2008 Honda Fit Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
83/100
#3 most-complained of 13 Fit years
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
The 2008 Honda Fit has 217 owner complaints and 8 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 83 out of 100 — #3 highest of 13 Fit model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is airbags (57 complaints, 26% of the total). Complaints report 28 crashes, 2 fires, and 28 injuries.
- Complaints
- 217
- Recalls
- 8
- Crashes / fires
- 28 / 2
- Injuries / deaths
- 28 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 30
- 27 city / 34 hwy
Top 2008 Honda Fit problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags57 (26%)
- Structure & Body47 (22%)
- Engine36 (17%)
- Electrical System28 (13%)
- Brakes24 (11%)
- Transmission & Powertrain24 (11%)
- Other14 (6%)
- Steering12 (6%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires9 (4%)
- Seat Belts4 (2%)
2008 Honda Fit recalls
8 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 20V770000Dec 10, 2020Transmission & Powertrain248,358 vehicles
Power train:driveline:driveshaft
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.
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 19V501000Jun 27, 2019Airbags1,657,752 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
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.
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 17V029000Jan 10, 2017Airbags308,884 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
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.
Risk: 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.
2008 Honda Fit fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 27 MPG
- Highway
- 34 MPG
- Combined
- 30 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,150
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2008 compared with other Fit years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2008 Honda Fit a reliable year?
- Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2008 Honda Fit ranks #3 of 13 among Fit model years (Complaint Index 83/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 217 complaints and 8 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
- What are the most common problems with the 2008 Honda Fit?
- The most reported problem areas are airbags (57 complaints), structure & body (47 complaints), and engine (36 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 74,000 miles.
- Does the 2008 Honda Fit have any recalls?
- Yes — NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for the 2008 Honda Fit, most recently reported 2020, covering transmission & powertrain, airbags, visibility & wipers, and electrical system.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2008 Honda Fit?
- EPA rates the 2008 Honda Fit at 30 MPG combined (27 city / 34 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,150. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.