1st generation (GD) · GD3 (Honda Global Small Car platform) · 726 complaints, 544 with mileage
Owners filed 726 complaints with NHTSA about the 2007–2008 Honda Fit, and 544 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 35,000 and 99,000 miles. The median is 65,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are the airbag system (17.4% of complaints, typically around 59,000 miles), body structure (14.7% of complaints, typically around 50,000 miles), the steering (13.5% of complaints, typically around 55,494 miles).
9 recall campaigns cover this generation.
| System | Complaints | Share | Typical mileage | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 126 | 17.4% | 59,000 | 20,334–100,000 |
| Structure | 107 | 14.7% | 50,000 | 27,000–73,000 |
| Steering | 98 | 13.5% | 55,494 | 40,000–80,000 |
| Exterior Lighting | 82 | 11.3% | 76,000 | 50,100–103,965 |
| Power Train | 52 | 7.2% | 95,000 | 70,035–135,000 |
| Electrical System | 51 | 7.0% | 78,599 | 54,600–100,000 |
| Engine | 40 | 5.5% | 91,000 | 75,000–108,000 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 27 | 3.7% | 42,162 | 20,000–86,000 |
| Unknown Or Other | 20 | 2.8% | 53,500 | 25,000–105,322 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 17 | 2.3% | 66,500 | 45,000–90,000 |
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 446 | 343 |
| 2008 | 280 | 201 |
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 65,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The airbag system accounts for 17.4% of complaints (126 reports, 54 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 59,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 20,334 and 100,000 miles.
Body structure accounts for 14.7% of complaints (107 reports, 79 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 50,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 27,000 and 73,000 miles.
The steering accounts for 13.5% of complaints (98 reports, 86 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 55,494 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 40,000 and 80,000 miles.
The exterior lighting accounts for 11.3% of complaints (82 reports, 69 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 76,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 50,100 and 103,965 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 7.2% of complaints (52 reports, 43 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 95,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 70,035 and 135,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 7.0% of complaints (51 reports, 40 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 78,599 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 54,600 and 100,000 miles.
NHTSA records 9 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the airbag system (5), visibility equipment (2), the transmission and driveline (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Of the 726 complaints filed against this generation, 78 reported a crash; 11 reported a fire; 72 reported an injury. Crash-involved reports represent 10.7% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 35,000 and 99,000 miles, with a median of 65,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the airbag system and body structure are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. Body structure in particular shows a median failure mileage of 50,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Takata airbag inflator recalls, including a later campaign covering passenger frontal inflators installed as recall remedy or replacement service parts. Propellant degradation after long-term exposure to high humidity and temperature cycling can cause the inflator to rupture and spray metal fragments into the cabin.
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 20V770000 | 2021-03-08 | Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft |
| 19V501000 | 2019-08-12 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module |
| 19V182000 | 2019-04-10 | Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module |
| 18V268000 | 2018-06-22 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module |
| 17V029000 | 2017-02-27 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module |
| 16V344000 | 2016-06-29 | Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module |
| 13V260000 | 2013-10-22 | Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls |
| 10V624000 | 2011-01-24 | Exterior Lighting:Headlights:High/Low Beam Dimmer Switch |
| 10V033000 | 2010-03-19 | Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls |