Jan 31, 2023Speed control
While my wife was coming to a stop in a parking space, the car suddenly accelerated and jumped over the curb into a pedestrian walkway. The car could not be stopped with the brake and continued moving over the walkway. Afraid that the car would hit a pedestrian or crash into cars on the busy street ahead, she was ready to stop the car by crashing it into a concrete column. Fortunately, she removed the key and the car stopped. A similar incident occurred in 2014 when the car suddenly accelerated while I was coming to a stop at a traffic light. In order to avoid hitting the car in front of me, I stopped by removing the key. Then I drove the car to the dealer. A master mechanic checked the car but could not duplicate the problem. In 2020, the car again accelerated suddenly while stopping at a traffic light. I stopped the car immediately but did not report the incident. After the third incident, we contacted the dealer and stated that we did not want to drive the car ever again because we did not want to risk injuring ourselves or others. We had the car towed to the dealer to be checked. The dealer could not duplicate the problem and they demonstrated safety features of the car that prevent the accelerator from overpowering the brake. We were not convinced since we use the same foot to operate the accelerator and the brake. Therefore, when the foot is on the brake, nothing is pushing the accelerator. The engine was accelerating by itself, possibly by the engine control software. We then initiated a case with American Honda. We were later informed by an American Honda case manager that their Field Technical Specialist had determined that “the vehicle is functioning according to Honda’s specifications” and that Honda was not going to investigate further. The local dealer agreed to buy the car at market price.
NHTSA ODI 11504644
Aug 5, 2019AirbagsSpeed controlCrash1 injury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA FIT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A SUDDEN ACCELERATION, WHILE DRIVING. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER WHICH BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE AIR BAG ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CHEST INJURIES DUE TO COMING IN CONTACT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS FIXED, TRADED IN, AND SOLD. THE DEALER MARIN HONDA (2 SHORELINE PKWY, SAN RAFAEL, CA 94901 (415) 968-8479) REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE MANUFACTURER. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
NHTSA ODI 11241804
Feb 3, 2015Speed controlEngine
ANY TIME AT LOW SPEED START OFF IF LEFT FOOT IS JUST TOUCHING BRAKE PEDAL CAR WILL STALL WITH NO RESPONSE IN THROTTLE POSITION CAR STOPS! UNTIL THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS BACKED OFF WITH FOOT AND REAPPLIED DEALER SAID THIS HAPPENS AND TO DRIVE WITH ONLY ONE FOOT! THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM NEED RECALL! *TR
NHTSA ODI 10680984
Sep 4, 2014Speed controlCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA FIT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WENT OVER THE SIDEWALK BUT WAS SHE ABLE TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES BEFORE THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. THE CONTACT DID NOT FILE A POLICE REPORT AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20.
NHTSA ODI 10630753
May 30, 2014Speed control
2013 HONDA FIT WITH A 1,000 MILES, BOUGH IT NEW, IS NOW HESITATING ON ACCELERATION, THEN IT LIKE IT TAKES A BIG GULP OF GAS AND IS FINE. HAPPENED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. ROADS WERE FLAT AND ONLY ALWAYS HAPPENS AFTER I STOP THEN ACCELERATE. DOES NOT DO THIS ALL THE TIME, BUT WHEN MAKING A TURN WITH ONCOMING CARS, IT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS. DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING AS I NEVER KNOW WHEN THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN. *TR
NHTSA ODI 10595177
Apr 8, 2014Speed control
2013 HONDA FIT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE NOISES AND SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE REACHED THE SPEED OF 45- 50 MPH, THERE WAS A DISTINCT HOWLING NOISE. ALSO AT TIMES, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY SURGE FORWARD WITHOUT PRESSING DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR. *JB
NHTSA ODI 10576640
Aug 9, 2013Speed control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA FIT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE SHE DRIVING 50 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH FORCE. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,000.
NHTSA ODI 10534452
Mar 25, 2013Body & structureSpeed controlCrash
I WAS ENTERING A PARKING PLACE AT APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH, TRYING TO ADJUST THE ANGLE OF ENTRY. WHEN I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR BOLTED FORWARD. I APPLIED THE BRAKE BUT THE ACCELERATION WAS TOO FAST TO KEEP THE BRAKE FROM STOPPING THE CAR FROM COLLIDING WITH THE GUARD RAIL. THE IMPACT CAUSED THE AIR BAGS TO EJECT. THE HOOD WAS DENTED, THE RIGHT FENDER AND BUMPER WERE DISENGAGED FROM THE BODY AND THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT WAS BROKEN. THE REPAIR CAME TO OVER $10,000. IF THE GUARD RAIL HADN'T STOPPED THE CAR IT WOULD HAVE GONE OVER FROM THE 6TH FLOOR TO THE 5TH FLOOR. FORTUNATELY MY PASSENGER AND I WERE NOT INJURED DUE TO THE AIR BAGS EJECTING. MY CONCERN WITH THIS CAR IS THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS TOO "TOUCHY." THE DEALER HAD HIS MECHANIC CHECK THE CAR AFTER IT WAS FIXED DECLARING THAT THIS WAS THE NATURE OF THAT MODEL. HAD I KNOWN THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED THE CAR. I'M STILL WARY ABOUT DRIVING THE CAR THREE MONTHS LATER. *TR
NHTSA ODI 10504452