Is the 2009 Honda Fit a bad year?
287 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Fit years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2009 Honda Fit are in line with other Fit years. Air bags stands 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 2009 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 70,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 104 (36%) | 54k–83k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 46 (16%) | 57k–120k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Electrical system | 23 (8%) | 30k–100k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Engine | 20 (7%) | 25k–100k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Body structure | 14 (5%) | 36k–90k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 33 (11%) | 71k–135k miles · ahead | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Visibility and wipers | 18 (6%) | 10k–30k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Brakes | 7 (2%) | 12k–50k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Speed control | 6 (2%) | 17k–67k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Tires | 12 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Stability control | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 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 70,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 287 complaints: 23 mention a crash · 2 mention a fire · 16 report an injury · 9 say the car was towed.
1 complaint was filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Jul 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Front drivers side axle broke in half- not at the socket. Mechanic said he's never seen anything like it. It did not break on a bump.
When the car is stopped at say a light stop sign or just pulling out of a parking spot.
The front passenger side axle shaft (CV axle) on my manual 2009 Honda fit snapped off while in first gear and driving at regular speed for this gear in a parking lot (Under 20MPH).
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 70,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2009 Honda Fit: 11
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 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. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during replacement. An incorrectly installed air bag inflator may not properly deploy the passenger frontal air bag in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement. An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags)… An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
One dealership may have incorrectly installed the replacement air bag inflators. In the event of a crash, an incorrectly installed passenger frontal air bag inflator may deploy the air bag improperly, increasing the risk of injury.
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.
The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
There is a potential for one or more of the four spring assemblies on the engine's variable valve timing and lift electronic control (Vtec) system to fail. A failure of the spring assemblies may cause the vehicle to stall during operation increasing the risk of a crash.
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: 44
Repair instructions Honda sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2009 Honda Fit. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
If you run across a spark plug that s loose or has blown out of the cylinder head before reaching the first service interval (Generally at 105k)…
The MIL comes on with one of these DTCs: P2646/P2651 (Rocker arm oil pressure switch circuit low voltage)
Some vehicles, coming from the cam chain case oil seal, the engine oil is leaking from the front
TECH2TECH video - airbag inflator installation tips
Neighbouring years
2008 Fit: 216 complaints, keep it · 2010 Fit: 184 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 2009 Honda Fit a bad year?
287 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Fit years. At 70,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Honda Fit?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: air bags (104), steering (46), electrical system (23), engine (20), body structure (14).
How many recalls does the 2009 Honda Fit have?
11 recall campaigns list this model year: Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 20V-770), Air bags (NHTSA 19V-502), Air bags (NHTSA 19V-500), Air bags (NHTSA 19V-378) 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.