1) vehicle engine has to warm up for several moments if stationery for longer than a few hours (regardless of outdoor temperature); 2) transmission slipping or pistons not firing while in operation-whether in town or highway; 3) if vehicle idles, engine shuts off and upon restart, has to reach 2000 rpms to begin be able to put it into drive. Vehicle has been taken in numerous times to…
2008 Honda Fit powertrain problems
severe 23 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
23
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
2crashes
When does it fail?
Of the 23 powertrain 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 powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Drive axle failures are the most common complaint. Front CV shafts corrode and snap, often under a rubber vibration damper that traps water. Failures happen as low as 80,000 miles with sudden bangs, grinding, or the car stopping dead in intersections. NHTSA recall 20V770000 covers this, but owners report recall parts were unavailable for months, forcing them to repair out-of-pocket or wait. One owner who fixed an axle failure before the recall was issued later got denied reimbursement because Honda claims incomplete factory records.
Transmission problems cluster around shifting. On automatics, some skip 1st gear and jump to 3rd, with high RPMs at highway speed. Diagnostic codes P0756 and P0847 indicate internal debris; Honda service guidance calls for replacement rather than repair. Manual transmission owners report binding when shifting and abnormal wear on clutches as early as 6,000 miles. One owner had a second clutch fail by 17,800 miles—Honda blamed the driver both times despite acknowledging the wear looked "unusual."
Engine stalling in Drive at low speeds occurs without warning, creating collision hazard. The 2009–2010 models got a recall for VTEC spring failure causing stalls; the 2008 exhibits the same symptom but was excluded.
A handful of owners describe uncontrolled rapid acceleration during low-speed maneuvering (shifting from Park to Reverse) with simultaneous brake failure. Dealers inspected and found "nothing wrong" despite tow truck drivers and repair shops experiencing the same acceleration themselves. One car landed in a fence after losing all electrical power at 20 mph.
Same Honda Fit powertrain reports on nearby years: 2007 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011
Failure modes owners describe
Drive axle corrosion and breakage
Front drive axles (CV shafts) fail due to severe corrosion, particularly under the rubber vibration damper where water and salt become trapped. Shafts lose approximately half their diameter to rust, then fracture under acceleration or normal driving load.
When: Varies from 80,000 to 138,500 miles; some failures occur without warning at low speed (parking lot, driveway), others during highway acceleration or merging
Symptoms owners cite: Loud bang or booming noise from engine area without warning; Abnormal grinding sound from drivetrain; Vehicle unable to move forward despite being in Drive; Vehicle rolls backward despite accelerator input; Axle shaft visibly detached from vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Independent repair: left or right drive shaft replacement. Dealer repair: axle replacement with OEM or aftermarket parts. One owner reports transmission bent and damaged after repeated axle failure (108,000 miles). Recall parts (NHTSA 20V770000) unavailable for extended periods, delaying repairs.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 20V770000 (Powertrain) issued for driveshaft corrosion on 2008 Honda Fit. Recall covers both manual and automatic transmissions. However, owners report delayed notification, parts unavailability, and Honda's denial of reimbursement for pre-recall failures when factory build records incomplete.
Automatic transmission skipping gears and shifting problems
Automatic transmission skips gears (jumping from 1st to 3rd), exhibits rough shifting, and RPM fluctuation at highway speeds. One case involved transmission fluid not being checked or replenished after drive axle replacement service, despite fluid loss being inherent to the work.
When: Occurs within days to weeks of drive axle repair; also reported independently at 75,000 miles with diagnostic codes P0756 and P0847
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission skips 1st gear, jumps directly to 3rd gear; RPMs higher than normal and fluctuate at speeds above 60 mph; Sport mode non-functional; Rough shifting; Check engine light on with D light illuminated; Debris detected in transmission fluid
Codes mentioned: P0756, P0847
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission fluid drained and showed debris, indicating internal damage per Honda service guidance. Replacement transmission required at owner expense. One dealership failed to check transmission fluid after axle service, potentially contributing to failure. Fluid loss occurs naturally when removing drive axles.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda Service News article 'Hard or Delayed Shifting with A/T DTCS P0756 and P0847' documents this issue. No recall issued. Honda corporate denies warranty extension beyond 60,000 miles. Cost reduction offered only to repeat customers who meet specific loyalty criteria; independent repair shops not authorized.
Clutch premature wear and failure (manual transmission)
Clutch disc fails at very low mileage with abnormal wear patterns. First failure at 6,011 miles with clutch blue from friction; second slipping beginning at 17,800 miles with uneven wear shown in diagnostic images.
When: First failure: 6,011 miles (January 30, 2008); second: 17,800 miles (within 11,800 miles of replacement)
Symptoms owners cite: Clutch will not engage on highway; Clutch begins slipping; Engine bucking or hesitation when shifting into 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th gear; Uneven wear on clutch disc; Clutch material blue from overheating
Repairs/costs cited: First repair: Honda replaced clutch, flywheel, pressure plate, and both bearings under 'goodwill' warranty. Service consultant noted it was the worst-worn clutch he had seen. Second slipping: dealership blamed operator wear but could not explain cause or why uneven wear occurred. Owner alleges photos timestamped 6 days after inspection claimed to show defect.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda denies responsibility, claiming owner misuse despite case manager noting it was 'unlikely' though 'possible' the owner caused the wear. Dealership and corporate refused to cover second repair or explain why premature wear occurred. After arbitration notice and lawsuit threat, Honda agreed to reopen case; resolution pending.
Uncontrolled acceleration and brake failure
Vehicle accelerates rapidly without driver input and brakes fail to stop the vehicle, creating dangerous collision risk. In one case, shift from Reverse to Drive occurred mid-collision without driver input.
When: Occurs during low-speed maneuvers (shifting from Park to Reverse, entering parking spot), no mileage specified
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission clicks but does not engage when shifted from Park to Reverse; Vehicle accelerates rapidly when foot lifted from brake after shift; Brakes unable to stop vehicle despite depression; Transmission shifts unexpectedly from Reverse to Drive during collision impact; Airbag fails to deploy; Tow truck driver experienced same rapid acceleration problem
Repairs/costs cited: Auto body shop refused to test drive vehicle due to safety concern; demanded towed to Honda dealer. Honda dealer claimed inspection found no problem. Tow truck driver removed key due to uncontrolled acceleration. Vehicle repaired at body shop for $4,400 but owner refused to drive it and traded in; Honda sent car to auction without disclosing defect.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda dealer claimed no mechanical fault found after inspection despite multiple witnesses (body shop, tow truck driver) experiencing uncontrolled acceleration.
Engine stalling in Drive during low-speed operation
Engine stalls without warning when vehicle is in Drive at low speeds or stopped, creating collision hazard. Stalls occur regardless of engine temperature. Transmission fluid replacement does not resolve issue. Similar symptoms reported for 2009–2010 models under NHTSA recall for VTEC spring failure.
When: Intermittent, occurs at parking speeds, stop signs, and stop lights; happens whether engine is cold or warm
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls in Drive at parking or slow speeds; Engine stalls at complete stops (traffic lights, stop signs); Stalling intermittent and unpredictable; No service indicator lights illuminated; Vehicle unsafe to drive in traffic due to stall risk
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership recommended transmission fluid replacement at cost of $210. Problem recurred the next day. No diagnosis provided.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall 86874 (Engine and Engine Cooling) issued February 17, 2011 for 2009–2010 Honda Fit models for VTEC spring assembly failure causing stalling. Owner reports 2008 model exhibits identical symptoms but was not included in recall.
Transmission binding and shift linkage resistance (manual transmission)
Manual transmission develops binding resistance when shifting into 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gear with audible clicks from shift linkage. Problem appears at 60,000 miles, initially resolves, then recurs at 80,000 miles. Likely a combination of premature clutch wear and synchronizer issues.
When: First appearance: 60,000 miles (just prior to 2nd fluid change); recurrence: 80,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Resistance when shifting into 1st, 2nd, 3rd gear; Audible click from shift linkage; Binding in transmission
Repairs/costs cited: Owner (professional A&P mechanic) performed: transmission fluid change, clutch fluid change and bleed, clutch height and engagement adjustment. Only slight improvement; likely combination of prematurely worn clutch and syncromesh issue or shift linkage wear. Vehicle maintained to Honda schedule with only genuine Honda fluids; completely original except brake rotors/pads.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None documented; owner notes Honda does not have reputation for transmission reliability and does not offer out-of-warranty coverage.
Engine misfire across all cylinders
Check engine light illuminates; engine misfires at all four cylinders. Misfire causes vehicle to wobble at speeds above 55 mph and also occurs at lower speeds.
When: 138,500 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine warning light illuminated; Misfire detected on all four cylinders; Vehicle wobbles while driving at slower speeds; Misfire occurs at 55 mph and faster; Passenger side front axle shaft detached from vehicle during test drive
Repairs/costs cited: Certified mechanic diagnosed misfire on all cylinders. During test drive, passenger side axle shaft detached, preventing further diagnosis. Vehicle not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No response documented; manufacturer not informed.
Shifter cable failure
Shifter cable degrades over time, causing inability to engage Park, Reverse, and finally Neutral, rendering vehicle immobile. Cable snapped, completely disabling transmission engagement.
When: Cable snapped at unspecified mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle will not go into Park; Vehicle will not go into Reverse; Vehicle will not leave Neutral (after cable snap); Transmission becomes completely unusable
Repairs/costs cited: Cable replacement required; no cost provided.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None documented.
Rough shifting and transmission issues with high RPMs
Transmission exhibits rough or delayed shifting with RPM hesitation. Vehicle hesitates when shifting; at one point unable to merge into traffic due to continuous high RPM revving while only achieving 30 mph on 65 mph road.
When: 30,000 miles on vehicle purchased new 4 years prior
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission does not respond to acceleration input; First gear has difficulty engaging; Remaining gears progressively problematic; Continuous high RPM revving without proportional speed increase; Vehicle unable to merge safely into traffic
Repairs/costs cited: No repair documented.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None documented.
Intermittent engine startup, idle, and transmission issues
Multiple overlapping issues: engine requires extended warm-up after sitting; transmission slips or cylinders misfire during operation; engine shuts off when idling and requires reaching 2,000 RPM before transmission can engage Drive. Persistent despite multiple repairs and service visits.
When: Unspecified mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Engine requires warm-up period if vehicle stationary longer than a few hours; Transmission slipping or misfiring cylinders during operation; Engine shuts off when idling; Upon restart, must reach 2,000 RPM before transmission can shift into Drive; No diagnostic codes identify root cause; Multiple Honda service departments unable to resolve
Repairs/costs cited: Work performed: crank sensor replaced, coil packs replaced, starter replaced, fluids flushed, valves adjusted. No positive resolution after multiple service visits to Honda and independent mechanics. Owner reports similar issues discussed on online forums affecting multiple model years of Honda Fit.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None documented.
Complete loss of motor and electrical power while driving
Vehicle loses all engine and electrical power without warning while driving at low speed, causing vehicle to roll downhill and crash. No warning lights preceded failure. Owner associates failure with driveshaft recall campaign.
When: 200,000 miles; no warning lights before failure
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of motor and electrical power; No warning lights illuminated before failure; Vehicle unable to control descent (rolled backward downhill)
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle destroyed and towed; not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; response pending. Owner associated with NHTSA Campaign 20V770000 (Powertrain).
Coil pack failure
Single coil assembly failed on one cylinder, causing engine bucking and hesitation when shifting gears. Problem severe enough to create uncertainty about correct gear during highway driving.
When: Unspecified mileage; symptom occurred 12/9/14, repair 12/15/14
Symptoms owners cite: Engine bucking or hesitation when shifting into 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th gear; Feels like downshift despite selecting correct gear; Problem intermittent, escalates to severe on steep road drive
Repairs/costs cited: Coil assembly for one cylinder replaced at cost of $257.60 total; coil part cost $135 at dealership (owner found same genuine Honda part available for $81 elsewhere). Problem resolved after repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None documented.
Unexpected downshift or transmission lag and unresponsiveness
Transmission unresponsive to acceleration input during merge onto highway at 30 mph. Vehicle continues revving at high RPMs without proportional speed increase, creating dangerous merge condition.
When: 30,000 miles; 4 years after new purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Car does not respond to acceleration input amount given; First gear has difficulty engaging; Subsequent gears progressively more problematic; Continuous high RPM revving; Unable to merge; moving at 30 mph on 65 mph road
Repairs/costs cited: No repair documented.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None documented.
Synthesized from 23 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
My 2008 Honda fit (manual transmission) suddenly felt like the engine was bucking or hesitating when shifting gears. This was noticeable when shifting into 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th gear. It felt as if I needed to downshift even though I was shifting into the correct gear. ( I have been driving manual transmissions for more than 30 years). I took the car to the Honda service department and after test…
2008 Honda fit (automatic) stalls when vehicle is in "drive" when driving at a slow/decreased speed (parking into a parking spot or starting to accellerate from a stop) or when stopped at a stop sign or stop light. There are no "service indicator lights on". This stall in the engine occurs regardless if vehicle is cold or warmed up. Honda dealership suggested replacing the transmission fluid.…
Had powertrain 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 powertrain problem on the 2008 Honda Fit?
It's a meaningful issue. 23 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 19 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 79,000 and 140,000 miles, with the median around 106,340. A quarter of owners report trouble before 79,000; a quarter make it past 140,000. 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.