Honda Fit 2010 - 5 year review

[stockrex]

50 k miles, 5w20 syn, dumped at 50% OLM (due to Fuel Dilution)
OEM dunlops replaced with Michelins, countless wipers, brake flushed a few times at dealer, transmission drain and filled 3x.

Overall: I like the trunk space, I can put a large cooler behind the back seat. Very bumpy ride, feels like I am riding a moped. Alignment is faulty and front tires wear out on the outside even after repeated trips to dealer to align wheels.

mpg: I get no where near the window sticker, I stopped keeping track. it is less than 30 mpg for sure.

Issues:
1. A/C dryer tower leaked from FACTORY, slow leak. dealer refilled gas and put in dye and sent me away. DID NOT FIX issue.

2. Vehicle leaked water from day one, in fact vehicle has a layer of ice on the inside of the windshield a day after I bought it.

3. Valve train makes funny noise sometimes, VERY noisy, sometimes and power is diminished.

4. HVAC heat to feet is faulty and does not work properly.

5. LARGE blind spot due to the front window and pillar design. You have to be extra cautious and not hit a pedestrian.

6. Alignment issues - fit eats the outside of the front tires.


Conclusion:
I can't in good conscious recommend a Honda Fit, mainly due to the dealerships and Honda attitude towards owner and their unwillingness to fix problems that they know many car suffer from.
I read about Honda Fit loose spark plug issue, now I need to check my spark plugs.
I can promise that this will be my 7th and final new Honda. Maybe a used s2000 someday.

I thought dealing with chevy over warranty issues was bad, dealing with Honda take bad CS to a new level.

 

[gregk24]

Sorry to hear about your poor experience. I have always read that those Fits were good for at least 150K easy miles. Do you plan on keeping it for the long haul? If I were you I would have went back to the dealer and had those issues fixed, if the dealer was not cooperative then I would have (and have for 2 of my cars) called corporate at raised heck if necessary. I sympathize with you on the dealer network, I am sure they aren't all bad but I have had some bad experiences with my dealer. Both times they made things right, but that was mainly because I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[Quest]

sounds like you bought a lemon.

Sorry to hear that.

Q.

 

[Falken]

My 2010 Fit hits the 5 year mark very soon:

The fuel economy is 7.5L/100km, in what I feel is a very common driving cycle. It is okay I guess.

The drivers side door lock needs constant attention and wears out keys so they don't slide into the lock anymore. I find synthetic bearing grease helps a lot, but I had to use my backup key full time now as the original doesn't slide into the lock anymore.

Not a big deal to pop the door panel off and just get a new tumbler that comes with 2 new keys and just run 2 keys.

The OEM Dunlop Signatures wore out completely in around 30,000 kms of use. Very short life.

The massive A-Piller blindspot is quite bad for pedestrians, you have to literally crane your head around it at every stop sign to be sure a pedestrian doesn't get hit. Had a close call with pedestrian running across a 4 way intersection on a rainy day, and once with a biker running across an intersection (person was off the bike) and I completely didn't see them until the last second.

The gas tank is really too small. It would have been nicer just an extra gallon or 2 of fuel, you have to fill up often.

I do really love this car, and still baby it a lot after 5 years. It's function is insane, no complaints.

I really love how easy it is to change the oil and filter, ATF is dead simple, and all other fluids are a breeze to maintain DIY.

I did the frond disc/pads, and bled the brakes, it was easy as pie.

I really have to say I am not tired of this car at all after 5 years. I really wish the honeymoon phase of owning this car goes away, it is tiring.

The honeymoon phase went away on my Cobalt after 2 years, then you can really enjoy the car.

All in all, I give the Fit a solid 10/10, would absolutely buy another one, it is a classic small Honda. I plan on keeping it for 10 years for sure, hopefully longer.

 

[crazyoildude]

Hondas were great cars at one time the last 7 or so years have not been good. We see many Hondas in my engine shop some with under 70,000 miles needing complete engine rebuilds in the 80's we barely saw any, Same with Toyota..

 

[Falken]

Another note, I wish they would include a locking gas cap with the Fit.

I purchased a Honda Element locking gas cap that comes with 2 keys.

I always worry about someone throwing junk into my gas tank, felt a lot better with the locking cap.

Also, I forgot to mention the material they used for the carpeting was complete junk. It is compressed lint from Japanese dryers or something.

There is a TSB on it, but I think you have to pursue it under warranty to get the new carpet. I didn't so it is a keeper.

Not a big deal, the carpet it came with will last well enough I guess, have big rubber mats down.

Also note, changing coil packs and spark plugs is a pain. Not bad for me as I studied mechanics, but HORRIBLE for the average owner. I am disappointed in that. You have to order the cowl clips before hand from eBay as the dealer charges 5$ per clip (there are 9 total that run along the cowl).

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: stockrex
Conclusion:
I can't in good conscious recommend a Honda Fit, mainly due to the dealerships and Honda attitude towards owner and their unwillingness to fix problems that they know many car suffer from.

I've experienced exactly the same attitude when I owned my '00 Accord. But that was 15 years ago. Sad to hear things haven't changed for the better during that time. I've stayed away from Honda vehicles ever since, and probably won't buy one anytime soon.

 

[JimPghPA]

Originally Posted By: Falken
My 2010 Fit hits the 5 year mark very soon:

The fuel economy is 7.5L/100km, in what I feel is a very common driving cycle. It is okay I guess.

The drivers side door lock needs constant attention and wears out keys so they don't slide into the lock anymore. I find synthetic bearing grease helps a lot, but I had to use my backup key full time now as the original doesn't slide into the lock anymore.

Not a big deal to pop the door panel off and just get a new tumbler that comes with 2 new keys and just run 2 keys.

The OEM Dunlop Signatures wore out completely in around 30,000 kms of use. Very short life.

The massive A-Piller blindspot is quite bad for pedestrians, you have to literally crane your head around it at every stop sign to be sure a pedestrian doesn't get hit. Had a close call with pedestrian running across a 4 way intersection on a rainy day, and once with a biker running across an intersection (person was off the bike) and I completely didn't see them until the last second.

The gas tank is really too small. It would have been nicer just an extra gallon or 2 of fuel, you have to fill up often.

I do really love this car, and still baby it a lot after 5 years. It's function is insane, no complaints.

I really love how easy it is to change the oil and filter, ATF is dead simple, and all other fluids are a breeze to maintain DIY.

I did the frond disc/pads, and bled the brakes, it was easy as pie.

I really have to say I am not tired of this car at all after 5 years. I really wish the honeymoon phase of owning this car goes away, it is tiring.

The honeymoon phase went away on my Cobalt after 2 years, then you can really enjoy the car.

All in all, I give the Fit a solid 10/10, would absolutely buy another one, it is a classic small Honda. I plan on keeping it for 10 years for sure, hopefully longer.


7.5L/100km = 31.36 MPG

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: Falken
The fuel economy is 7.5L/100km, in what I feel is a very common driving cycle. It is okay I guess.

That's about what my mom's Civic 1.8 gets. She regrets not getting a Fit instead, thinking it would have gotten her a lot better fuel economy. I guess not.

 

[sciphi]

Ours hasn't had any of those mechanical issues. The front visibility is a matter of preference. The L15 is just a noisy engine. If it's really loud, it means the valve adjustment was done poorly or a lock nut backed off. When this engine gets quiet it's getting ready to burn a valve.

Did yours get the LMS recall done? Ours had it done and performed noticeably differently after. It was peppier and fuel economy went up.

 

[raytseng]

fit doesn't have spectacular gas mileage over a sedan as the engine went for simplicity rather then cutting edge technology.

You get the fit because you want the cargo capabilities

 

[daves87rs]

Originally Posted By: raytseng
fit doesn't have spectacular gas mileage over a sedan as the engine went for simplicity rather then cutting edge technology.

You get the fit because you want the cargo capabilities


My thought as well..otherwise it would be easier to get a civic....

 

[dishdude]

If I were shopping in this segment I would seriously look at a Soul, they really are a lot of car for the money.

 

[Falken]

My Fit luckily didn't need the LMS recall done, it had the newer springs. The valvetrain is pretty quiet, and engine noise is very low.

I do feel in my drive cycle the Fit should be getting at least 35mpg... 32mpg for such a "small" car isn't that great.

If you do only highway driving though, North of 40mpg is very easy to do. It seems that as soon as you mix some city driving into the mix it takes a lot to get this little piggy to go.

 

[Andrew1972]

Originally Posted By: crazyoildude
Hondas were great cars at one time the last 7 or so years have not been good. We see many Hondas in my engine shop some with under 70,000 miles needing complete engine rebuilds in the 80's we barely saw any, Same with Toyota..


The sales have flipped my friend...Honda and Toyota absolutely dominate sales so there will be a % of problem cars. I find it interesting you get Toyota give leeway to owners with records on fixing just out of warranty. Is it a certain type of owner(spartic oil changes)?

EVERY car make has major problems. Thankfully a small % of those sold and majority of brands deemed reliable or unreliable actually have major problems.

 

[JTK]

Back in 2011-12 when my brother-in-law bought his Civic at our local Honda store, he wanted to look at a Fit. They didn't even stock them. They have been a very rare sighting in my area.

 

[Dave Hess]

Originally Posted By: dishdude
If I were shopping in this segment I would seriously look at a Soul, they really are a lot of car for the money.


I agree with you about the Soul.

 

[andrewg]

Originally Posted By: crazyoildude
Hondas were great cars at one time the last 7 or so years have not been good. We see many Hondas in my engine shop some with under 70,000 miles needing complete engine rebuilds in the 80's we barely saw any, Same with Toyota..


Wow...that's a very strong statement. I'm not sure it can be backed up with factual evidence, can it? If so, I'd be happy to believe it. Without that, it's just an opinion.

My 2015 Fit does ride fairly rough. It's not as smooth or quiet as I'd have liked. I am going to try some new tires well before the stock ones wear out, in hopes of improving that.
My mpg's are truly incredible. Always in the 40's unless I race between stoplights all day.
I HIGHLY doubt I will need a rebuild at 70k miles.

 

[Rust_Belt_Pete]

Same story across all makes pretty much, the car companies dont care and the dealerships are terrible at dealing with costumer complaints. Class action lawsuits to fix the problem.

 

[Quest]

Fit A/T gets poorer gas mileage than, say, M/T ones.

Using strictly E10 87 octane, my fit averages around 37.5mpg in the city.

Highway can vary depending on load/speed and how well you manage to keep your right-foot on the pedal. I averaged around 42~43mpg on highway, with as much as 46mpg on certain stretch of I5 in WA state.

Lastly: I pay around 20% fuel economy penalty in the city when I have to turn on the A/C; on highway: typical fuel economy penalty varies from no-change to no more than 10% more.

Q.