Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2009 Honda Fit submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 20 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
THE STARTER IN ALL OF THESE VEHICLES GOES BAD VERY FAST. STATING WITH AN ODD SOUND OF METAL TO METAL ON COLD STARTS (DUE TO THE STARTER NOT RETRACTING FAST ENOUGH) 5 PEOPLE THAT LIVE NEAR ME HAVE ALL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM MY CAR IS NOW DOING IT AGAIN WITH A 3 YEAR OLD REPLACEMENT DENSO OEM HONDA STARTER, HONDA NEEDS TO FIX THIS...
FUEL MIXING IN WITH THE ENGINE OIL . AFTER CHANGING THE OIL OR CHECKING THE DIP STICK THE ENGINE OIL SMELLS HEAVILY LIKE FUEL. FUEL IS SOMEHOW MIXING WITH THE ENGINES OIL . VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN I NOTICED THE FUEL SMELL INSIDE THE CABIN AND THEN PROCEEDED TO CHECK THE OIL.
CAR STALLS AND DIES AFTER INITIAL START. SOMETIMES EVEN WITH WARMING CAR UP FOR 5-10 MINUTES. OUTDOOR TEMPERATURE CAN BE 90 DEGREES AND THIS STILL HAPPENS. IF I START MY CAR, LET IT RUN FOR 5 MINUTES, PUT IT IN DRIVE, THE MINUTE I BEGIN TO SLOW FOR A STOP SIGN OR SIMPLY FOR AN APPROACHING STOP OR INTERSECTION MY CAR WILL SHUDDER AND DIE. THERE IS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TWO MECHANICS HAVE FOUND NO CODES SOFT OR HARD TO SHED ANY LIGHT ON WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. I HAVE ALREADY PAID $300 FOR A VALVE ADJUSTMENT, REPLACED SPARK PLUGS AND I'M STILL HAVING THE ISSUE.
ON AUGUST 17, 2018 MY HONDA FIT STOPPED MOVING WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE ENTRY RAMP OF A FREEWAY. IT WAS TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP WHERE I WAS TOLD THE #2 SPARK PLUG WAS DAMAGED. THEY INSTALLED A THREAD INSERT AND REPLACED THE IGNITION COIL AND SPARK PLUG AND IT COST $812.55. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE SPARK PLUG POPPED OUT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT INSTALLED CORRECTLY. WHEN I ASKED FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR AT THE HONDA SERVICE CENTER THAT HAD DONE THE 100,000 MAJOR SERVICE ON THE HONDA THREE YEARS AGO, I WAS TOLD THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND THEY WOULD NOT REIMBURSE ME. I HAVE SINCE RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT PROBLEMS WITH SPARK PLUGS POPPING OUT OR BLOWING OUT IN HONDA FITS ARE NOT UNCOMMON AND THAT OCCURRENCE IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. IF I HAD BEEN WARNED OF THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM I COULD HAVE HAD IT CHECKED OUT AND AVOIDED THE EXPENSE AS WELL AS THE DANGEROUS BREAK-DOWN WHEN ENTERING A FREEWAY. I AM INCLUDING THE REPAIR RECEIPT.
WHILE DRIVING FROM OKLAHOMA TO CALIFORNIA (SPECIFICALLY KINGMAN, AZ TO BARSTOW, CA), MY ENGINE SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. IT WAS PUT OUT IMMEDIATELY BY A GOOD SAMARITAN. AFTER THE FIRE, THERE WAS OIL LEAKAGE ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY AND WHERE IT WAS TOWED; THERE WAS ALSO GAS LEAKAGE. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 6/7/18. THEY SAY THAT THERE WAS NO MOTOR OIL PRIOR TO THE FIRE STARTING SO ARE BLAMING ME FOR THE FIRE. I HAD AN OIL CHANGE ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND SAW NO SIGNS OF OIL LEAKAGE AT MY PARKING SPACE OR ANY TIME DURING THIS TRIP. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THIS FIRE AND NO INDICATION THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG. I WAS VERY FRIGHTENED AND AM STILL IMPACTED BY THIS FIRE. I AM BEING TOLD THAT THE REPAIR WILL BE $14,000.00 WHICH IS WAY MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH. I AM 68 YEARS OLD AND AM ON A FIXED INCOME. I HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN GOOD CARE OF MY CARS AND TOOK GOOD CARE OF THIS ONE. IT WAS PURCHASED IN JANUARY 2017 AND HAS BEEN A GOOD CAR. IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN LESS THAN 50 MILES A WEEK SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. IT IS CUSTOMARY TO "BLAME" THE CONSUMER FOR WHAT HAPPENS. I DO NOT BELIEVE I DID ANYTHING TO CAUSE THIS FIRE. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE CAR DEALERSHIP TO LISTEN TO ANYTHING, ESPECIALLY THAT THE OIL LEAKAGE OCCURRED AFTER THE FIRE, NOT BEFORE IT. THERE WAS TONS OF OIL LEAKAGE ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY, AT A CAR REPAIR SHOP & ALL OVER A UHAUL CAR TRANSPORT TRAILER. I TRULY BELIEVE THERE IS ANOTHER CAUSE FOR THIS FIRE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA FIT. WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH, FUEL FUMES EMITTED IN AND AROUND THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS WERE LOOSE AND FUEL WAS LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE. AS A RESULT, THE SPARK PLUGS AND THE COIL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA FIT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AFTER BEING SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V101000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,221.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA FIT. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE BECAME UNRESPONSIVE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,479.
ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA FIT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE TO A STOP. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS COLD WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
WHEN THE CAR SITS FOR TOO LONG IN COOLER WEATHER, IT STALLS WHEN IT IS IN GEAR. I STARTED THE CAR THIS MORNING, PUT IT IN REVERSE, AND IT STALLED. IN THE PAST I HAVE GOTTEN BEYOND THE GARAGE AND HAD IT STALL AT A STOP SIGN OR LIGHT. THE PROBLEM CEASES WHEN THE ENGINE WARMS UP. THE PROBLEM SEEMS SIMILAR TO THE ONE ADDRESSED BY THE FOLLOWING RECALL: RECALL ID # 80366 - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING READ MORE: HTTP://WWW.MOTORTREND.COM/CARS/2009/HONDA/FIT/RECALLS/#IXZZ2PDFZ2Z9U HONDA MAINTAINS THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED BY THIS RECALL. *TR
I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2009 HONDA FIT IN FEBRUARY 2009. THE FOLLOWING YEAR BY JULY 2010 THE AC UNIT DID NOT WORK AT ALL. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE I HAD BOUGHT MY CAR, WHO TOLD ME THAT A ROCK FROM THE ROAD HAD HIT THE AC UNIT, THE REFRIGERANT HAD ESCAPED AND I HAD TO PAY USD$ 890.00 TO REPAIR IT, BECAUSE THAT REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY. THEN I REALIZED THE FRONT BUMPER UNDER THE TAG HAD BIG SPACES THAT MAY ALLOW A ROCK TO GO THROUGH AND HIT THE AC CONDENSER. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND HONDA SHOULD COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR. *TR
DEC. 8TH, 2011 - 18694 MILES DEC. 8TH, 2012 - 24941 MILES DEC. 21ST, 2012 - 25225 MILES MARCH 30TH, 2013 - 28300 MILES THE PROBLEM IS THAT SUDDENLY THE CAR LOSSES POWER WHILE DRIVING, IT DOES NOT RESPOND TO ANY ACTION AND STALLS; THE ENGINE AND VSA LIGHTS COME ON. THE EXACT SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED AT EACH ONE OF THE DATES PROVIDED. EVERY TIME THIS HAPPENED I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT, GOT IT BACK SUPPOSEDLY FIXED, AND WITH THE ASSURANCE THAT THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN TAKEN CARE OF, OBVIOUSLY THIS IS NOT THE CASE. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS, THE CAR HAS BROKEN DOWN ON AN AVERAGE OF EVERY 3,000 MILES. FROM THE VERY FIRST TIME, BESIDES BEEN TOLD BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR (MARY ROE) AT COURTESY HONDA IN SANFORD, FL; I KNEW WITHOUT ANY DOUBT THAT WE WERE DEALING WITH A SAFETY ISSUE. I AM SUBMITTING THE INFORMATION PERTINENT TO THESE OCCURRENCES BECAUSE MY CONFIDENCE IN THIS CAR IS COMPLEATLY ERODED SINCE THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEN COULD DEFINITELY BE THE CAUSE OF A CRASH, INJURY OR DEATH. I CONSIDER MYSELF FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE BEEN DRIVING ON LOCAL ROADS EVERY TIME THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED, THE RESULT OF THIS TYPE OF MALFUNCTION ON AN EXPESSWAY COULD CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. SINCE MARCH 30TH, 2013 THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP, AND IT HAS PROVEN DIFFICULT COMMUNICATING WITH HONDA. THEIR WILLINGNESS TO ASSIST ME WITH THIS LESS THAN SAFE AND UNRELIABLE VEHICLE, SEEMS TO BE DECREASING RAPIDLY WITH EACH NEW INCIDENT. ANY ASSISTANCE YOUR OFFICE PROVIDES ON THIS MATTER WILL BE IMMENSELY APPRECIATED. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
THE VEHICLE STALLED AFTER 3 MINUTES WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. I HAD TO TURN ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS, PUT THE CAR TRANSMISSION IN PARK, AND RE-START. SAME INCIDENT HAPPENED AGAIN A WEEK AFTER. *TR
HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 HONDA FIT VEHICLES. 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. DEALER PERFORMED RECALL AND AS A RESULT OF REPLACING THE VALVE SPRINGS THE VALVES WERE VERY NOISY. HAD TO BRING VEHICLE BACK AND LEAVE IT FOR VALVE ADJUSTMENT WHEN ENGINE WAS COOL. MAKE SURE ADJUSTMENT IS DONE AT TIME OF RECALL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA FIT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V101000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND CONTACTED THE DEALER APRIL 21, 2011 TO SECURE AN APPOINTMENT FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE EARLIEST THEY COULD SECURE HER APPOINTMENT WAS FOR JULY 6, 2011. SHE THEN CALLED THE MANUFACTURER BUT THEY REFERRED HER BACK TO THE DEALER. LATER, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE ADDITIONAL TIMES AND THE CONTACT HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK COMPANY TO JUMPSTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS UNSATISFIED WITH HOW FAR OUT THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE SCHEDULED FOR AND BELIEVED IT TO SURPASS A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,000.
I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2009 HONDA FIT, HEARD NOISE FROM MOTOR, RIGHT AFTER I RECEIVED A LETTER STATING THIS CAR HAD A RECALL (SPRINGS) IN THE MOTOR, TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER, THEY REPLACED THE SPRINGS, CAR STILL HAD NOISE, TOOK IT BACK & FOLLOWING DAY SAID THEY HAD TO RE-ADJUST THE VALVES, PICKED UP THE CAR THE NEXT DAY & STILL NOISE, DEALER REFUSED TO TAKE CR BACK, CAR MAKE NOISE FROM THE VALVES IN THE MOTOR, THESE DEFECTIVE SPRINGS CAUSED DAMAGED TO MY BRAND NEW VEHICLE.. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR, I FEAR FOR OTHER'S SAFETY & MY FAMILY'S SAFETY... I AM REQUESTING FROM HONDA THAT THEY REFUND THE MONEY I PAID FOR THIS DEFECTIVE CAR & TAKE THE CAR, THE CAR DOESN'T RESPOND WELL WHEN I ACCELERATE IT... I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO..PLEASE HELP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR
TOWING A 2009 HONDA FIT BEHIND A MOTORHOME WHEN IT LOCKED UP. EVERYTHING WAS SET ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL. IT IS AUTOMATIC. WE WERE TOLD IT COULD BE THE BATTERY BUT WE ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH THAT EXPLANATION. HAVE YOU HEARD OF OTHER HONDA FITS LOCKING UP THE FRONT WHEELS WHILE TOWING. IT DRIVES FINE IF NOT BEHIND THE MOTORHOME. WE DRAGGED THE TOAD FOR ABOUT 50 FEET AND HAD TO REPLACE TWO FRONT TIRES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA FIT. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY STALL WITHOUT WARNING WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED OVER 20 TIMES HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR LOCATE A FAILURE IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ADVISED WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE THEY WERE UNABLE TO MAKE ANY REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO FUNCTION NORMALLY HE WOULD HAVE TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE DURING THE FAILURE AND SHIFT INTO PARK. WHEN RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE WOULD RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,000.
LEAVING CLIENT'S DRIVEWAY, PUT CAR IN REVERSE AND BACKED OUT OF DRIVEWAY STOPPING AT THE OPPOSITE SIDE, ACROSS THE STREET. TURNED STEERING IN THE DIRECTION I WAS HEADING AND PLACED CAR IN DRIVE. LIFTED MY FOOT OFF BRAKE AND CAR TOOK OFF WITHOUT MY FOOT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR. IT WAS LIKE I HAD DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR AND MY FOOT NEVER TOUCHED THE ACCELERATOR. I HIT A PARKED CAR. I WAS TERRIFIED. *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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