6. 43 complaints name the structure component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 57,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  7. 27 complaints name the engine component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 96,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  8. 24 complaints name the power train component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 105,670). NHTSA vehicle records
  9. 21 complaints name the brakes component group (7 crashes, 0 fires, 7 injuries, median mileage at failure 36,500). NHTSA vehicle records
  10. 18 complaints name the electrical system component group (1 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 88,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  11. 17 complaints name the exterior lighting component group (1 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 107,193). NHTSA vehicle records
  12. 14 complaints name the speed control component group (6 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 39,600). NHTSA vehicle records
  13. Recall 19V501, filed June 27, 2019: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
  14. Recall 17V029, filed January 10, 2017: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
  15. Recall 16V344, filed May 23, 2016: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
  16. Recall 13V260, filed June 24, 2013: Visibility › Power Window Devices And Controls. NHTSA recall database
  17. Recall 10V624, filed December 15, 2010: Exterior Lighting › Headlights › High / Low Beam Dimmer Switch. NHTSA recall database
  18. Recall 10V033, filed February 2, 2010: Visibility › Power Window Devices And Controls. NHTSA recall database
  19. Recall 07V549, filed December 3, 2007: Air Bags › Frontal. NHTSA recall database
  20. EPA rating for Fit, 1.5L 4-cyl, Automatic 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 27 city / 34 highway / 30 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,250. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  21. EPA rating for Fit, 1.5L 4-cyl, Automatic (S5), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 27 city / 33 highway / 29 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,300. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  22. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR FWD: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
  23. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, FIT 4DR HATCH FWD /DX/LX/SPORT: length 157 in, width 67 in, height 60 in, wheelbase 96 in, curb weight 2,515 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.