The Lemon Index2009 Honda Fit.
The 2009 Honda Fit is about average by owner complaints: 60 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 111, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about visibility, it has 11 recalls, and it gets 29 to 31 mpg combined. The best Honda Fit year is 2017.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 287 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every Honda Fit year. 2009 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 20K to 103K miles on the car (164 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- airbags complaints mostly came at 51K–88K miles
- steering complaints mostly came at 54K–124K miles
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 63K–135K miles
Recalls 11
- transmission & drivetrain 2020
The drive shafts' protective coating may not have been applied properly during m.
- airbags 2019
These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high a…
- airbags 2019
The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high …
Show all 11 recalls
- airbags 2019
The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
- airbags 2018
The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
- airbags 2018
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- airbags 2017
One dealership may have incorrectly installed the replacement air bag inflators.
- airbags 2017
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- airbags 2016
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- airbags 2016
The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
- engine 2011
HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 HONDA FIT VEHICLES.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Honda told dealers about
Honda sent dealers 54 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Some vehicles, coming from the cam chain case oil seal, the engine oil is leaking from the front
- "service bulletin - the mil comes on with one of these dtcs: p2646/p2651 (rocker arm oil…
- Engineering request for investigation would like to gather pertinent information from certain…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★★ · side ★★★★★ · rollover ★★★★☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $2050–2200 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 1.5L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
24k miles tires worn out and the cost 175.00 each this is a consumer rip off.
2009 Honda Fit owner · NHTSA complaint 10433586
More owner reports
2009 Honda Fit. Consumer states problem with tires
NHTSA complaint 10345526
2009 Honda Fit. Consumer requests refund form dealer
NHTSA complaint 10374429
Quick answers
Is the 2009 Honda Fit reliable?
About average by government complaints. It drew 1.1× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 111; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Honda Fit year by this measure is 2017.
What are the most common 2009 Honda Fit problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are visibility (27%), tires (15%) and engine (10%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2009 Honda Fit have?
11 safety recalls (latest: transmission & drivetrain). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2009 Honda Fit get?
29 to 31 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2009 Honda Fit problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 20,100 and 103,200 miles. The middle report was at 60,200 miles, from 164 complaints.
Does the 2009 Honda Fit have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2009 Honda Fit cost in fuel a year?
About $2050 to $2200 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2009 Honda Fit have?
1.5L 4-cyl.
What Honda Fit year is better than the 2009?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2017, 2011 and 2020.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works