CarBrief

The 2009 Honda Fit has 287 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, led by air bags[1][2]. It also has 11 recalls, so check the VIN before you buy[3].

287owner complaints[1]
11recalls[3]
29–31MPG combined (EPA)[4]

Most reported problems

NHTSA has 287 owner complaints on file for the 2009 Honda Fit[1]. Of those, 23 mention a crash, 2 a fire and 22 injuries, and no deaths are reported[1]. These are unverified owner reports, and one complaint can name several parts of the car.

The biggest group is air bags, with 104 complaints[2]. Steering follows with 46[5] and the power train with 33[6]. Smaller groups are the electrical system with 23[7], the engine with 20[8], visibility with 17[9] and structure with 14[10]. A further 15 complaints are filed as unknown or other[11].

We also read a small sample of the complaint texts in each group. It is too small to say how common anything is, but it shows what owners write about.

The 104 air bag complaints have a median mileage at failure of 70,000[2]. For steering it is 90,000[5] and for the power train 110,000[6].

Recalls

NHTSA lists 11 recalls for the 2009 Fit[3]. Nine of them involve air bags[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. Newest first:

Several of these recalls cover many Honda models and apply to this Fit only if your car is in the covered group. Check your VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup before you buy or drive a used one.

Fuel economy

EPA lists three versions of the 2009 Fit, all with a 1.5L 4-cylinder engine, regular fuel and front-wheel drive[4][23][24].

Transmission City Highway Combined Annual fuel cost
Automatic 5-spd[4] 28 35 31 $2,150
Automatic (S5)[24] 27 33 30 $2,250
Manual 5-spd[23] 27 33 29 $2,300

EPA's annual fuel 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 of the 2009 Fit as not rated[25]. That means there is no star score to compare.

Engine and size

The fuel economy listings give the engine as a 1.5L 4-cylinder[4]. Remove the sentence.

Dimensions below are Canadian-market specifications for the 4-door hatchback FWD (DX, LX and Sport) and can differ slightly from US models[26]. They were converted from metric[26].

Measure Value
Length[26] 162 in
Width[26] 67 in
Height[26] 60 in
Wheelbase[26] 98 in
Curb weight[26] 2,471 lb

How 2009 compares with other years

2007: 370 complaints, 11 recalls20072008: 217 complaints, 8 recalls20082009: 287 complaints, 11 recalls28720092010: 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 2009 is highlighted[3].
Show the numbers
Model yearComplaintsRecalls
200737011
20082178
200928711
201018412
201111311
201211311
201317610
20152854
20161211
2017430
20181174
20191366
2020364

Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so read them as rough signals. Across the 14 Fit model years NHTSA lists, 2009 has 287 complaints[3]. Only 2007 has more, at 370, and 2015 is close behind at 285[3].

On recalls, 2009 has 11[3]. The 2010 model year has 12, while 2007, 2011 and 2012 also have 11[3]. The 2014 year lists 0 complaints, The 2014 year lists 0 complaints[3]..

Should you buy a used 2009 Fit?

The facts point to one clear task: check every recall on the VIN before buying. Nine recalls involve air bags[3], and the driveshaft recall and one inflator recall had no remedy available in our data[21][18]. The Fit has an EPA combined rating of 29 to 31 MPG[4][23][24], which is a plus for running costs. Owners who wrote about steering and drive axles describe sudden failures, though our sample is small[5][6]. A fair approach is to ask for proof that the recall work was done and to have the steering and axles checked on a test drive.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2009 Honda Fit?
NHTSA's biggest complaint groups are air bags with 104 complaints, steering with 46 and the power train with 33, out of 287 total[1][2][5][6].
Does the 2009 Honda Fit have recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 11 recalls for the 2009 Fit, 9 of them about air bags[3]. One covers a driveshaft problem[21] and one an engine valve spring problem[22].
How many miles per gallon does a 2009 Honda Fit get?
EPA rates it at 29 to 31 combined MPG depending on the transmission[4][23][24].
Is the 2009 Honda Fit reliable?
We cannot give a reliability score. NHTSA has 287 owner complaints for 2009, more than most other Fit years, so check recalls and repair history[1][3].
Which Honda Fit year has the fewest complaints?
Among years with complaints on file, 2020 has the fewest at 36, then 2017 at 43[3]. The 2014 year lists none[3].

Facts and sources

  1. NHTSA has 287 owner complaints on file for the 2009 Honda Fit (23 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 22 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  2. 104 complaints name the air bags component group (13 crashes, 0 fires, 14 injuries, median mileage at failure 70,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  3. Owner complaints and recalls for every Honda Fit model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  4. EPA rating for Fit, 1.5L 4-cyl, Automatic 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 28 city / 35 highway / 31 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,150. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  5. 46 complaints name the steering component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 90,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  6. 33 complaints name the power train component group (1 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 110,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  7. 23 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 54,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  8. 20 complaints name the engine component group (1 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 25,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  9. 17 complaints name the visibility component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 14,400). NHTSA vehicle records
  10. 14 complaints name the structure component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 62,740). NHTSA vehicle records
  11. 15 complaints name the unknown or other component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 99,500). NHTSA vehicle records
  12. Recall 19V502, filed June 27, 2019: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
  13. Recall 19V500, filed June 27, 2019: Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
  14. Recall 19V378, filed May 16, 2019: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
  15. Recall 18V268, filed April 26, 2018: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
  16. Recall 18V042, filed January 9, 2018: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
  17. Recall 17V545, filed August 31, 2017: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
  18. Recall 17V030, filed January 10, 2017: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
  19. Recall 16V346, filed May 24, 2016: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
  20. Recall 16V061, filed February 3, 2016: Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
  21. Recall 20V770, filed December 10, 2020: Power Train › Driveline › Driveshaft. NHTSA recall database
  22. Recall 11V101, filed February 17, 2011: Engine And Engine Cooling. NHTSA recall database
  23. EPA rating for Fit, 1.5L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 27 city / 33 highway / 29 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,300. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  24. EPA rating for Fit, 1.5L 4-cyl, Automatic (S5), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 27 city / 33 highway / 30 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,250. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  25. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR FWD: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
  26. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, FIT 4DR HATCH FWD DX/LX/SPORT: length 162 in, width 67 in, height 60 in, wheelbase 98 in, curb weight 2,471 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.