2008 Honda FIT headlight problems

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Above mentioned Honda Fit Vin number JHMGD38678S043570 had same issue with low beam headlight recall (TSB 10-082 low beam headlight recall) Low beam headlight do not work. Car was sent to Pohanka dealership for repair. "Found a break in wire where connector was installed." I have documentation attesting to this. I am not denying that switch was bad, but Honda is charging labor for the obvious recall repair that was incorrectly performed. I would like a partial refund for the labor they are charging for the time to repair the recall correction. Honda is denying the claim saying it is "wear and tear".

NHTSA complaint #11494169 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

DUE TO THIS AIRBAG DEFECTIVENESS MY CAR GOT DAMAGED AND AFFECTED BADLY

NHTSA complaint #11278789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT NO LONGER WORKS IN LOW BEAM MODE. HEADLIGHT WAS CHANGED, LIGHT WORKS IN HIGH BEAM MODE.

NHTSA complaint #11097229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

LOW BEAM LIGHTS DUE NOT FUNCTION.LOTS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE COMPUTER.CALLED THE HONDA GARAGE WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD CHARGE ME TO LOOK AT IT AND TROUBLESHOOT THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10839437 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

LOW BEAM LIGHTS DOESN'T TURN ON OR TURNS OFF BY ITSELF

NHTSA complaint #10820367 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

COMBINATION HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS FAULTY. WHILE LOW BEAMS ARE ON, TOGGLING THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL ACTIVATES THE HIGH BEAM. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND PERFORMED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH RECALL HOPING IT WOULD GET FIXED BUT THE RECALL ONLY ADDRESSED THE WIRING HARNESS. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AFTER THE RECALL. I GOOGLED IT AND IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. TOLD THE DEALER ABOUT WHAT I FOUND ONLINE AND WAS CHARGING ME EXTRA FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND REPLACING THE PART. THEY TOLD ME THE RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE REPLACING COMBINATION SWITCH ITSELF. THEN, I BOUGHT AN OEM REPLACEMENT AND REPLACED IT MYSELF WHICH FIXED THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10749618 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA FIT. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE HIGH BEAM LAMPS BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 179,000.

NHTSA complaint #10725895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

AT 5AM WHILE HEADED TO WORK, I NOTICED THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT ON, DESPITE THE SWITCH BEING IN THE ON POSITION. THERE WAS A RECALL PREVIOUSLY FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. IT APPEARS THE FIX WAS ONLY TEMPORARY, AS THE EXACT SAME ISSUE HAS POPPED UP AGAIN. LOW-BEAMS DO NOT WORK, BUT HI-BEAMS AND FOGLIGHTS WORK.

NHTSA complaint #10637778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

ALL FRONT LAMPS HAVE FAILED REPEATEDLY, INCLUDING LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT. HEADLAMPS HAVE FAILED FOUR TIMES. VEHICLE HAS BEEN RETURNED FOR SERVICE UNDER SAFETY RECALL NOTICE, BUT LIGHTS CONTINUE TO FAIL.

NHTSA complaint #10499376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

BOTH LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS AND DRIVING/FOG LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT. HI-BEAMS CONTINUED TO WORK. EVENTUALLY REPLACED LIGHT BULB AND PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. PROBLEM HAS RECURRED, AGAIN WITH BOTH LOW BEAM AND FOG LIGHTS NOT WORKING OCCASIONALLY. NOW SUSPECT A SWITCH PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10467144 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

PURCHASED THIS CAR AS A CERTIFIED USED CAR IN NOVEMBER 2010 FROM TARRYTOWN HONDA. NUMEROUS INCIDENTS OF STOPPING ON THE ROAD WITH THIS CAR SINCE JUNE 2011 BUT THIS IS THE LATEST INCIDENT. PREVIOUS INCIDENT ALSO REPORTED ON THIS WEBSITE. ALSO FILED COMPLAINT WITH AMERICAN HONDA IN SEPTEMBER 2011 (CASE#N0122011-09-0701741) AND FILED FOR NYS LEMON LAW ARBITRATION IN 2011 BUT NEVER RECEIVED A RESPONSE. CAR DASHBOARD LIGHTING STARTED TO GO WHILE DRIVING AND STEERING DIFFICULT. CAR STOPPED AFTER COMING OFF OF BROOKLYN BRIDGE ON 5/10/12 AND HAD TO BE FRANTICALLY PUSHED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH HELP OF GOOD SAMARITAN AND MY PASSENGER BECAUSE HAZARD LIGHTS WOULDN'T REMAIN ON. CAR WAS TOWED TO HONDA DEALERSHIP BY AAA. CAR COMPLETELY DIED ON THE ROAD IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY TRAFFIC WITH STEERING IMPOSSIBLE AND HAZARD LIGHTS NOT OPERABLE. DEALERSHIP STATES THAT ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY NEED REPLACEMENT - FOR THE SECOND TIME IN ONE YEAR! I BELONG TO A HONDA FIT ONLINE FORUM WHERE OTHER HONDA FIT OWNERS COMPLAIN OF THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT IN JUNE 2011 AND I MAYBE INJURED OR KILLED IF I CONTINUE TO DRIVE THIS CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10458163 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

RE: 2008 HONDA FIT SPORT - A FEW WEEKS AFTER HAVING THE HEADLIGHT SAFETY RECALL FOR 2007-08 HONDA FIT VEHICLES FROM HONDA SERVICE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE WE STARTED TO NOTICE THAT THE HIGH BEAMS WOULD COME ON WHEN THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL WAS ACTIVATED WHILE THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ON. HONDA DIAGNOSED AS THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH BEING DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH UNDER WARRANTY. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE NEW HEADLIGHT SWITCH BEGAN DISPLAYING THE SAME ISSUE; WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON, USING THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL WOULD ACTIVATE THE HIGH BEAMS. HONDA HAS NOW DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE ONCE AGAIN AS THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH BEING DEFECTIVE. VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY IN A FEW WEEKS. HAVE CONTACTED AMERICAN HONDA AND OPENED A CASE ON THE ONGOING ISSUE. THINK THAT THEIR MAY BE A LARGE NUMBER OF DEFECTIVE REPLACEMENT HEADLIGHT/TURN SIGNAL SWITCHES CURRENTLY BEING USED FOR SERVICE. THIS WILL BE THE THIRD HEADLIGHT SWITCH THE VEHICLE HAS HAD.

NHTSA complaint #10399670 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

I AM FORTUNATELY NOT REPORTING ON A FAILURE PER SE OR AN ACCIDENT, I AM REPORTING A POTENTIALLY DEADLY FLAW IN THE LIGHTING SYSTEM OF MANY NEW VEHICLES (LIKE FOR INSTANCE MY 2008 HONDA FIT). THE PROBLEM IS THAT ANYTIME THE CAR IS STARTED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS TOTALLY LIGHTED UP AND STAYS THAT WAY NOT MATTER WHAT THE ACTUAL VISIBILITY IS. AS A CONSEQUENCE IT IS QUITE EASY TO FORGET TO TURN ON THE HEAD LIGHTS EVEN AT NIGHT WHEN LEAVING A BRIGHTLY LIGHTED PLACE (LIKE A GAS STATION). THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME A FEW TIMES: I WOULD TANK THE CAR, START THE ENGINE, SEE THE LIGHTED INSTRUMENT PANEL AND DRIVE OFF INTO A DARK STREET. OF COURSE YOU REALIZE AFTER A FEW SECONDS THAT YOU HAVE NO HEADLIGHTS BUT THOSE 2-3 SECONDS COULD BE FATAL, THE ONLY INDICATOR THAT THE HEAD LIGHTS ARE ON IS A SMALL GREEN ICON THAT IT IS EASILY NOT NOTICED AMONG THE LIGHTED PANEL. THE SITUATION IS ALSO DANGEROUS AT DUSK WHEN THE LIGHTED PANEL AGAIN GIVES THE IMPRESSION THAT THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON. A FEW DAYS AGO I PASSED A CAR DRIVEN ON A NEARBY INTERSTATE BY A WOMAN WHO HAD NOT HEADLIGHTS ON AND WAS DRIVING IN A SITUATION OF ADVANCED DARKNESS; AS I PASSED HER CAR I NOTICED THE GLOW OF HER LIGHTED INSTRUMENT PANEL. SINCE ONE'S EYES EASILY ADJUST TO DARKNESS IT IS VERY EASY NOT TO NOTICE THE PROBLEM. I HOPE NOBODY HAS BEEN ALREADY VICTIMIZED BY THIS NOT SO INTELLIGENT SYSTEM.

NHTSA complaint #10363457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2008 HONDA FIT SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. UPON STARTING THE CAR, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS DO NOT TURN ON THOUGH THE HIGH BEAMS REMAIN INTACT. THIS MEANS THAT I HAVE NO HEADLIGHTS UNLESS I DRIVE WITH MY HIGH BEAMS, WHICH IS DISTRACTING TO OTHER DRIVERS AND UNSAFE. I HAVE NOT YET BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER TO BE FIXED AS THIS PROBLEM BEGAN VERY RECENTLY.

NHTSA complaint #10346636 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

PURCHASED (ONLINE) A SET OF "07-08 HONDA FIT ALTEZZA JDM BLACK TAIL LIGHTS LIGHT NEW" FROM A RETAILER LOCATED IN ONTARIO, CA. (FULL INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE). - AFTER RECEIPT, THE ASSEMBLIES WERE INSPECTED AND DETERMINED TO BE MISSING THE REQUIRED SIDE MARKER AND REFLECTOR COMPONENTS. - ALSO, THE CUTOUTS IN THE HOUSING INTENDED TO MOUNT THE BULB SOCKETS ARE NOT DESIGNED TO SECURELY HOLD THE BULB SOCKETS, PARTICULARLY THE REVERSE LAMP WHICH IS BARELY CAPABLE OF BEING INSTALLED. AFTER THE SOCKET IS INSTALLED, A JARRING BLOW CAN CAUSE THE SOCKET TO FALL OUT OF THE REFLECTOR HOUSING, PERMITTING THE BULB TO FALL BEHIND THE REFLECTOR. ASSEMBLIES WERE NOT INSTALLED DUE TO THESE SAFETY HAZARDS. I AM CURRENTLY CONTACTING THE SELLER REGARDING REFUND FOR THIS EQUIPMENT. MANUFACTURER'S MARKINGS AND LOCATIONS THEREOF: ON REVERSE LENS: "HFT-TMC1" (APPEARS TWICE, ON OPPOSING EDGES) ON SIGNAL LENS ALONG BOTTOM EDGE: "R" OR "L", "HFT-TMC2", "JUNYAN" ON VEHICLE (CONCEALED) SIDE: "W21W(21W)" (TWO LOCATIONS), "W21/5W(21/5W)", "HFT-TB", "LENS:PC", "BASE:PC",AND "RH" OR "LH". ON SHIPPING BOX: "TLZ-FIT-0106-BK-(6)"

NHTSA complaint #10260991 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

2008 HONDA FIT SPORT - DASH LIGHTS ARE ON ALL THE TIME, NOT JUST WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED ON AS IS TYPICAL OF EVERY OTHER CAR I HAVE EVER DRIVEN. THIS DESIGN HAS CAUSED ME ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TO DRIVE FOR MILES AT NIGHT THINKING THAT MY HEADLIGHTS WERE ON. TWICE NOW, A CAR HAS PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT SEE MY APPROACHING VEHICLE IN THE DARKNESS. HAD THERE BEEN AN ACCIDENT I WOULD HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE. IF THE DASH LIGHTS WERE LINKED TO THE HEADLIGHTS I WOULD IMMEDIATELY BE ALERTED THAT MY HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT ON AT NIGHT. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT AND CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AND REMEDIED BY HONDA MOTOR CO. I FURTHER BELIEVE THAT HONDA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO ISSUE A RECALL IN ORDER TO FIX THIS SAFETY RELATED ISSUE. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOME UNFORTUNATE HONDA FIT DRIVER IS INVOLVED IN A VEHICULAR ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF WHAT I FEEL IS A SAFETY DESIGN FAULT. I HAVE NOT NOTIFIED HONDA MOTOR CO. OF THIS ISSUE BECAUSE IN PAST I HAVE MADE SUGGESTIONS OF IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE FIT AND HONDA REPLIED WITH A LETTER FROM THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT INFORMING ME THAT THEY DO NOT / WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY SUGGESTIONS FROM ANYONE WHO IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE OF THEIR COMPANY. I INTEND TO INFORM CONSUMER REPORTS OF THIS ISSUE IN THE HOPE THAT THEY MAY COMMENT ABOUT IT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THEIR READERS, MANY OF WHOM MAY HAVE PURCHASED A HONDA FIT BASED ON CR'S VEHICLE REVIEWS / RECOMMENDATIONS.

NHTSA complaint #10254635 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA FIT. THE HONDA FIT SPORT IS DESIGNED SO THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATES TO FULL BRIGHTNESS AS SOON AS THE IGNITION IS TURNED ON--DAY OR NIGHT. IT CANNOT BE TURNED OFF AT ALL. (THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER CONFIRM THIS.) THE PROBLEM IS THAT I, LIKE, I SUSPECT, MOST DRIVERS, RELY ON A DARK CAR INTERIOR AS A PROMPT TO TURN ON THE HEADLIGHTS AT NIGHT. THIS WEEK I HAVE DRIVEN HOME FROM WORK THREE OUT OF FIVE NIGHTS WITH NO HEADLIGHTS. (ON ONE OCCASION I WAS PROMPTED BY A KIND APPROACHING DRIVER WHO "BLINKED" ME; ON ANOTHER I ACTUALLY REMEMBERED TO TURN THE LIGHTS ON. THE DEGREE OF ILLUMINATION, INCIDENTALLY, CAN BE CONTROLLED WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON. THE TOO-BRIGHT DASHBOARD IS A MILD ANNOYANCE DURING THE DAYTIME, BUT THAT IN ITSELF WOULD NOT MERIT A COMPLAINT. THE MAJOR ISSUE IS THIS: I CHOSE THIS CAR LARGELY BECAUSE OF ITS EXCELLENT SAFETY RATING--AND I NOW FEEL VERY UNSAFE WHEN I ARRIVE HOME AND DISCOVER THAT I HAVE JUST DRIVING SIX MILES ON CHICAGO STREETS WITH NO HEADLIGHTS. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN JANUARY OF 2008 AND HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE DURING THE DAY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.

NHTSA complaint #10252292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.