2009 Honda Fit Steering
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
At highways speeds vehicle became difficult to maintain in a straight path. Slight change in the steering would result in car drifting to the left or right, requiring constant correction. Car felt unsafe to drive...took to mechanic to be diagnosed. Informed car needed a new steering rack system.
The power steering warning light is on intermittently. The steering is too heavy to turn and the wheels feel like locked.
While driving without warning ? the car loses power steering the steering wheel locks up no control I hit the side walk back up power steering return and sometimes the car just shuts off a few put in park crank up
2009 HONDA FIT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ISSUES WITH THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM. THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING BECOMES DIFFICULT. THE VEHICLE'S MODEL YEAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AS IT OCCURED INTERMITTENTLY.
I was driving home during evening rush hour on the freeway, 65 mph. Suddenly, it felt as though I was driving a tank. Lucky that I was in the slow lane. I used the next exit and drove the rest of the way home very slowly on surface streets. A 100 degree turn in the roadway that I drove on would have been a disaster if a car was coming at me from the opposite direction. It got harder and harder to turn the further that I got. I managed to return home o k. I have had regular Honda maintenance at the dealership where I bought the car. Nowwhere else over the past twelve years. I will call the dealer to make an appointment tomorrow. I've never previously known of this problem - have not read or heard anything via media or been advised by Honda Inc. I've been concerned about electronic steering ever since I bought the car. If there is wind blowing, the car becomes unstable and drifts sideways.
The contact owns a 2009 Honda Fit. The contact stated while her daughter was driving at unknown speed, the steering wheel became difficult to turn with the power steering assist warning light and several other unknown warning lights illuminated. The driver continued driving to her destination. The contact also stated that she was unable to start the vehicle. The vehicle was jump started. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 106,000. The consumer stated the vehicle was diagnosed at CMA'S Valley Honda as the Eps Unit.
WHILE DRIVING, ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD FLASHED, RADIO TURNED OFF, AND POWER STEERING CUT OUT. OCCURRED IN MANY DIFFERENT SITUATIONS INCLUDING HIGHWAY DRIVING. I'VE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT IS WELL DOCUMENTED TO EXIST BOTH IN EARLIER MODELS OF THE FIT AS WELL AS THE 2009 MODEL. THE EARLIER VERSIONS LEADING UP TO 2008 HAVE A SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT THE 2009 MODEL DOES NOT. IT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED.
I WAS IN IDLE WHEN THE RADIO FLASHED OFF AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WENT OFF. IT TURNED BACK OFF, BUT THE CAR JEARKED AND SEEMED TO LOSE POWER. IT ONLY DID THIS IN IDLE FOR WHILE, BUT ONE TIME WHEN I WAS MAKING A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL JEARKED FROM HAND AND MY CAR LUNGED AT THE SIDEWALK WHERE PEOPLE WERE! SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED!! I HAVE TOLD HONDA ABOUT THIS. I HAVE A VIDEO OF THIS AS WELL. HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/ZKXIEC-EMVC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA FIT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20-30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING CEASED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED FIRST WHILE DRIVING DOWN WINDING ROADS AND HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS ALSO EXPERIENCED ON STRAIGHTAWAYS. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS INTENDED. A DEALER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
THE POWER STEERING IS FAILING. STEERING IS SERIOUSLY VERY HARD TO STEER. HONDA NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL TO REPAIR THE STEERING. THIS IS POSITIVELY A SAFETY PROBLEM.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA FIT. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND MADE IT DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA FIT. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, EXTRA STRENGTH WAS NEEDED TO STEER THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FIRST TEXAS HONDA (3400 STECK AVE, AUSTIN, TX 78757, (512) 220-1121) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STEERING MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.
POWER STEERING FAILURE. FOLLOWED BY WARNING LIGHT AND VERY HEAVY STEERING, WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT FORTY TO FORTY FIVE MPH ON A PAVED ROAD IN TRAFFIC. STOPPED, SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. AFTER A FEW MINUTES RESTARTED THE ENGINE, THE PS FAILURE LIGHT WAS OUT, THE PS WORKED BUT ONLY FOR ABOUT FIVE SECONDS. THE PS FAILURE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND THE PS FAILED AGAIN. DROVE HOME AND PARKED THE CAR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA FIT. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ENTER INTO OTHER LANES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. YARBOROUGH HONDA IN FLORENCE, SOUTH CAROLINA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND SCHEDULED A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000.
INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING, CAUSES DIFFICULTY IN STEERING AND POTENTIAL LOSS OF CONTROL- DIAGNOSED BY SERVICE TECHNICIAN AS FAILING EPS CONTROL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA FIT. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING FAILED. AN UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED LIT. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LIA HONDA NORTHAMPTON (293 KING ST, NORTHAMPTON, MA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRIC STEERING BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
THE CAR LOSES POWER STEERING AND THE CAR BECOMES DIFFICULT TO STEER. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR WAS MOVING FORWARD AT ~40MPH AND WHEN TRYING TO PARALLEL PARK AS WELL AS PARKING HEAD-IN. AS OF 9/5/17, THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED FOUR TIMES. THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON EACH TIME. THE TEMPERATURE HAS NEVER BEEN BELOW 50 DEGREES WHEN THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED. SOMETIMES THE RADIO SHUTS OFF WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILS, BUT NOT ALWAYS. HONDA HAS ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE POWER STEERING IN 2007-08 HONDA FITS, BUT NOT FOR 2009 FITS.
ON 11-8-16 I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON A STREET. JUST BEFORE I WAS COMING UP TO A TRAFFIC LIGHT, I NOTICE THE RADIO GOING IN AND OUT AND THEN THE STEERING WHEEL GETTING STIFF. I WENT THROUGH THE LIGHT ONTO A HIGHWAY AND PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. I CALLED A FRIEND, WHO HELPED ME OUT. AFTER RESTARTING CAR IT DID NOT REOCCUR BUT STILL HAVE BIG CONCERNS.
WHILE TURNING ONTO A STREET FROM A STOPPED POSITION, MY WHEEL JERKED, THE CAR COMPLETELY OFF THEN BACK ON AGAIN BUT THE STEERING WAS STUCK. I COULDN'T TURN THE WHEEL AND WHEN IT WOULD LET ME THE RADIO SYSTEM WOULD GO OUT AND THE CAR WOULD SHUT OFF AND BACK ON AFTER THE STEERING WHEEL JERK AGAIN.
ON MY 2009 HONDA FIT SPORT WITH APPROXIMATELY 25,000 MILES, THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING (EPS) WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST STOPPED WORKING WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION ON A PUBLIC HIGHWAY. I STOPPED AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND THE EPS RESET ITSELF AND SHORTLY TRIPPED OUT AGAIN AND AGAIN. I CONTACTED THE HONDA DEALER AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT PROBLEMS LIKE THIS ARE RARE.
WHILE DRIVING ON TWO OCCURRENCES, BOTH CITY STREET AND FREEWAY, THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING (EPS) INDICATOR LIT UP AND POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AND SHUT DOWN. MY DAUGHTER HAD TO PULL OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS SHE FELT SO UNSAFE WITHOUT ANY POWER STEERING AND FELT A COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING AND OCCURRED WHILE IN MOTION. THE EPS WARNING INDICATOR WAS INTERMITTENT AND DISAPPEARED WHEN THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. HOWEVER, THE EPS WARNING REOCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE SAME DAY. THE 2007-08 HONDA FIT MODELS RECEIVED EXTENDED WARRANTIES FOR THE SAME EPS MALFUNCTION PROBLEMS, ALONG WITH ELIGIBILITY FOR GOODWILL CONSIDERATION. THAT IS NOT THE CASE FOR THE 2009 MODELS. DUE TO THE EXTREME DANGER OF NOT KNOWING WHEN THE EPS MALFUNCTION WOULD OCCUR AGAIN, THE CAR IS BEING REPAIRED WITH A COMPLETE NEW EPS SYSTEM WHICH WILL BE COSTING US OVER $1000 FOR PARTS/LABOR.
POWER STEERING TURNS OFF AND ON RANDOMLY, STEERING TROUBLE LIGHT COMES ON WITHIN A FEW SECONDS. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, STEERING BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT. IF IT HAPPENS WHILE TURNING, STEERING WHEEL CAN JERK OUT OF YOUR HANDS. HAPPENS MUCH MORE OFTEN WHEN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS HOT. OCCURS RANDOMLY, WHILE MOVING OR NOT.
INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF POWER STEERING OCCURRED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN REVERSE AT LOW SPEED. FAILURE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A HUMMING SOUND.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA FIT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE SECONDS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000
THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES SINCE I HAVE HAD THE CAR. AT SPEED, WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING JUST STOPS WORKING MAKING THE CAR VERY HARD TO STEER. THERE IS NO REASON FOR IT AND AFTER 5 TO 10 SECONDS IT COMES BACK. VERY SCARY WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO NO WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH COME ON WHEN THIS HAPPENS.
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Quick Summary
The 2009 Honda Fit has 35 Steering complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.