What 113 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Honda Fit

PASSENGER WINDSHIELD EXPLODED INTERNALLY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 75MPH THE FIRST TIME. CALLED HONDA AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO ISSUE WITH IT. I HAD THE INSURANCE COMPANY REPLACE IT AT THAT TIME. NOW, AGAIN THIS MORNING, THE SAME WINDOW SHATTERED AGAIN INTERNALLY ON THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS SITTING IN OUR DRIVEWAY--ALL WINDOWS ARE ROLLED UP AND --KABOOM--IT EXPLODED. SOMETHING IS SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THIS. ANY PASSENGER COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED- I AM SHOCKED THAT HONDA HAS NOT RECALLED THIS FOR THIS MODEL GIVEN THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE BIG ON SAFETY. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS REPLACED WAS 11/21/2012 AND AGAIN TODAY 12 MONTHS AND TWO WEEKS LATER--IT HAPPENED AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10558630

THE STEERING BECOMES REALLY HEAVY OVER SPEEDS OF 50 AND THERE IS NO INDICATOR SHOWING ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10546005

THE CAR IN FRONT STOPPED ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE OF ANOTHER DRIVER SWERVING TO EXIT. THIS CAUSED MY CAR TO REAR-END THE VEHICLE THAT WAS STOPPED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. MY CAR SUFFERED SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY!! UPON LOOKING AT THE DAMAGE AFTER THE ACCIDENT, YOU COULD SEE THAT BOTH AIRBAG SENSORS WERE PHYSICALLY PUSHED BACK INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THEY WERE BOTH CLEARLY HIT, YET NEITHER DEPLOYED THE AIRBAGS. THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS INJURED. I WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY. WITH THAT SAID, WHAT GOOD ARE AIRBAGS IF THEY DON'T DEPLOY? ESPECIALLY IN A SEVERE FRONT-END COLLISION? MAKES NO SENSE TO ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10532594

AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES HARD ENOUGH FOR THE ANTI-LOCKING BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) TO ENGAGE WHICH BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A FULL STOP, THE FRONT DISC BRAKES DID NOT IMMEDIATELY RELEASE UPON TAKING THE FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE BRAKES REMAINED FULLY ENGAGED UNTIL THE ACCELERATOR WAS DEPRESSED (ABOUT 1/2 ACCELERATOR THROW) WHICH WAS SUFFICIENT TO OVERCOME THE ENGAGED BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL. AT THIS TIME, A "POPPING" SOUND WAS HEARD SIMULTANEOUSLY AS THE FRONT BRAKES RELEASED. THE SOUND AND THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF THE BRAKES WAS SIMILAR TO THAT OF WHEN A VEHICLE IS MOVED FOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER IT HAS BEEN SITTING FOR SOME TIME (DAYS OR WEEKS) IN A WET/HUMID CLIMATE AND A RUST BUILD UP HAS OCCURRED IN AND AROUND THE BRAKE PADS OR DRUMS. HIGHWAY CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT WERE SUNNY AND DRY. AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 90 DEGREES. THE TERRAIN WAS FLAT, AND THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY BEEN DRIVEN FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES WITH LIGHT BRAKING AT THE OCCASIONAL RED LIGHT. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED ON A MAIN THOROUGHFARE IN RELATIVE HEAVY TRAFFIC IN ORDER TO AVOID A VEHICLE WHO UNEXPECTEDLY ENTERED THE HIGHWAY AT A SLOW SPEED . THE SUBSEQUENT DELAY IN GETTING MY VEHICLE TO MOVE ALMOST RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE VEHICLES APPROACHING FROM BEHIND DID NOT EXPECT TO FIND A STOPPED VEHICLE IN THE ROAD AND WERE FORCED TO STOP SUDDENLY THEMSELVES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10520251

AFTER DRIVING 20 MILES THROUGH TRAFFIC WITH 1/2 TANK GAS AND RADIATOR TEMPERATURE OK, NO WARNING LIGHTS SHOWING: TURNED RIGHT AT INTERSECTION AND LOST ALL ENGINE POWER (NO THROTTLE RESPONSE), THEN ALL LIGHTS (HEADLIGHTS AND DASH). STEERING BECAME STIFF. WE THINK CD PLAYER STAYED ON. LUCKILY NO NEARBY TRAFFIC AND ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO PULL INTO NEARBY PARKING LOT. PUT CAR IN PARK, TURNED KEY OFF AND REMOVED IT. REPLACED KEY AND CAR STARTED WITH LIGHTS OK. WE'VE HAD THIS CAR FOR 1500 MILES AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT'S DONE THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10484800

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA FIT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE WITH THE GEAR IN PARK, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE JUMPED THE CURB AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS BADLY DAMAGED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,500. ..UPDATED 09/12/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND HONDA DID NOT FIND ANY REASON THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. UPDATED 09/12/2012 *JS

NHTSA ODI 10467908

I SLAMMED ON BRAKES TO AVOID A PEDESTRIAN AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALMOST TO THE FLOOR AND MY FOOT HIT THE ACCELERATOR -- THE CAR STOPPED WITH ENGINE RACING, NARROWLY MISSING THE PEDESTRIAN. THIS HITTING-THE-ACCELERATOR-WHEN-BRAKING HAS HAPPEN TWICE SINCE. DEALER SAYS THE BRAKES ARE OPERATING NORMALLY. TO ME, IT SEEMS A DESIGN FAULT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10467832

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA FIT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WAS BUCKLED, IT WOULD CONSTANTLY TIGHTEN AROUND THE PASSENGER SEATED IN THAT SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,000.

NHTSA ODI 10451936

THE A/C CONDENSER IS EXTREMELY EXPOSED TO DAMAGE FROM ROAD DEBRIS. THERE ARE "VENTS" WHICH LIE BELOW THE LICENSE PLATE HOLDER NEAR THE ROAD, WIDE ENOUGH TO FIT A FIST AND THE LENGTH OF THE FRONT BUMPER. THIS ALLOWS ALL KINDS OF ROAD DEBRIS TO ENTER AND HIT THE A/C CONDENSER ONLY INCHES BEHIND THE OPENING. THIS DAMAGE HAS BEEN REPORTED ON A NUMBER OF WEBSITES FROM MODEL YEAR 2008 TO 2011. A SIMILAR ISSUE HAS ALSO BEEN REPORTED IN A NUMBER OF OTHER HONDA CAR MODELS, INCLUDING THE CR-V AND THE ODYSSEY, WHICH RESULTED IN A SUCCESSFUL CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. HONDA, HOWEVER, STILL DOES NOT PROVIDE A GRILL OR OTHER FORM OF PROTECTION DESPITE THE REPORTED PROBLEM AND DOES NOT COVER THE REPAIRS WITH THEIR BUMPER TO BUMPER OR HONDA CARE WARRANTIES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10446813

THE A/C CONDENSER IS EXTREMELY EXPOSED TO DAMAGE FROM ROAD DEBRIS. THERE ARE "VENTS" WHICH LIE BELOW THE LICENSE PLATE HOLDER NEAR THE ROAD, WIDE ENOUGH TO FIT A FIST AND THE LENGTH OF THE FRONT BUMPER. THIS ALLOWS ALL KINDS OF ROAD DEBRIS TO ENTER AND HIT THE A/C CONDENSER ONLY INCHES BEHIND THE OPENING. THIS DAMAGE HAS BEEN REPORTED ON A NUMBER OF WEBSITES FROM MODEL YEAR 2008 TO 2011. A SIMILAR ISSUE HAS ALSO BEEN REPORTED IN A NUMBER OF OTHER HONDA CAR MODELS, INCLUDING THE CR-V AND THE ODYSSEY, WHICH RESULTED IN A SUCCESSFUL CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. HONDA, HOWEVER, STILL DOES NOT PROVIDE A GRILL OR OTHER FORM OF PROTECTION DESPITE THE REPORTED PROBLEM AND DOES NOT COVER THE REPAIRS WITH THEIR BUMPER TO BUMPER OR HONDA CARE WARRANTIES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10446817

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA FIT SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE WAS EXPOSED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED WITH THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AWAY. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE ENTIRE CABLE COULD POSSIBLY NEED REPLACING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 13,000.

NHTSA ODI 10435559

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA FIT EQUIPPED WITH DUNLOP SP SPORT 7000 TIRES, SIZE 185/55/R16, DOT NUMBER EU7V3M7R4610. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE YET ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CONSULT THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 11,000.

NHTSA ODI 10430825

I PURCHASED MY SECOND HONDA AUTOMOBILE THREE MONTHS AGO: A BRAND NEW 2011 HONDA FIT WITH LESS THAN 10 MILES ON IT. JUST DROVE TO DALLAS TO SEE MY GRANDKIDS AND COMING BACK, THE AIR CONDITIONING WENT OUT. I TOOK IT INTO DON CARLTON HONDA THIS MORNING - AND THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT A "ROCK MUST HAVE GONE THROUGH THE GRILL" AND PUNCTURED A HOLE IN THE COMPRESSOR - THE COST? $780!!! NOW, AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET, I FIND THAT THIS HAS BEEN A COMPLAINT SINCE 2009. I HESITATE TO CALL THIS A "RACKET" BUT HELLO???? I EVEN DISCOVERED THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO RIG A SCREEN TO PREVENT THE ROCKS FROM COMING INTO THE ENGINE. THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS HAVE BEEN ISSUED REGARDING THIS DEFECT. TO HAVE A 3 MONTH OLD 2011 AUTOMOBILE HAVE TO HAVE AIR CONDITIONING REPLACEMENT IS OUTRAGEOUS. I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW HONDA SO THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE REPAIR BILLS ON MY LIMITED INCOME. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10428842