YearToAvoid

2009 Honda Fit Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Avoid The 2009 Honda Fit ranks worst of all 13 model years, with a complaint index of 100, 287 complaints, and 11 recall campaigns. Airbags account for 36% of complaints, followed by steering at 16%, giving it an Avoid verdict relative to other Fit years.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
100/100
#1 of 13 Fit years
Verdict
Avoid
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
287
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
11
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
23
reported in complaints
Fires
2
Injuries
22
Top issue
Airbags
Best nearby year
2017
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
30
27 city / 33 hwy
Injuries / deaths
22 / 0

Top 2009 Honda Fit problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags104 (36%)
  2. Steering46 (16%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain33 (11%)
  4. Electrical System25 (9%)
  5. Engine24 (8%)
  6. Structure & Body17 (6%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires17 (6%)
  8. Other16 (6%)
  9. Visibility & Wipers16 (6%)
  10. Brakes13 (5%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Airbags fail to deploy or deploy improperly during rear-end and frontal collisions, sometimes with injuries reported.
  • Drivers describe sudden unintended acceleration where the vehicle moves forward without the accelerator being pressed.
  • Brakes are reported to feel unresponsive or delayed, with some drivers unable to stop in time despite hard braking.
  • Driver's seat has been reported to collapse abnormally during a rear-end crash.
  • One owner reported an engine fire while driving, with oil and gas leakage found afterward.
2009 Honda Fit complaints: complaints filed per quarter572008 Q42011 Q12013 Q12015 Q32017 Q32019 Q32021 Q32024 Q2
287 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2008 Q4 to 2026 Q3; peak 2016 Q3 (57).

2009 Honda Fit recalls

11 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. NHTSA 19V502000Jun 27, 2019Airbags9,555 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2014 TSX Sport Wagon, 2010-2013 ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic and Civic Hybrid, 2008-2010 Civic GX NGV, 2012-2015 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2014 Fit EV, 2010-2014 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot 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 air bag 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 F5F and Q5E.

  3. NHTSA 19V500000Jun 27, 2019Airbags1,558 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013 Acura ILX, 2015 RDX, 2005-2010 and 2012 RL, 2009-2014 TL, 2010 and 2012 ZDX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2011-2013 and 2015 CR-Z, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013 Fit EV, 2010-2011 and 2013 Insight and 2007-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with driver 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 driver frontal air bag 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 S5B and W59.

See all 11 recalls for the 2009 Honda Fit →

2009 Honda Fit fuel economy and fuel cost

City
27 MPG
Highway
33 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.

2009 compared with other Fit years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’15’16’17’18’19’20
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2007Avoid923701130
2008Avoid83217830
2009Avoid1002871130
2010Caution671831230
2011Caution331131130

All Honda Fit years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2009 Honda Fit reliable?
Among Fit model years, 2009 has the highest complaint index (100) and ranks worst overall, with 287 NHTSA complaints and 11 recall campaigns, earning an Avoid verdict relative to other Fit years.
What is the biggest problem with the 2009 Honda Fit?
Airbags are the top problem area, making up 36% of complaints (104 complaints) with a median failure mileage of 70,000 miles.
Does the 2009 Honda Fit have an airbag recall?
Yes. NHTSA lists multiple airbag recall campaigns covering the 2009 Fit, including driver and passenger frontal air bag inflator replacements issued between 2017 and 2019.
How does the 2009 Fit compare to other years?
The 2009 Fit has the highest complaint index (100) of all 13 model years tracked, worse than 2007 (92), 2008 (83), and far worse than top-rated years like 2017 (0) and 2020 (8).
What is the fuel economy of the 2009 Honda Fit?
EPA rates the 2009 Fit at 30 mpg combined (27 city / 33 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,150.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.