Is the 2008 Honda Fit a bad year?
216 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Fit years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2008 Honda Fit are in line with other Fit years. Air bags and body structure stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2008 Fit owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 80,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 56 (26%) | 45k–128k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structureSTANDS OUT | 43 (20%) | 35k–90k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 27 (13%) | 77k–107k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 24 (11%) | 78k–139k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Electrical system | 18 (8%) | 47k–100k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Exterior lighting | 17 (8%) | 50k–102k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed control | 14 (6%) | 21k–83k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 12 (6%) | 41k–100k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Brakes | 22 (10%) | 29k–56k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Tires | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 80,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 216 complaints: 28 mention a crash · 2 mention a fire · 18 report an injury · 9 say the car was towed.
1 complaint was filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Apr 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
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.
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.
2008 Honda fit engine stalls when cold. Car will start, but needs to sit until engine is warm before it can be driven.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 80,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2008 Honda Fit: 8
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. 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.
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. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
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. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
In the affected vehicles, over time, the plastic cover may separate from the master power window switch allowing water to 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. An overheated switch can cause smoke, melting and fire.
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. The low beam headlights can become inoperative decreasing the driver's visibility as well as the vehicle's visibility to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. An overheated switch can cause smoke, melting and fire.
On certain vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, virginia, west virginia… In the event of a crash, a deploying front passenger air bag or front passenger's side air bag will increase the risk of injury to small or out-of-position occupants.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Honda: 24
Repair instructions Honda sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2008 Honda Fit. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
The MIL comes on with one of these DTCs: P2646/P2651 (Rocker arm oil pressure switch circuit low voltage)
The MIL is on with a stored trouble code
MIL comes on with DTC P0420 (Catalyst system efficiency below threshold) is stored
For any TPMS-related warranty repairs, all recorded DTCs must now be entered into the warranty claim
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Low Beam Headlights
Neighbouring years
2007 Fit: 369 complaints, keep it · 2009 Fit: 287 complaints, keep it.
Every Honda Fit year
2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · All Fit years side by side
Other Honda models: Honda Accord · Honda Accord Hybrid · Honda CR-V · Honda CR-V Hybrid · Honda Civic · Honda Civic Hybrid · Honda Civic Si · Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid · Honda Crosstour · Honda Element · Honda GL1800 · Honda HR-V · Honda Insight · Honda Odyssey · Honda Passport · Honda Pilot · Honda Prologue · Honda Ridgeline · Honda VTX1300. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2008 Honda Fit a bad year?
216 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Fit years. At 80,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Honda Fit?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: air bags (56), body structure (43), engine (27), transmission and drivetrain (24), electrical system (18).
How many recalls does the 2008 Honda Fit have?
8 recall campaigns list this model year: Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 20V-770), Air bags (NHTSA 19V-501), Air bags (NHTSA 17V-029), Air bags (NHTSA 16V-344) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.