Avg. Price Paid:$9,539 - $10,199
Original MSRP: $13,950 - $15,270
MPG: 27 City / 34 Hwy
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Honda Fit Recalls & Reliability

These scores and this review are from when the car was new.

Scorecard

Overall: 2008 Honda Fit U.S. News Best Cars 9.2
Critics' Rating: 9.5
Performance: 8.1
Interior: 8.3
Safety: 8.3
Reliability:
How we calculate scores
Research analyzed for this review

Pros & Cons

  • Distinctive "magic seat" design for four different seating or cargo options
  • Fun to drive compared to other subcompacts
  • Well-equipped interior with plenty of standard features
  • Mixed opinions on seat comfort and support
  • Some report it's not as fuel efficient as its size indicates

Research Other Years

Review Last Updated: 2/17/09

Recalls

There have been 2 safety recalls issued from NHTSA.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCHRecall Date: 12/15/2010
  • Consequence: THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS CAN BECOME INOPERATIVE DECREASING THE DRIVERS VISIBILITY AS WELL AS THE VEHICLES VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
  • NHTSA Campaign ID: 10V624000
  • Potential Number of Units Affected: 143,083
  • Summary: HONDA IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 HONDA FIT VEHICLES. DUE TO AN ERROR DURING INSTALLATION OF THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE COMBINATION SWITCH THAT CONTROLS LOW HEAD BEAM FUNCTION, THE WIRES FOR THE LOWER BEAM CIRCUIT WERE PULLED TIGHTER THAN INTENDED. AFTER REPEATED USE OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR TERMINAL FOR THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT CIRCUIT CAN BECOME WORN AS A RESULT OF THIS TENSION, WHICH CAN RESULT IN LOW CONDUCTIVITY AND CAUSE AN ACCUMULATION OF COPPER OXIDE IN THE AREA OF THE CONTACTS.
  • Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LOW BEAM TERMINAL AND PERFORM NECESSARY REPAIRS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 21, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.
  • Notes: HONDA'S SAFETY RECALL NO. R58. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLSRecall Date: 01/27/2010
  • Consequence: AN OVERHEATED SWITCH CAN CAUSE SMOKE, MELTING AND FIRE.
  • NHTSA Campaign ID: 10V033000
  • Potential Number of Units Affected: 141000
  • Summary: HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 FIT VEHICLES. UNDER SEVERE CONDITION, WATER MAY ENTER THE DRIVER'S WINDOW AND REACH THE MASTER POWER WINDOW SWITCH. IF THE MASTER POWER WINDOW SWITCH IS DAMAGED AS A RESULT OF THE WATER INTRUSION, OVERHEATING AND FAILURE OF THE SWITCH MAY RESULT.
  • Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SWITCH AND INSTALL A COVER AROUND THE SWITCH HOUSING TO PREVENT WATER FROM ENTERING THE SWITCH. IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, THE SWITCH WILL BE REPLACED AND A COVER WILL BE INSTALLED. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET PROVIDED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-800-999-1009.
  • Notes: OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

Reliability

Our reliability score is based on the J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) rating or, if unavailable, the J.D. Power Predicted Reliability rating.

Dependability Ratings1 2008
Overall Dependability
Powertrain Dependability
Feature & Accessory Dependability
Body & Interior Dependability

1These scores come from consumer ratings of their vehicles after three years of ownership.

  • Key:
  • Among The Best
  • Better Than Most
  • About Average
  • The Rest

J.D. Power and Associates Power Circle Ratings do not include all information used to determine J.D. Power and Associates awards. See JDPower.com for more information on Power Circle Ratings. Your experience may vary.

All information provided by J.D. Power and Associates is proprietary information owned by J.D. Power and Associates and is protected by U.S. and international copyright law and conventions. Reproduction of this information, in whole or in part, by any means is prohibited without the express written consent of J.D. Power and Associates, other than printing copies of the J.D. Power and Associates content by site visitors for their personal use. J.D. Power and Associates® is a registered trademark of J.D. Power and Associates.

Warranty

The 2008 Honda Fit comes with a standard three-year or 36,000 mile bumper-to-bumper limited warranty, as well as a five-year or 60,000 mile powertrain limited warranty. Corrosion protection is provided for the first five years, regardless of mileage.

Just introduced in the United States last year, the Fit does not have a lengthy reputation. Still, reviewers report Honda's consistent record for reliability applies to the Fit as well.

  • "Fit offers an enviable blend of fuel economy, space efficiency, and driving pleasure. Cabin materials fall short of what we've come to expect from Honda, but this frugal subcompact still earns our Recommended honor." -- Consumer Guide
  • "We still consider the 2008 Honda Fit to be a class leader among a fresh crop of subcompacts that includes the Kia Rio5, Nissan Versa and Scion xD." -- Edmunds
  • In its 2007 review of the Honda Fit, Autobytel notes, "Honda has built a reputation as a maker of high quality cars, so the chances are that Fits on your local lot are nailed down nicely." -- Autobytel
  • When speaking of the Fit and subcompacts in general, the Union-Tribune notes, "While their predecessors were cheap and built to stay that way, these offerings are not priced as giveaways, nor are they throwaways after the warranty runs out." -- San Diego Union-Tribune

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