I was pulling into a space at work with my foot on the break. The car was straight at that point. All of a sudden the engine revered and accelerated and hit the garage outside wall/pipe. Car bounced back about 6 feet.
2008 Honda Fit cruise control problems
severe 11 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
5crashes
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 11 cruise control complaints filed for the 2008 Honda Fit, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 7 model years of Honda Fit we track for cruise control problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 11.
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 8 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2008 Honda Fit shows a pattern of unintended acceleration that Honda dealers cannot locate or repair. Owners report the engine surging or accelerating when the brake is applied—sometimes while driving at highway speeds with cruise control on, other times during low-speed parking maneuvers. In several incidents, multiple brake applications fail to stop the acceleration; owners have had to shift into Neutral or Park while moving to regain control. One owner on a downhill grade reported brake failure and flat-flooring the pedal before the car finally stopped.
Dealers consistently report being unable to reproduce the problem or identify its cause, even after multiple visits. One owner found seven similar reports for the 2008 model and five for the 2009 online, yet Honda declined to investigate. When one vehicle was repurchased by American Honda, it was resold as used without further diagnosis.
A separate stalling issue with persistent check engine light also appears. One owner had ignition coils replaced, then cylinders, valves, spark plugs, and head gasket replaced—yet stalling continued. Another reports the car stalls three to five times during routine driving, especially with air conditioning on, and has independently noted acceleration after idling at traffic lights.
Low-speed shifting also triggers sudden lunges forward. Owners report shifting from Drive to Reverse at 2–5 mph caused crashes into parked vehicles and walls, with brake pedal engaged. Manufacturers and dealers have found no mechanical cause in any of these events.
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended acceleration when braking
Engine surges or accelerates when brake pedal is depressed, occurring during parking, shifting, or highway driving. Brake input fails to disengage cruise control or stop acceleration; vehicle continues accelerating despite brake application.
When: Throughout ownership; reports range from 300 to 108,000 miles. One owner experienced surging starting 2 weeks after purchase (2008), recurring intermittently over 6 years.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine surges when brake pedal tapped; Vehicle accelerates despite brake pedal depression; Brakes become ineffective during acceleration event; Emergency brake ineffective; Cruise control indicator remains illuminated after shifting to Park; Engine revs independently
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to reproduce failure or identify cause in multiple cases. One owner had vehicle towed to independent mechanic with no repair completed; vehicle later totaled. Manufacturer specialist found no findings after inspection.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: American Honda bought back one vehicle but resold it as used without further investigation. Manufacturer unable to assist in other cases when notified.
Stalling with check engine light and persistent after repairs
Vehicle stalls repeatedly at idle and during driving; check engine light illuminates. Stalling persists after dealer replacement of ignition coils, cylinders, valves, spark plugs, and head gasket.
When: Around 30,000 miles; failure recurred four times initially
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalls at various speeds and while idling; Check engine warning light illuminates continuously; Shuddering while accelerating; Stalling occurs more frequently with air conditioning on; Engine able to restart after waiting
Repairs/costs cited: Ignition coils replaced at dealer. Subsequently cylinders, valves, spark plugs, and head gasket replaced at dealer. Failure persisted after repairs.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was notified of the failure.
Sudden acceleration during shifting or reversing at low speed
Vehicle lunges forward or accelerates suddenly when driver shifts transmission (Drive to Reverse) or attempts reverse maneuver while foot is on brake pedal. Events occur at very low speeds (2–5 mph) during parking or maneuvering.
When: 20,000 to 43,200 miles; one owner reported six separate occasions early in ownership (300 miles initial failure)
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden acceleration when shifting from Drive to Reverse; Sudden acceleration when reversing from parking space; Vehicle lunges forward despite foot on brake pedal; Crashes into parked vehicles, walls, or nearby objects
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer technician unable to locate problem after one acceleration event. Manufacturer specialist found no findings after vehicle inspection. One owner noted accelerator pedal positioned extremely close to brake pedal.
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had cruise control trouble with your 2008 Honda Fit?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2008 Honda Fit?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 30,000 and 77,000 miles, with the median around 43,200. A quarter of owners report trouble before 30,000; a quarter make it past 77,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2008/Honda/Fit.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.