HondaFit2008Overview/honda/fit/2008/base/

2008 Honda Fit

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2008 Fit.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (S5)

The 2008 Honda Fit is a passenger car equipped with a 5-speed automatic transmission, returning EPA fuel economy estimates of 27/33/29 mpg across city, highway, and combined driving cycles, and requiring 3.8 quarts of 5W-20 API oil for service. Its complaint record of 217 owner-registered issues positions this model year roughly midway through the Fit's 2007-2020 production span, which peaked at 369 complaints in the debut year and eventually declined to a low of 35 by 2020. The model accumulated eight recalls during this period, with Air Bags emerging as the most frequently cited concern among owners. While 2008 did not represent the model's strongest or weakest reliability showing, the Fit maintained a notably lower overall complaint volume across its lifespan compared to many contemporary vehicles in its class.

Model year202020192018201720162015201420132008

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity3.8 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque80 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy27/33/29 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 151R · 340 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 151R · 340 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP195-55R15OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6-J inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S5)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length157.1 in
Overall width66.9 in
Overall height60.2 in
Wheelbase96.5 in
Curb weight2515 lb
Track (front / rear)57.1 / 56.7 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)63/37

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined27 / 33 / 29 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume90 cu ft
Cargo volume21 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Fit of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.7–11.9 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.70 sec — 2007 Sport Hatchback
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2007Sport Hatchback 1.5L I-48.70 sec16.70 sec109 hpFWD
2007Sport Hatchback 1.5L I-49.00 sec16.80 sec109 hpFWD
2007Sport Hatchback 1.5L I-410.40 sec17.80 sec109 hpFWD
2007Sport Hatchback 1.5L I-411.00 sec18.10 sec109 hpFWD
2007Sport Hatchback 1.5L I-411.90 sec18.40 sec109 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 3.8 qt of 5W-20 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 80 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 29.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity2.5
Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine Oil5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity3.8 qt

Engine torques

Engine Flywheel Bolts87 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts16 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts33 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug29.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs7 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts80 ft-lbs
Automatic Transmission Drain Plug36.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub134 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)750 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (Secondary Under Load)850 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (Secondary Under Load)50 rpm
Ignition Timing8 degrees
Ignition Timing Acceptable Variance2 degrees
Ignition Timing Reference RPMIdle rpm

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity.88-.99 lbs
Oil TypePAG 46
Oil Capacity2.33-3.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number151R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance340 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test14-18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature176-183 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)46.0-54.0 psi
Engine Compression142 Minimum PSI. 28 Maximum variation PSI.
Engine Oil Pressure10 psi @ idle, 50 psi @ 3000 rpm psi
Intake Valve Lash0.006-0.008 in
Exhaust Valve Lash0.010-0.012 in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket17 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle79 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness0.063 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in
Drum Nominal Diameter7.874 in
Drum Discard at-or-over7.913
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0006 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.004 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
17 ft. lbs., Step 2: 907 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
127 ft. lbs., step 2: 9027 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
118 ft. lbs., Step 2: 4018 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

At 160,000 miUniversal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2008 Honda Fit shows a notable improvement over its 2007 debut year, with complaints dropping from 369 to 217 and recalls falling from 11 to 8, though investigations held steady at one. However, 2008 sits above the generation's complaint nadir reached in 2010–2012 (113–183 range), and its 32 TSBs trail only the 2007 figure before a sharp rise in 2009–2013. The leading complaint categories — Air Bags (48), Structure (28), Power Train (17), and Service Brakes (11) — plus 28 crash-related and two fire complaints, indicate areas warranting pre-purchase inspection, though the data doesn't specify root causes. Recall activity remains elevated through 2013 before declining sharply in later years, placing 2008 in the generation's higher-recall early phase. Overall, 2008 represents a meaningful step forward from the problematic launch year but carries more federal activity than the cleaner 2010–2012 models, making it a decent but not optimal choice if lower-complaint alternatives are available.

8
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
32
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
217
Owner complaints
28 involved a crash · 2 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 217 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags48
Structure28
Power Train17
Service Brakes, Hydraulic11
Steering10
Exterior Lighting8
Unknown Or Other8
Engine8

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 8 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

20V770000Power Train:Driveline:DriveshaftReported 10/12/2020

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Acura ILX, 2013 Acura ILX Hybrid, 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid, and 2007-2008 Honda Fit vehicles with a manual transmission and 2009-2013 Honda Fit vehicles… Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the drive shafts, replacing either the left or right drive shaft, if necessary, free of charge. Owners were notified of the…

19V501000Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator ModuleReported 27/06/2019

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element… Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal airbag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 32 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
A18-0502026-06-30Air BagsService Bulletin - Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Front Passenger's…
A20-0152022-05-03Air BagsService bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating…
A07-0302021-01-23Equipment"Service Bulletin - There are several A/C leak detection tools available. -Refrigerant…
A20-0152020-03-10Air BagsService Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating…
A18-0532018-06-07Air BagsService bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Fit. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2008 Fit take?

3.8 qt of 5W-20 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2008 Fit have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 8 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Fit get?

EPA figures are 27 city / 33 highway / 29 combined mpg.