"SERVICE BULLETIN - THE MIL COMES ON WITH ONE OF THESE DTCS: P2646/P2651 (ROCKER ARM OIL PRESSURE SWITCH CIRCUIT LOW VOLTAGE). P2647/P2652 (ROCKER ARM OIL PRESSURE SWITCH CIRCUIT HIGH VOLTAGE). NOTE: THE SYMPTOM MAY BE INTERMITTENT AND YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DUPLICATE IT AFTER CLEARING THE DTC. THE ROCKER ARM OIL PRESSURE SWITCH MAY FAIL INTERMITTENTLY."
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2008 Honda Fit engine problems
moderate 14 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
When does it fail?
Of the 14 engine 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
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 13 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 engine 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.
HONDA: THE MIL IS ON WITH A STORED TROUBLE CODE. THE AIR/FUEL SENSOR IS DAMAGED.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗HONDA: MIL COMES ON WITH DTC P0420 (CATALYST SYSTEM EFFICIENCY BELOW THRESHOLD) IS STORED. ECM/PCM MISINTERPRETS ENGINE IDLE CONDITIONS, RESULTING IN INACCURATE CONTROL OF THE FUEL AND IGNITION. REPLACE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AND UPDATE THE PGM-FI SOFTWARE WITH HDS.
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 shows a persistent engine stalling problem that emerges around 100,000 miles and becomes worse in cold weather. Owners describe the engine stalling when first started, requiring the car to warm up before driving—if shifted into gear while cold, it stalls immediately. This cold-start stalling continues to happen for the first few miles of driving and occurs especially at low temperatures; some owners report stalling 2–3 times during warmup and another 1–2 times on the road before the engine reaches operating temperature. The stalling also happens at red lights, during turns, and when braking, creating a collision hazard in intersections.
One owner reports an unintended engine surge in reverse with foot on brake—strong enough to propel the vehicle—that lasted over 10 seconds.
Other owners describe the engine stalling without warning while driving at 35–70 mph, dying when braking, and then restarting immediately with no fault codes stored.
Most troubling: owners have attempted numerous repairs—spark plugs, valve timing, batteries, fuel injectors, clutches, coils, air filters, and V-TEC switches—without success. Dealerships often cannot diagnose the problem. One owner mentions a failed spring in the variable valve timing system. Honda issued a recall for 2009–2010 Fit models for an identical stalling issue (recall #11V101000), but not for the 2008.
Same Honda Fit engine reports on nearby years: 2007 · 2009
Failure modes owners describe
Cold-start stalling with low idle
Engine stalls when shifted into gear while cold, requiring it to warm up before driving. Owners report the engine idles too low on cold starts and drops even lower when placed in gear, causing stalling. Issue persists until engine reaches operating temperature.
When: Most prevalent around 100,000–150,000 miles; worsens in winter; occurs within first 2–6 minutes of driving or within first two miles of the day
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls immediately when shifted into gear while cold; Low idle that drops further when gear is engaged; Multiple stall events during warmup and first few miles of driving; Stalling at stops, red lights, and during turns while engine is still cold; Danger of stalling in intersections
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report attempted fixes without resolution: spark plug replacement, valve timing adjustment, battery replacement, fuel injector cleaning, idle system reset, valve adjustment, clutch replacement, coil replacement, air filter replacement, V-TEC oil pressure switch replacement. No owner reported a successful repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: A recall was issued for 2009–2010 Honda Fit models (recall #11V101000, R66) for a similar stalling issue, but no recall exists for the 2008 model despite owners noting it is an extremely common issue with the 2008.
Unintended engine surge in reverse/neutral
Engine surges with no throttle input while vehicle is in reverse or stationary with foot on brake. Owner reported the surge lasted 10+ seconds and was strong enough to propel the vehicle rapidly.
When: August 2009; approximately 20 miles of driving before report
Symptoms owners cite: Engine surges without accelerator pedal use; Occurs in reverse with foot on brake; Surge is forceful and prolonged (10+ seconds)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda dealership service department was unaware of any recall; unable to document the event in owner's service history.
Stalling at cruising speeds and stops
Engine quits running while driving at higher speeds (35–70 mph) or dies when braking to a stop. Engine restarts immediately after shutdown and restart, and no fault codes are stored.
When: 80,000–120,000 miles; recurring and intermittent
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalls without warning at highway speeds (70 mph reported); Stalls when braking to a stop or at red lights; No warning or fault codes logged; Engine restarts immediately after shutdown and restart; Check engine light may illuminate after multiple events
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report replaced coils, spark plugs, air filters, and V-TEC oil pressure switch with no resolution. One dealership attributed it to a failed spring in the variable valve timing system.
Engine lag and hesitation at cruising speed
Engine lags noticeably when driving at moderate highway speed (50 mph). Owner suspects fuel distribution issue.
When: Occurs during normal driving
Symptoms owners cite: Engine lag at 50 mph; Suspected fuel distribution problem
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Honda fit. The contact was driving approximately 5 MPH when the vehicle stalled without warning. The failure recurred intermittently whenever the contact would brake to a stop. The vehicle was taken to both an independent mechanic and the dealer for diagnostic testing. Neither was able to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available.…
Car kept stalling when I would turn on the engine and also while driving on the street it kept bucking and refused to accelerate. Anyway, got tune up 09172014, cost $170.00. Plus an oil change. Problem still occurring? Had diagnosis completed 12/26/2014 however, they couldn't find the reason for the car to die while turning it on. Car is now 145k miles. Recommended I replace the battery. Now…
Guessing the date but I know it happened around 65k miles when I took it into dealership to get it check. Car kept stalling when I would turn on the engine and also while driving on freeway it kept bucking and refused to accelerate. Anyway, got the engine fixed, however, they couldn't find the reason for the car to die while turning it on. Car is now 94k miles. Every time I turn on the car I have…
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. It seems something is wrong with fuel distribution, which may be very dangerous. *tr
Had engine 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 engine problem on the 2008 Honda Fit?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 14 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 14 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 77,000 and 105,000 miles, with the median around 90,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 77,000; a quarter make it past 105,000. 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 $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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.