SERVICE BULLETIN - ALL OF THE LISTED VEHICLES HAVE A TYPE 4 IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM THAT DISABLES THE VEHICLE UNLESS A PROGRAMMED IGNITION KEY IS USED. THE TYPE 4 SYSTEM IS DIFFERENT THAN PREVIOUS SYSTEMS IN THAT THE TRANSPONDER ID CODE IN THE KEY IS A ROLLING-TYPE CODE INSTEAD OF A FIXED CODE. IN THIS SERVICE BULLETIN, A PROGRAMMED IGNITION KEY REFERS TO A TRANSPONDER-TYPE KEY THAT HAS BEEN CUT TO FIT THE IGNITION SWITCH AND WHOSE TRANSPONDER ID CODE IS RECOGNIZED BY THE IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM. IF YOU TRY TO START THE ENGINE WITHOUT A PROGRAMMED IGNITION KEY, THE ENGINE CRANKS, BUT IT DOES NOT START.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2008 Honda Fit electrical problems
severe 15 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
1crash
1fire
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 15 electrical complaints filed for the 2008 Honda Fit, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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
No new NHTSA electrical complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 17 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Dealer message - American Honda (AHM) is investigating certain 2007-2008 Fits with a complaint of the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) on with the DTC 32-09 (current sensor) and/or 61-04 (open/short in the EPS motor harness) stored. To fully understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting any further repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer message - American Honda (AHM)is investigating certain 2007-2008 Fits with a complaint of the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) on with the DTC 32-09 (current sensor)and/or 61-04 (open/short in the EPS motor harness)stored. To fully understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting any further repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer message - American Honda (AHM) is investigating certain 2007-2008 Fits with a complaint of the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) on with the DTC 32-09 (current sensor) and/or 61-04 (open/short in the EPS motor harness) stored. To fully understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting any further repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer message - American Honda (AHM)is investigating certain 2007-2008Fits with a complaint of the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) on with the DTC 32-09(current sensor)and/or 61-04 (open/short in the EPS motor harness)stored. To fully understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting any further repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2008 Honda Fit's electrical system generates a consistent stream of complaints across multiple failure points. Battery failures top the list—owners report three, four, or more battery replacements over the car's life, with dealers unable to determine whether the batteries themselves are bad or the electrical system is draining them. One owner went through replacements in 2008, 2010, 2011, and 2013.
Dashboard illumination causes safety headaches: the instrument cluster lights up to full brightness the moment you turn on the ignition, day or night, with no off switch. Owners repeatedly drive home at night unaware their headlights are off because they expected a dark cabin to remind them. One driver made six miles on Chicago streets with no lights; others report cars pulling out in front of them.
Headlight switch defects surface repeatedly. High beams activate when the right turn signal engages. Replacement switches develop the same fault within weeks. The recall for these cars addressed the wiring harness only, not the switch itself, leaving owners paying out of pocket or doing their own repairs.
Front lamps fail repeatedly—low beams go out, and even after recall service they quit again. One car had headlamp failures four times. Some dealers quoted diagnostic and repair charges for lamp work.
Less common but serious: engine stalling at every stop (manual transmission), ignition coils failing sequentially, complete power loss while driving in cold weather, alternators giving out, and one car that caught fire under the hood at 106,000 miles.
Same Honda Fit electrical reports on nearby years: 2007 · 2009 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Battery dead/failure
Battery fails to start vehicle repeatedly over several years despite replacement under warranty; pattern suggests either defective replacement batteries or parasitic drain from vehicle electrical system. Owners report multiple failed load tests and need for jump starts.
When: 7 months into ownership (first failure); recurred at 10/2010, 01/2011, 07/2013; typically after short idle periods or after sitting 4 hours with nothing left on. Vehicle had 72,507 miles at last report.
Symptoms owners cite: car will not start; requires jump start; battery fails load test; failure after short idle or extended parking
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced battery three times under warranty. Alternator replaced once (06/2011). Owner notes uncertainty whether batteries are defective or electrical system is draining them.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner opened case with American Honda; next step would require owner to pay for diagnostic test.
Instrument panel illuminates at full brightness regardless of time of day
Dashboard lights come on to full brightness immediately upon ignition turn-on, cannot be turned off. Owners cannot use dark car interior as a cue to turn on headlights, leading them to drive at night without headlights for extended distances.
When: Design issue; reported at 8,000 miles on one vehicle; ongoing from purchase
Symptoms owners cite: dashboard illuminates fully when ignition turned on; dashboard brightness cannot be turned off; driver forgets to turn on headlights at night; driver drives miles at night with headlights off
Repairs/costs cited: No repair mentioned; dealer and manufacturer confirmed this is the design.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer and manufacturer confirmed design does not allow turning off dashboard illumination.
High beams activate when right turn signal used
Headlight switch malfunction causes high beams to come on when right turn signal is toggled while low beams are on. First replacement switch developed same issue within weeks. Recalls addressed only wiring harness, not the switch itself; owners reporting this as common problem online.
When: First occurrence 'a few weeks' after headlight safety recall (recall date not specified but 2007-08 recall mentioned); second switch failed weeks after first replacement
Symptoms owners cite: high beams activate with right turn signal while low beams on; occurs consistently when right turn signal activated; happens repeatedly on replacement switch
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced headlight switch twice under warranty. Owner later bought OEM replacement and installed it themselves, which fixed the problem. Recall (headlight safety recall for 2007-08) addressed only wiring harness, not switch itself.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda recall 2007-08 addressed wiring harness only; dealers told owners recall did not include replacing combination switch. Owner case opened with American Honda regarding defective replacement switches.
Repeated headlamp/low beam failure
Front lamps fail repeatedly, including low beam headlights. One owner reports headlamps failed four times. Vehicles returned for service under safety recall notice but lamps continue to fail.
When: Multiple failures over vehicle ownership period; recurrence pattern not clearly specified by owners
Symptoms owners cite: headlamps fail to function; low beam lights do not function; repeated lamp failures; lamps continue to fail after recall service
Repairs/costs cited: Returned for service under safety recall; one dealer quoted labor charge for troubleshooting and replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Vehicles serviced under safety recall notice but failures persisted.
Engine stalling at stops/clutch engagement
Manual transmission vehicle stalls whenever driver pushes in clutch and comes to a stop, requiring multiple restarts (5-6 times) before stalling stops. Both battery and oil warning lights illuminate during stalls. Two certified Honda dealers unable to diagnose issue despite nearly one year of occurrence.
When: Ongoing for almost one year at time of complaint; occurs at every stop if car not given warm-up time
Symptoms owners cite: stalls when pushing clutch at stops; requires 5-6 restarts before stalling stops; battery warning light comes on; oil warning light comes on; happens consistently if car not warmed up
Repairs/costs cited: No successful repair; two certified Honda dealers could not find cause.
Ignition coils failing repeatedly
Ignition coils fail one after another, creating hazardous loss of power. Check engine light flashes when loss of acceleration occurs on highway. All coils replaced but continued to fail sequentially.
When: Not specified in narrative
Symptoms owners cite: sudden loss of acceleration on highway; check engine light flashing; ignition coils fail repeatedly; loss of power creates crash hazard
Repairs/costs cited: All ignition coils replaced; coils continue to fail one after another.
Complete loss of electrical power while driving
Vehicle experiences complete loss of power after stopping or making a turn, occurring more frequently in cold temperatures, with failure happening without warning. Dealer unable to replicate failure.
When: Approximately 100,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: complete loss of power while driving; loss of power after stopping; loss of power after making a turn; more common in cold temperatures; occurs without warning
Repairs/costs cited: Taken to dealer; failure could not be replicated.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not notified of failure.
Under-hood fire
Vehicle caught fire while refueling, with smoke and flames coming from under hood. Fire department responded and extinguished fire. Vehicle deemed destroyed by independent mechanic and towed from scene.
When: 106,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: smoke coming from hood while refueling; fire under hood
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle destroyed by fire; deemed total loss by independent mechanic.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was not made aware of failure.
Alternator failure / power loss while driving
Car died twice in one day; alternator and battery replaced. Later in August same year, car died twice while driving on roadway. After immobilizer replacement, vehicle died again on roadway with hazard lights not functioning; required manual push to shoulder by DOT workers. Multiple electrical system repairs did not resolve underlying issue.
When: June 2011 (initial failure); August 2011 (failures while driving); September 2011 (roadway failure with no hazard lights)
Symptoms owners cite: car dies while driving; car dies twice in one day; hazard lights will not come on; recurrent stalling despite multiple repairs
Repairs/costs cited: Alternator replaced (06/2011); battery replaced (06/2011); immobilizer replaced (08/2011); battery replaced again (09/2011); battery connections adjusted (09/2011). Owner noted strange rattling sounds heard after final service.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership stated issues should be resolved after final repairs, but owner heard new rattling sounds.
Synthesized from 15 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Tl*the contact owns a 2008 Honda fit. The Honda fit sport is designed so that the instrument panel illuminates to full brightness as soon as the ignition is turned on--day or night. It cannot be turned off at all. (the dealer and manufacturer confirm this.) the problem is that I, like, I suspect, most drivers, rely on a dark car interior as a prompt to turn on the headlights at night. This…
The car suddenly lost acceleration on the highway, with the check engine light flashing. The mechanic later found fault with ignition coils. All coils were replaced, but they keep failing one after another, creating potential dangers (e.g., loss of power and crash on the highway). *tr
Had electrical 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 electrical problem on the 2008 Honda Fit?
It's a meaningful issue. 15 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 75,647 and 106,000 miles, with the median around 90,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 75,647; a quarter make it past 106,000. 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 $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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.