2008 Honda Fit Complaint Log

AT START-UP THERE SEEMS TO BE ENOUGH BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM FOR ONE BRAKING; THE NEXT TIME I HIT THE BRAKES IT GOES TO THE FLOOR AS IF THERE IS NO POWER BRAKE ASSIST. THERE ARE BRAKES THERE, BUT IT TAKES A HUGE AMOUNT OF FORCE AND IF YOU'RE NOT EXPECTING IT WOULD BE EASY TO HIT SOMETHING. IT HAPPENS 50% OF THE TIME I START THE VEHICLE (AFTER SITTING 8+ HOURS). THE ISSUE IS WORSE WHEN IN REVERSE (LOWER GEAR AND THUS MORE POWER FROM THE ENGINE?). THE SECOND DEALER I WENT TO SAID THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH NO KNOWN REPAIR. WHILE AT THE DEALERSHIP, A CIVIC OWNER SAID SHE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE DEALERS TOLD HER THAT IT IS "NORMAL". THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME TO LET THE CAR WARM UP FOR 2-MINUTES BEFORE DRIVING. A YEAR AGO, I HAD 32,000 MILES WHEN THIS FIRST OCCURRED 20% OF THE TIME; NOW I HAVE 76,000 MILES AND IT OCCURS 50% OF THE TIME. I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT SOME PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINTS MAY THINK THE BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING AT ALL, WHEN YOU HAVE TO PUSH EXTREMELY HARD TO GET THEM TO WORK (AS WHEN YOUR BRAKE BOOSTER FAILS). IT IS DIFFICULT FOR ME TO STOP EVEN THOUGH I'M 6'7", 200 POUNDS, VERY STRONG AND I'M A HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR SO I'M PREPARED FOR THINGS TO GO WRONG. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA FIT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE MASTER POWER WINDOW SWITCH WOULD OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH THE VIN WAS INCLUDED. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS 10V033000 (VISIBILITY). THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. ..UPDATED 07-05-13 *BF

STRUCTURAL BODY WATER LEAKS INTO THE REAR SEAT AREAS AND REAR CARGO AREAS. VEHICLE TAKEN TO TWO SOUTH JERSEY HONDA DEALERSHIPS ( THREE TIMES ). ONE DEALER STATED THEY COULDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. THE SECOND SUBLET THE ATTEMPTED REPAIRS WITHOUT SUCCESS. PAID $ 214.00 TO THE HONDA DEALER WHO SUBLET THE ATTEMPTED REPAIRS. LEAKS OCCUR DURING A MODERATE RAIN FALL.. AMERICAN HONDA CASE NUMBER : 042-895-29.

AT TIMES CAR STALLS AT RED LIGHT. CAR HAS ALSO QUIT RUNNING AT 70 MPH. HAVE HAD CAR AT HONDA DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THERE ARE NO FALT CODES. CAR IS NOW TURNING ON CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. DEALER IS NO HELP. HAVE REPLACED COILS, SPARK PLUGS, AIR FILTER AND V-TEC OIL PRESSURE SWITCH. TROUBLE STILL EXIST. HONDA DEALER HAS NO CLUE AND IS NO HELP IN RESOLVING THIS ISSUE. I AM AFRAID THAT SOMEONE MIGHT DIE IN THE CAR BEFORE THE TROUBLE IS FIXED. *TT

AFTER ATTEMPTING TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY STOP ON A CITY STREET ON A SUNNY DAY WITH ABOUT 2.5 CAR LENGTHS BETWEEN MY FIT AND AN ACCORD. THE VEHICLE'S ABS SYSTEM OVERREACTED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BECOME VERY CHOPPY, DRAMATICALLY INCREASING THE DISTANCE IT TOOK TO STOP. THIS CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO REAR END THE ACCORD. IN RETROSPECT, HAD I NOT APPLIED 100% BRAKE FORCE AND DID NOT TRIGGER THE ABS, I MAY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE JUST SHORT OF REAR ENDING THE OTHER VEHICLE. I HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR SITUATIONS UNDER VARIOUS ROAD AND WEATHER CONDITIONS WITH THIS VEHICLE, WHERE THE ABS ACTIVATES PREMATURELY AND REMAINS ACTIVE, EVEN WHEN THERE SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT GRIP. EVEN LIGHT PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE GOING OVER SOME POT HOLES AND UP ONTO DRIVE WAYS TRIGGERS THE ABS SYSTEM. I NEVER PAID MUCH ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE BECAUSE I ALWAYS LEAVE ENOUGH SPACE BETWEEN MYSELF AND OTHER VEHICLES, BUT AFTER DOING SOME ONLINE RESEARCH AFTER MY ACCIDENT, IT HAS BECOME APPARENT TO ME THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCE ABS PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. NOR AM I THE ONLY INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO THE NHTSA. AS A NOTE, I HAVE DRIVEN VARIOUS SMALL AND LARGE VEHICLES - WITH AND WITHOUT ABS - AND THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN REACTED SO POORLY IN AN EMERGENCY/PANIC SITUATION. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THESE ABS PROBLEMS OCCURRED WITH THE FACTORY DUNLOP TIRES AS MY RECENT ACCIDENT WITH PERFORMANCE (GRIPPY) FIRESTONE FIREHAWK WIDE OVAL INDY 500 TIRES (WITH >50 TREAD). I HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE ESTIMATE FOR THE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE, BUT THE FRONT BUMPER IS DAMAGED AS WELL AS THE HOOD - NOT SURE IF THERE IS ANY FRAME DAMAGE. NO AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED, NO OCCUPANTS WERE HARMED. I WILL ALSO REACH OUT TO HONDA AMERICA. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU. *TR

I STARTED BUILDING CONDENSATION UP IN MY CAR. I TOOK IT TO STRAUB HONDA IN TRIADELPHIA, WEST VIRGINIA. THEY SAID THAT IT SEEMED TO BE A DOOR SEAL WAS LEAKING. THEY CHANGED THE DOOR SEAL AND DRIED OUT THE WHOLE CAR. FIRST OF ALL, FOR A VEHICLE FOR NOT EVEN 18,000 MILES ON IT SHOULD NOT HAVE SEALS GOING BAD. THEN ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER IT WAS LEAKING AGAIN. I COULDNT EVEN SEE OUT OF MY WINDOWS BECAUSE THEY WERE FROZEN FROM THE INSIDE. WHEN THEY THAWED OUT, MY WINDOWS WERE DRIPPING WATER ONTO MY DASH AND DOORS. I TOOK MY CAR BACK INTO STRAUBS AGAIN. THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD CALLED A NUMBER TO SEE IF THIS PROBLEM WAS OCCURRING NATIONALLY. HE TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS SOME HONDA FITS THAT WERE DOING THE SAME THING AND THAT THERE WAS CRACKING ALONG THE HATCH OF THE CAR AND WATER WAS RUNNING THROUGH THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR AND SETTLING AT THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. I DONT KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE INTERIOR WIRING OF THE CAR, BUT I HOPE THERE IS NO WIRING THAT THIS WATER TRAVELED THROUGH. NOW, I HAVE PAID $300.00 OUT OF POCKET TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT IS OCCURRING TO OTHER HONDA FITS AS WELL. IF THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED TO OURS, THAN ITS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THERE IS MORE OCCURENCES. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET IN CONTACT OF STRAUBS FOR ANY REASON, I HAVE THAT NUMBER AVAILABLE ALSO. I ALSO HAVE A PICTURE OF WHAT IT IS LIKE TRYING TO DRIVE THE CAR WHILE THE WINDOW IS DEFROSTING, YOU CANT DO ANYTHING WITHN IT UNTIL IT IS MELTED 25 MINUTES LATER. *TR

NOTICED DAMP/WET CARPET UNDER RUBBER FLOOR MATS ON NOV 15TH 2011, NOTED A MOLDY SMELL. CLEANED CAR DRIED OUT CARPET. NOTICED REAR CARPET VERY WET AFTER RAINY PERIOD DEC 21 2011. PULLED UP CARPET, WATER ALL OVER TOP HUMP WERE SEAT BRACKETS ATTACH TO CAR FRAME, CARPET WAS SOAKED ALL WAY TO FRONT SEATS. I FEEL THIS MAY BE A STRUCTURAL ISSUE AND SAFETY ISSUE. OVER ON MILES FOR WARRANTY TO COVER. SCHEDULE WITH LOCAL DEALERSHIP. *TR

THE DRIVER AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT-END OF THE CAR WAS SO EXTENSIVE THAT THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS DEEMED IT A TOTAL LOSS?. I AM BRUISED AND SORE IN MY CHEST AND ABDOMEN. I HAVE NECK AND BACK PAIN AND A PERMANENT HEADACHE SINCE THE ACCIDENT. I FOUND THIS INFORMATION WHILE I MADE MY OWN RESEARCH TO SEE IF SOMEBODY ELSE HAD EXPERIMENTED THIS SITUATION. I BASICALLY FACED AN ACCIDENT WITH MY BODY AND I DIDN'T HAVE ANY PROTECTION FROM MY 2008 HONDA FIT. I TOTALLY BLAME HONDA FOR THIS DEFICIENCY . CAR PROBLEM(S) WITH THE 2008 HONDA FIT. THIS DATABASE INCLUDES INFORMATION RECEIVED BY NHTSA FROM CONSUMERS EITHER DIRECTLY OR AS RECORDED BY THE VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE. THIS INFORMATION MAY BE USED BY NHTSA DURING THE INVESTIGATION PROCESS. I NEED AN ANSWER TO THIS CLAIM. *TR

WHILE PARKED MY 2008 HONDA FIT HAS A WATER LEAK THAT CAN SEEM TO BE FOUND. ACCORDING TO INTERNET MESSAGE BOARDS THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM PLAGUING MANY IF NOT MOST 2007-2008 FIT OWNERS. THE WATER LEAKS AND POOLS ON THE REAR FLOORS CAUSING MOLD TO GROW WITH A STRONG SMELL OF MILDEW. WHEN I CONTACTED HONDA THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $150 PER HOUR TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM ALONE. INSTEAD OF THAT I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO COULD CLEARLY SEE THERE WAS A WATER ISSUE, BUT AFTER 2 HOURS OF INSPECTION, COULD NOT FIND THE LEAK. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND SHOULD BE RECALLED, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT THE CARPET HAS TO BE REPLACED TO BE COMPLETELY FREE OF THE MOLD. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, IS NOT MISUSED, AND IS SERVICED REGULARLY (FOLLOWING THE RECOMMENDED HONDA MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE). *TR

AFTER BACKING SLOWLY OUT OF A PARKING PLACE, I PUT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTO DRIVE. MY FOOT WAS STILL TOUCHING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED RAPIDLY. I SLAMMED MY FOOT DOWN ON THE BRAKE, BUT IT CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD. I QUICKLY MOVED THE GEARSHIFT TO NEUTRAL, THE ENGINE RACED AND THEN SLOWLY RETURNED TO IDLE. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AND CHECKED THE FLOOR MAT, BUT IT WAS FLAT ON THE FLOOR. MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR WHEN THE ACCELERATION OCCURRED, AND IF THE MAT WERE INTERFERING WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE ENGINE SPEED WOULD NOT HAVE RACED AND THEN SLOWLY DECREASED AFTER I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL. THIS WAS CLEARLY A MALFUNCTION. I HAVE AN ENGINEERING BACKGROUND AND KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DRIVER FOOT ERROR AND EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTION. *TT

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. I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THIS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH JUST MY VEHICLE AND NOT BOTHERED TO REPORT THE PROBLEM TO SAFECAR.GOV, EXCEPT THAT WHEN I DO AN INTERNET SEARCH ABOUT MY PROBLEM, I FIND THAT MANY, MANY OTHER OWNERS OF 2008 FITS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE IS ALSO A "STALL" ISSUE RECALL FOR 2009-2010 FITS. THANK YOU. *JS

WATER IN SPARE TIRE WELL. ORIGINALLY THOUGHT WATER IN THE TIRE WELL WAS DUE TO HATCH OPENING DURING RAIN/SNOW, BUT SINCE VEHICLE WAS NOT USED FOR A WEEK DURING HEAVY RAIN, THIS MUST BE DUE TO A LEAKING WINDOW SEAL. *TR

BROUGHT CAR TO HONDA DEALERSHIP ON 6/24/11 FOR SERVICE DUE TO CAR DYING TWICE THAT DAY. UPON ARRIVAL CAR DIED AND HAD TO BE JUMPED TO SERVICE. ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED AS WELL AS THE BATTERY THAT DAY. THEN IN AUGUST CAR DIED ON THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING TWICE AND WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICES AT HONDA DEALERSHIP AND IMMOBILIZER WAS STATED TO BE THE PROBLEM THEN REPLACED ON 8/24/11. ARRIVE AT HONDA DEALERSHIP 9/6/11 FOR TIRE SERVICE AND CAR BATTERY ISSUES STATED BUT TECHNICIAN RESOLVED BY ADJUSTING BATTERY CONNECTIONS. ON 9/7/11 CAR DIES ON BRUCKNER BLVD IN THE BRONX, NY WHILE COMING OFF THE FDR AND HAZARD LIGHTS WOULD NOT COME ON. NYC DOT WORKERS HAD TO MANUALLY PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL SO IT COULD BE MOVED TO SIDE OF ROAD. CAR WAS TOWED TO BRONX HONDA AND BATTERY REPLACED AGAIN. DEALERSHIP STATED CAR ISSUES SHOULD BE RESOLVED BUT HEARD STRANGER RATTLING SOUNDS FROM CAR WHILE BACKING OUT THE SAME DAY IT WAS PICKED UP. *TR

I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35-40MPH AND COLLIDED WITH A STOPPED VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THE FRONT END OF MY CAR WAS CRUSHED, SPECIFICALLY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY THOUGH THE IMPACT OCCURRED IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. DAMAGES INCURRED RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS. *TR

WHENEVER I LEAVE MY HOUSE TO DRIVE MY CAR TO WORK EARLY IN THE MORNING WHEN IT IS AROUND 5 OR 6 DEGREES. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT TURNS ON, THE POWER STEERING BECOMES VERY TOUGH AND HARD TO MOVE. I WOULD HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR TO HAVE THE WARNING LIGHT GO OFF. SOME TIMES THE LIGHT TAKES A FEW TRIES BEFORE THE LIGHT GOES OFF. *TR

HONDA FIT 2008 BRAKES FAILURE TO STOP DURING BRAKING. NOISE DURING BRAKING GRINDING / LOOSENING OF BRAKE PADS WHEN BRAKING. WENT TO HONDA FOR BRAKE INSPECTION PER MY NON-HONDA MECHANIC, TO REPLACE CALIPERS. HONDA TECHNICIAN SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG, THAT I JUST NEEDED NEW BRAKE PADS. FIRST TIME REPLACING THEM SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. MILEAGE WAS AT 38,386. PAID FOR NEW PADS. DATE WAS DEC. 29, 2011. TODAY FIRST OIL CHANGE AND BRAKE CHECK SINCE PADS WERE CHANGE, WEARING OF PADS ARE STILL UNEVEN AND BRAKE NOISES STILL PREVALENT, EVEN AT FROM 20 MILE PER HOUR BRAKING TO STOP. *TR

THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN LEAKING THROUGH THE DOOR SEALS COMPLETELY SOAKING THE REAR CARPET CAUSING MOLD TO GROW AND PUDDLES TO FORM. HONDA HAS ISSUED RECALLS FOR LEAKING WATER INTO SWITCH AREAS BUT DENIES ALL KNOWLEDGE OF THIS ISSUE. ANY INTERNET SEARCH WILL BRING UP HUNDREDS OF 2007 AND 2008 HONDA FITS WITH THIS EXACT PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW AND HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS. THE MOLD ISSUE HAS RENDERED THE VEHICLE UNSAFE AND LOWERED ANY RESALE VALUE. DEALERSHIPS WANT APPROXIMATELY $400 TO JUST DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND THE HONDA CORPORATION WILL NOT HELP IN ANY WAY WITH THE PROBLEM. *TR

RE: 2008 HONDA FIT SPORT - A FEW WEEKS AFTER HAVING THE HEADLIGHT SAFETY RECALL FOR 2007-08 HONDA FIT VEHICLES FROM HONDA SERVICE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE WE STARTED TO NOTICE THAT THE HIGH BEAMS WOULD COME ON WHEN THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL WAS ACTIVATED WHILE THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ON. HONDA DIAGNOSED AS THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH BEING DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH UNDER WARRANTY. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE NEW HEADLIGHT SWITCH BEGAN DISPLAYING THE SAME ISSUE; WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON, USING THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL WOULD ACTIVATE THE HIGH BEAMS. HONDA HAS NOW DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE ONCE AGAIN AS THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH BEING DEFECTIVE. VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY IN A FEW WEEKS. HAVE CONTACTED AMERICAN HONDA AND OPENED A CASE ON THE ONGOING ISSUE. THINK THAT THEIR MAY BE A LARGE NUMBER OF DEFECTIVE REPLACEMENT HEADLIGHT/TURN SIGNAL SWITCHES CURRENTLY BEING USED FOR SERVICE. THIS WILL BE THE THIRD HEADLIGHT SWITCH THE VEHICLE HAS HAD. *TR

ALL FRONT LAMPS HAVE FAILED REPEATEDLY, INCLUDING LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT. HEADLAMPS HAVE FAILED FOUR TIMES. VEHICLE HAS BEEN RETURNED FOR SERVICE UNDER SAFETY RECALL NOTICE, BUT LIGHTS CONTINUE TO FAIL. *TR

WATER IN THE SPARE TIRE WELL. *TR

WATER LEAKING THROUGH REAR HATCH WEATHER SEAL. ORIGINALLY THOUGHT WATER CAME THROUGH REAR HATCH WHENEVER I OPENED IT TO GET THINGS DURING A STORM.I BEGAN TO REALIZE THAT WATER WOULD ACCUMULATE WHEN IT RAINED EVEN WHEN THE HATCH WAS NEVER OPENED. I STARTED TO HEAR SPLASHING TYPE SOUNDS THINKING IT WAS THE FUEL OR A LOW COOLANT LEVEL. A FEW MONTHS AGO I WAS VACUUMING THE CAR AND LIFTED UP THE REAR FLOOR COVERING OVER THE TIRE WELL AND DISCOVERED AT LEAST TWO GALLONS OF WATER ALMOST SUBMERGING THE SPARE TIRE. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS I STARTED TO OBSERVE WATER DRIPPING DOWN THROUGH A PLASTIC COVER THAT HOUSES A UTILITY HOOK ON THE CAR'S CEILING. THE HEADLINER ALSO WAS LEAKING NEAR THE HATCH .I NOW CHECK THE TIRE WELL AFTER IT RAINS AND IT NEVER FAILS THAT THE TIRE WELL AND SURROUNDING AREA ARE WET. I CAN ONLY USE THE DEFROST SETTING BECAUSE IF I DON'T THE WINDOWS WILL FOG UP. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THE REAR SEAT CARPETING GETTING DAMP EVEN WHEN ONLY THE DRIVER'S DOOR IS USED DURING A STORM. THE DEALERSHIP HAS DOWN PLAYED THE SITUATION SUGGESTING I HAVE THE WEATHER SEALS REPLACED BY THEM WITH A CHARGE FOR THE PART AND LABOR. I SPOKE TO HONDA OF AMERICA AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP TO BE DIAGNOSED FOR A FEE. I HAVE SPENT SEVERAL MONTHS INVESTIGATING ON MY OWN AND HAVE REACHED MY OWN DIAGNOSIS THAT THE WEATHER SEALS ON HONDA FITS ARE DEFECTIVE. I AM ABOUT READY TO TRADE THE CAR IN FOR SOMETHING ELSE BESIDES A HONDA. I LOVE THE CAR BUT CAN ONLY FORESEE MORE AGGRAVATION DOWN THE PIKE. I AM CAPABLE OF APPLYING SILICONE CAULK UNDER THE EXISTING WEATHER SEALS BUT WILL NOT BECAUSE I AM DISSATISFIED THAT HONDA HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM ON ALL HONDA FITS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA FIT. WHILE APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECREASE IN SPEED, WHICH CAUSED HER TO HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES TO THE LEG. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING THE RESULTS OF AN INSPECTION. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 37,000.

PARKING ON A SIDE STREET BEHIND ANOTHER CAR APPLYING BRAKE, AND WOOSH! CAR TOOK OFF IN WHAT I'VE LATER LEARNED WAS AN "UNINTENDED ACCELERATION," RUNNING INTO THE CAR IN FRONT AND SMUSHING IN THE HOOD OF MY CAR. I THOUGHT I HAD LET MY FOOT SLIP OR HAD SKID ON SOME ICE, BUT LATER SIMILAR INCIDENCES MADE ME WONDER. THIS LAST TIME (MAY 30, 2013), AGAIN WAS PARKING CAR AND APPLYING BREAK IN A PARKING LOT (FULL OF LAWYERS' CARS!) AND AS I APPROACHED THE SPACE, CAR VERY QUICKLY SPED UP AND I NEARLY CRASHED INTO A LIGHT POLE AND/OR BEAUTIFUL NEW (EXPENSIVE) CAR TO MY RIGHT. I'M SURE ANYONE WITNESSING THIS WOULD SEE A DRIVER SLOWING DOWN AND THEN CAR JERKING AMAZINGLY FORWARD, LIKE A HORSE AT THE BEGINNING OF A RACE. I WAS SO VERY LUCKY IN THAT I WAS ABLE TO STEER RACING CAR INTO PARKING SPOT AND MAKE AN ABRUPT STOP (I DON'T KNOW HOW). QUITE SCARY! I LOOKED UP WHAT COULD BE THE CAUSE OF THIS PHENOMENON AND DISCOVERED THIS AS AN UNACKNOWLEDGED "KNOWN ISSUE" WITH SUPPOSEDLY NO KNOWN FIX. DANGEROUS! *TR

THE SAME RECURRING PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT A YEAR OR SO. IN THE MORNING WHEN I START MY CAR, ESPECIALLY WORSE IN THE WINTER, MY CAR WILL STALL OUT 2 TO 3 TIMES JUST WHILE WARMING UP. WHEN THE ENGINE IS WARM AND I START TO DRIVE IT STALLS OUT IN THE ROAD AT LEAST 1 OR 2 MORE TIMES. I HAVE HAD THE HONDA DEALER I BOUGHT MY CAR FROM AS WELL AS MY MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW. I HAVE HAD VALVES AND SENSORS CHANGED AS WELL AS BATTERY AND HAD FUEL INJECTORS CLEAN. IT IS INCREDIBLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN THESE CONDITIONS ESPECIALLY WITH IT STALLING OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY INTERSECTIONS. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE. *TR

I OWN A 2008 HONDA FIT. APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO - IN THE WINTER OF 2009 MY CAR STARTED TO GET A MOLDY MUSK SMELL. I'VE NOTICED THAT THE SMELL IS MUCH STRONGER AFTER IT RAINS OR SNOWS. YESTERDAY I WENT TO GET IN MY CAR AND ALL OF THE WINDOWS WERE FOGGED UP, AND I HADN'T USED THE CAR IN MANY HOURS. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE RUBBER MOLDING ON ALL OF THE DOORS TO TRY AND STOP THE LEAKING, BUT I'VE BEEN WAITING TO TRY AND GET SOME HELP FROM HONDA. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT MOLD GROWING AND CAUSING HEALTH PROBLEMS. I'VE RESEARCHED A FEW BLOGS AND HAVE MANY OTHER FIT OWNERS WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

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. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT IT COMES THROUGH THE INSIDES OF THE DOOR, AS IT ENDS UP ON TOP OF THE PLASTIC MOLD, WHICH IS INSIDE THE DOOR FRAME SEAL, THAT LEADS TO THE FLOORBOARD. AGAIN, IT LEAVES A BAD, MOLDY SMELL AND IS RUINING MY FLOOR MAT. I'VE VISITED AN INTERNET MESSAGE BOARD, WHICH IS MAINLY DISCUSSIONS ON MY MAKE AND MODEL CAR, AND THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN NOTED AMONGST SOME MEMBERS OF THE FORUM. *TR

I AM FORTUNATELY NOT REPORTING ON A FAILURE PER SE OR AN ACCIDENT, I AM REPORTING A POTENTIALLY DEADLY FLAW IN THE LIGHTING SYSTEM OF MANY NEW VEHICLES (LIKE FOR INSTANCE MY 2008 HONDA FIT). THE PROBLEM IS THAT ANYTIME THE CAR IS STARTED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS TOTALLY LIGHTED UP AND STAYS THAT WAY NOT MATTER WHAT THE ACTUAL VISIBILITY IS. AS A CONSEQUENCE IT IS QUITE EASY TO FORGET TO TURN ON THE HEAD LIGHTS EVEN AT NIGHT WHEN LEAVING A BRIGHTLY LIGHTED PLACE (LIKE A GAS STATION). THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME A FEW TIMES: I WOULD TANK THE CAR, START THE ENGINE, SEE THE LIGHTED INSTRUMENT PANEL AND DRIVE OFF INTO A DARK STREET. OF COURSE YOU REALIZE AFTER A FEW SECONDS THAT YOU HAVE NO HEADLIGHTS BUT THOSE 2-3 SECONDS COULD BE FATAL, THE ONLY INDICATOR THAT THE HEAD LIGHTS ARE ON IS A SMALL GREEN ICON THAT IT IS EASILY NOT NOTICED AMONG THE LIGHTED PANEL. THE SITUATION IS ALSO DANGEROUS AT DUSK WHEN THE LIGHTED PANEL AGAIN GIVES THE IMPRESSION THAT THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON. A FEW DAYS AGO I PASSED A CAR DRIVEN ON A NEARBY INTERSTATE BY A WOMAN WHO HAD NOT HEADLIGHTS ON AND WAS DRIVING IN A SITUATION OF ADVANCED DARKNESS; AS I PASSED HER CAR I NOTICED THE GLOW OF HER LIGHTED INSTRUMENT PANEL. SINCE ONE'S EYES EASILY ADJUST TO DARKNESS IT IS VERY EASY NOT TO NOTICE THE PROBLEM. I HOPE NOBODY HAS BEEN ALREADY VICTIMIZED BY THIS NOT SO INTELLIGENT SYSTEM. *TR

POWER STEERING SUDDENLY TURNED OFF. STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY HEAVY. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES SINCE INITIAL INCIDENT AND NOW TWICE IN THE PAST TWO DAYS (2/9/2011 AND 2/10/2011). ALL TIMES IT HAS HAPPENED DRIVING AROUND 30-40 MPH WITHIN THE FIRST 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING. STOPPING, TURNING OFF AND ON THE IGNITION HAS RESET THE POWER STEERING IN ALL CASES. HONDA DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND A SOLUTION AND LAST TWO INCIDENTS HAPPENED SINCE TAKING CAR TO THE SHOP.

THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2008 HONDA FIT SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. UPON STARTING THE CAR, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS DO NOT TURN ON THOUGH THE HIGH BEAMS REMAIN INTACT. THIS MEANS THAT I HAVE NO HEADLIGHTS UNLESS I DRIVE WITH MY HIGH BEAMS, WHICH IS DISTRACTING TO OTHER DRIVERS AND UNSAFE. I HAVE NOT YET BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER TO BE FIXED AS THIS PROBLEM BEGAN VERY RECENTLY. *TR

HEADREST FAILED DURING NORMAL DRIVING. THE HEADREST TIPS MY HEAD SO FAR FORWARD MY CHIN IS PRACTICALLY ON MY CHEST. THERE IS NO WAY TO ADJUST OR REPLACE IT, I HAVE TALKED TO THE DEALER AND PARTS DEPARTMENT. MY ONLY SOLUTION IS TO PUT THE HEADREST ON BACKWARD, WHICH MEANS I HAVE NO NECK PROTECTION IN A CRASH. *TR

MY CLUTCH WENT OUT TWICE IN UNDER 17,000 MILES. DRIVEN A MANUAL TRANSMISSION FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS. FIRST CLUTCH WENT AT 6011 MILES (JANUARY 30, 2008). CLUTCH WOULD NOT ENGAGE ON A BUSY HIGHWAY IN LA. I WAS LUCKY THAT I DID NOT HAVE ANY VEHICLES BEHIND ME. HONDA REPLACED THE CLUTCH, THE FLYWHEEL, THE PRESSURE PLATE, AND BOTH BEARINGS UNDER THE HEADING OF "GOODWILL". THEY CLAIMED IT WAS USER WEAR. AT 6000 MILES? THE SERVICE CONSULTANT SAID THAT IT WAS THE WORST WORN CLUTCH HE HAD EVER SEEN... IT WAS "BLUE". CLUTCH BEGAN SLIPPING AGAIN AT 17,800 MILES. TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY AGAIN BLAMED ME FOR THE WEAR. COULD NOT TELL ME WHY IT WAS MY FAULT. THE CLUTCH DISC SHOWED UNEVEN WEAR. WHEN I ASKED IF THEY INSPECTED THE TIRES TO SHOW THAT THE CAR WAS "OPERATED PROPERLY" THEY SAID THAT THE USE OF THE CLUTCH DID NOT EFFECT THE TIRES. WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT HE SENT PICTURES IN TO A HONDA REP. WHEN I ASKED TO SEE THE PICTURES 7 DAYS LATER I WAS SENT ONE PARTIAL IMAGE OF MY CLUTCH, WHICH SHOWED OBVIOUS UNUSUAL WEAR. THE IMAGE WAS TIME-STAMPED 6 DAYS AFTER I WAS TOLD THE PHOTO(S) OF THE CAR WERE INSPECTED BY AN AMERICAN HONDA REP. HONDA DENIES ANY RESPONSIBILITY ON THEIR FAULTY MACHINE EVEN AFTER A CASE MANAGER SAID IT WAS "UNLIKELY" MY FAULT, BUT "POSSIBLE". I COULD GROW A THIRD ARM FROM MY FOREHEAD... IT IS "POSSIBLE" BUT "UNLIKELY". HONDA WANTS ME TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AND TEAR DOWN COSTS. I DO NOT MERELY WANT THE CAR REPAIRED. THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE OF MONEY. IF I AM ON THE HIGHWAY AND A THIRD CLUTCH GOES AGAIN, WITH MY TWO KIDS IN THE CAR, INJURY OR EVEN DEATH IS POSSIBLE. AFTER 14 DAYS OF DISCUSSION AND NO CAR, OR ONE EVEN SUPPLIED, AMERICAN HONDA AGREED TO REOPEN THE CASE AFTER NOTICE OF ARBITRATION AND A POTENTIAL LAWSUIT. STILL WAITING FOR AN ANSWER. *TR

MY HUSBAND AND I OWN A 2008 HONDA FIT. SINCE ABOUT OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR, OUR POWER STEERING HAS BEEN RANDOMLY GOING OUT ON US (THE EPS LIGHT COMES ON AND WE CAN'T TURN THE WHEEL). THIS MOST FREQUENTLY OCCURS WHILE WE'RE ON THE INTERSTATE DRIVING AT 65MPH - HOWEVER IT DID HAPPEN ONCE ON A SMALL STREET (AT ABOUT 30MPH) AND ANOTHER TIME IN A PARKING LOT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEING MOVED. LUCKILY, MY HUSBAND AND I WERE ABLE TO SLOWLY AND SAFELY PULL OVER. WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE (THE CAR IS CURRENTLY THERE). AN ON BOARD COMPUTER WAS REPLACED AND THE DEALERSHIP IS CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR ANOTHER POSSIBLE CAUSE. THEY ARE CLAIMING THAT NO INCIDENT IS BEING LOGGED ON THE COMPUTER. THERE IS NO WAY TO PREDICT WHEN THE STEERING IS GOING TO LOCK UP. *TR

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IN MY 2008 HONDA FIT, THEY FAILED TO ENGAGE. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO AVOID ACCIDENTS, BUT I'M QUITE CONCERNED AND HAVE NOTICED OTHER SUCH CONCERNS POSTED ON THE WEB. *TR

I HAVE A 2008 HONDA FIT...THE FIRST INDICATION THERE WAS A PROBLEM WAS CONDENSATION BUILDING UP INSIDE ON THE WINDOWS...AT FIRST I PAID NO ATTENTION AND THEN I REALIZED IT WAS HAPPENING WAY TO OFTEN. BEFORE I GOT A CHANCE TO CONTACT THE DEALER I RECEIVED A RECALL IN THE MAIL FOR A POSSIBLE FAULTY DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW PROBLEM. UPON CLEANING OUT THE VEHICLE FOR SOME REASON I LOOKED INSIDE THE SPARE TIRE WELL TO FIND WATER IN THE SPARE TIRE AND SURROUNDING AREA. TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER WHO CLAIMED TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM...1 WEEK LATER MY HUSBAND CHECKED IT AGAIN TO FIND THERE IS STILL WATER COMING INTO THE SPARE TIRE SECTION...THE CAR IS BACK WITH THE DEALER WHO CLAIMS "THEY CAN'T DETERMINE WHERE THE LEAK IS"...I ADVISED THEM TO DUPLICATE THE SITUATION BY TAKING THE CAR TO A CAR WASH"... *TR

I WAS DRIVING HOME GOING ABOUT 50 MPH, WHEN TRAFFIC SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES. I WAS FOLLOWING ABOUT 3 CAR LENGTHS BEHIND THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME, AND AS SOON AS THEY SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES I SLAMMED ON MINE. WHEN SLAMMING ON MY BRAKES, THE ABS DIDN'T EVEN COME ON BECAUSE MY BRAKES WEREN'T WORKING LIKE THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO. MY BRAKES FELT SPONGY, AND SHOULD HAVE STOPPED ME WITH ROOM TO SPARE, BUT THEY DIDN'T EVEN COME CLOSE. *TR

I FIRST NOTICED WATER POOLING ON THE REAR PASSENGER FLOOR SPRING 2010. TOOK TO HONDA DEALER WHERE THEY ALSO FOUND WATER IN THE TRUNK UNDER THE SPARE TIRE. SEALED SEVERAL AREAS INCLUDING AROUND RIGHT REAR WINDOW. WATER CONTINUES TO LEAK INTO REAR FLOORBOARDS, NOW ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES, AS WELL AS A SMALL AMOUNT INTO THE TRUNK AREA. THIS HAPPENS WHILE VEHICLE IS PARKED NOSE UP ON A SLIGHT SLOPE FOR THE MOST PART. DEALER HAS RE-EXAMINED CAR AND DETERMINED THAT IT IS A RESULT OF BODY WORK TO REAR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR, ALLEGING THAT THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE DOOR IS UNEVEN (AND WELL BELOW THE LEVEL THE WATER IS COMING IN). HOWEVER WATER CONTINUES TO COME IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THE REAR HATCH AREA WHERE NO BODY WORK WAS DONE. (CAR HAD A DEER THROWN INTO THE 2 DRIVERS SIDE DOORS AND FRONT QUARTER PANEL, THIS WAS NOT A VEHICULAR ACCIDENT, NO FRAME DAMAGE, ETC, JUST DENTED DOORS). THE WATER ON BOTH SIDES OF THE REAR FLOORBOARDS (WHICH HAS A "HUMP" IN THE MIDDLE OF IT) IS ALMOST 1/2" DEEP AFTER A STEADY RAINSTORM. *TR

ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM ACTIVATES INAPPROPRIATELY. DRIVING OVER ROUGH PAVEMENT, BUMPS ETC SEEMS TO ACTIVATE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM. BRAKES BECOME SQUISHY, AND LESS EFFECTIVE DURING THESE INCIDENCES. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS ROUTINELY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA FIT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER WAS LEAKING ON THE REAR FLOOR BOARD BEHIND THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW WHERE THE WATER WAS COMING FROM. THE CONTACT HAD NOTICED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING WATER LEAKING ON THE REAR FLOOR BOARD. THE DEALER OFFERED A TRADE IN FOR THE VEHICLE BUT THE CONTACT DOES NOT WANTED ANYONE ELSE TO OWN THIS VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WANTS THE MANUFACTURER TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.

WE OWN A 2008 HONDA FIT. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT WE HAD APPROX 48K MILES ON THE VEHICLE. ON A FEW OCCASIONS WHEN STARTING THE CAR IN THE MORNING, THE POWER STEERING INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE NO POWER STEERING.. TURNING OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLE WOULD RESET THE INDICATOR LIGHT AND POWER STEERING WOULD RETURN. AT THE END OF FEB 2010 MY HUSBAND WAS ON THE FREEWAY TRAVELING AT @75MPH WHEN THE LIGHT CAME ON AND POWER STEERING WENT OUT IN THE VEHICLE. HE WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH NO INCIDENT. HE TURNED THE CAR OFF AND ON AND THE INDICATOR LIGHT WENT OFF AND POWER STEERING RETURNED. AT THE DEALERSHIP, WE WERE ADVISED HONDA HAS AN INTERNAL BULLETIN THAT THE ERROR CODES IN THE VEHICLE INDICATE A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING MODULE, A CHIP OF SOME SORT, AND THAT IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE FIX IS DUE TO COST US OVER $700. THE PART IS NOT COVERED BECAUSE WE ARE BEYOND OUR 36K FACTORY WARRANTY. WE BELIEVE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. IF WE WERE TO LOSE POWER STEERING WHEN NAVIGATING A TURN CROSSING LANES OF TRAFFIC ETC, THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING COULD CAUSE A HAZARDOUS SITUATION. WE CALLED HONDA DIRECTLY AND SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT AND ASKED THAT THEY COVER THE COST OF THE PART AND THE FIX. CONSIDERING THAT THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 50K MILES ON IT, AND THAT THE PART IS FAULTY AND CAUSES A SAFETY HAZARD. HONDA DENIED OUR REQUEST. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA FIT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH WHEN HE ATTEMPTED DRIVE IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THREE PARKED VEHICLES. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL; HOWEVER, THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED FOR THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE MANUFACTURER HAD A SPECIALIST INSPECT THE VEHICLE WITH NO FINDINGS TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ONE YEAR AGO AFTER IT ACCELERATED. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 20,000.

I OWN A 2008 HONDA FIT. ON 1-7-2010, WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 -50 MPH, THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF MINE BEGAN TO BRAKE. MY BRAKES WERE APPLIED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE DID NOT SEEM TO BE SLOWING. THE BRAKES WERE THEN DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED FORWARD UNTIL IT CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF MINE. THE ABS DID NOT ENGAGE DURING THIS INCIDENT. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE SEAT BELT BROKE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS INFORMED OF THE ABOVE NOTED FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, HOWEVER, NO BRAKE PROBLEMS WERE DETECTED. IN LATE FEBRUARY, 2010, I GOT MY VEHICLE BACK FROM THE REPAIR SHOP. ON 3-4-2010, I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN A VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME CAUSING ME TO SLAM THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD. AGAIN, THE ABS SYSTEM DID NOT ENGAGE AND MY VEHICLE CONTINUED FORWARD. THE ONLY REASON I DID NOT CRASH INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME IS BECAUSE IT CLEARED MY PATH BEFORE IMPACT. DURING THIS INCIDENT, MY SEAT BELT DID NOT "GRAB" ME. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY, EXPLAINED THE INCIDENT, AND ASKED THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND SEAT BELT BE CHECKED OUT AGAIN THOROUGHLY. THE HONDA SERVICE WRITER TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES OR THE SEAT BELT. DUE TO MY FIELD OF EMPLOYMENT, I HAVE HAD EXTENSIVE TRAINING IN EMERGENCY VEHICLE OPERATION. I KNOW HOW THE ABS SYSTEM OPERATES AND HOW A VEHICLE SHOULD RESPOND WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED IN THE MANNER DESCRIBED ABOVE. *TR

THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. THE BRAKES LACK FEEL AND ARE "SPONGY." THIS CAUSES GREAT DIFFICULTY DURING BRAKING. AT HIGH SPEEDS, THE BRAKES SEEM TO FUNCTION PROPERLY, BUT AT LOW SPEEDS IT DOES NOT. WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, INSTEAD OF BRAKING, THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL DROP. THE CAR CONTINUES TO MOVE AS IF THE BRAKE PEDAL IS NOT BEING PRESSED DOWN. THE CREATES A SITUATION WHERE THE LAST FEW SECONDS, I MUST HIT THE BRAKES EVEN HARDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO BEGIN STOPPING. THIS CREATES A HAZARD FOR VEHICLES BOTH IN FRONT AND IN BACK OF ME. THERE IS VERY LITTLE CONTROL IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM. FROM THE FORUMS, IT APPEARS THERE ARE MANY OTHER HONDA FIT OWNERS WITH THE SIMILAR PROBLEM. SOME HAVE GOTTEN INTO ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS FAILURE, WHILE OTHERS HAVE BEEN MORE LUCKY. THIS IS CERTAINLY A ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP, WHOM HAVE DENIED ANYTHING BEING WRONG. I URGE YOU TO INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER BEFORE ANOTHER PERSON IS KILLED/ INJURED DUE TO THIS FAILURE.

BRAKE CONCERNS: I HAVE A 2008 HONDA FIT THAT INTERMITTENTLY HAS A HARD BRAKE PEDAL AND OFTEN WILL NOT STOP WITH 2 FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT FEELS TO ME LIKE THE MASTER CYLINDER OR BRAKE BOOSTER LINKAGE IS SOMEHOW BINDING, THIS USUALLY OCCURS AFTER DRIVING ON ROUGH ROADS AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, MY LOCAL DEALER WILL TAKE IT FOR A 5 MINUTE DRIVE AND GIVE IT BACK TO ME STATING "NO PROBLEM FOUND" EVEN AFTER SEVERAL COMPLAINTS. I FEEL THIS CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. HONDA AND IT'S DEALERS DON'T SEEM CONCERNED ABOUT BRAKE PROBLEMS BUT I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR. *TR

WAS DRIVING ON SUNNY, CLEAR DAY. TRAVELING AT 40-45 MPH WHEN TRAFFIC CAME TO COMPLETE STOP. APPLIED BRAKES AND CAR DID NOT STOP. REAR ENDED A RAV 4 AND CAUSED ALMOST $6000 IN DAMAGE. 2ND ACCIDENT WITH THIS CAR WHERE BRAKES FAILED. PLENTY OF ROOM TO STOP, CAR WOULDN'T. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA FIT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TPMS LIGHT CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED SHE WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTY FOR THIS FAILURE. THE WARRANTY ON HER VEHICLE EXPIRED EIGHT DAYS BEFORE SHE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000. UPDATED 12/07/10. *LJ UPDATED 12/30/10. *LJ UPDATED 04/06/11

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE,ENGINE LAGS AT ABOUT 50 MPH. ALSO WHEN ENGINE IS STILL COLD AND TRANSMISSION IS IN DRIVE IT STALLS, IT DOES IT REPEATEDLY UNTIL IT REACHES NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE. IT SEEMS SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH FUEL DISTRIBUTION, WHICH MAY BE VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

2008 HONDA FIT AUG. 29 2009: VEHICLE IN REVERSE, FOOT ON BRAKE, ENGINE SURGED WITH NO USE OF ACCELERATOR, PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, SURGE STOPPED SHORTLY LASTED ABOUT 10 + SECONDS. STRONG SURGE, WOULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH TO PROPEL VEHICLE RAPIDLY. HAVE SINCE GONE ABOUT 20 MILES WITH NO RECURRENCE. NOTIFIED PENSACOLA HONDA, FLORIDA SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THIS DATE AT APPROXIMATELY 1300, SHE WASN?T AWARE OF ANY RECALL AND WAS UNABLE TO LOG THIS EVENT AS HISTORY ON MY RECORD. ASKED ME TO BRING IT IN. FOUND THE FOLLOWING ON LINE: REPLYING TO: SHELLEY04 (APR 23, 2009 10:19 AM) I FOUND YOUR POST BECAUSE I WAS LOOKING FOR OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS I'M HAVING. I HAVE A 2008 FIT. I HAVEN'T CRASHED (YET) BUT IT'S CERTAINLY VERY DISCONCERTING. IT USUALLY OCCURS AT VERY LOW SPEED, WHEN I STEP ON THE BRAKE THE ENGINE SURGES, BUT ONLY OCCASIONALLY. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I THOUGHT MAYBE I'D ACCIDENTALLY STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR, BUT SINCE I'VE NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE, I THOUGHT IT WAS A BIT WEIRD THAT I'D DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT. IT'S HAPPENED 3 MORE TIMES SINCE THEN, AND EACH TIME I'VE VERIFIED THAT MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE PEDDLE. I HAVE TO REALLY MASH DOWN ON THE BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR. IT HAS HAPPENED BOTH WHEN GOING STRAIGHT AND WHEN TURNING, SO I DON'T THINK THAT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT, AND ROAD CONDITIONS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DRY. I WILL BE TAKING IT TO MY HONDA DEALER NEXT WEEK, BUT SINCE IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS EVERY TIME, I EXPECT THAT IT WILL NOT OCCUR DURING THE TEST DRIVE. I HOPE HONDA AMERICA WILL TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT, AS COULD VERY EASILY HAPPEN IF IT OCCURS WHEN THERE'S A PEDESTRIAN OR BICYCLIST NEAR THE FRONT OF THE CAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA FIT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING IDLE AT A STOP LIGHT HE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE DRIVING 50 MPH; WHICH CAUSED HIM TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED $9000.00 WORTH OF DAMAGE AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 11400. UPDATED 10/06/09. *LJ UPDATED 10/06/09

MY VEHICLE'S ABS SYSTEM APPEARS TO BE EXTREMELY SENSITIVE AND ACTIVATES NEEDLESSLY DURING LIGHT BRAKING EVEN ON DRY PAVEMENT. IT CAN TO BE TRIGGERED CONSISTENTLY BY LIGHTLY APPLYING THE BRAKES ON UNEVEN TERRAIN, SUCH AS CRACKS IN THE ROAD, SMALL POTHOLES OR BUMPS. THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSES FOR A SHORT TIME, DURING WHICH BRAKING IS INEFFECTIVE AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD FOR SEVERAL FEET. I DRIVE SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES ON A REGULAR BASIS, NONE OF WHICH EXHIBIT THIS PROBLEM. A SERVICE REP AT HONDA OF BLOOMFIELD, LOCATED IN BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI, CHARACTERIZED THE CONDITION AS NORMAL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA FIT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 25-30 MPH, APPROACHING A TRAFFIC STOP SIGNAL. SUDDENLY, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WOULD STOP WITH A BRIEF DELAY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TEN TO TWELVE TIMES ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM WOULD NOT OCCUR IN COLD WEATHER TEMPERATURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A PROBLEM. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED FOR A SECOND TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,000.