I bought a 2008 base model this summer from a friend, and soon discovered that the starter is failing. A friend installed the reman Bosch I bought on rockauto (used the VIN), and it would not crank. We put the old one back in and it cranked right up. Assuming that we got a bad part, two weeks later, I had the a different Bosch reman in hand and we tried again, and it again wouldn't turn over. We went to autozone and bought a Delco, and it also wouldn't crank. We put the old starter back in, and it cranks right up.
Theory A: there's something wrong in the aftermarket models (voltage, plug depth), and we need to buy oem
Theory B: there's an error in the database that feeds compatibility info to rockauto and autozone (like the oil pressure sensor they said I needed, which was the wrong one)
Theory C: (my current favorite) the generation changed in 2008, and both models were produced in the same year, but I have only been getting starters appropriate for gen 2 when I need gen 1, despite providing my VIN for the first purchase.

Does anyone have any insight into this issue, or have dealt with this problem themselves?

1st gen 2008, black, manual transmission, 263k and smells of farm. Only one rat's nest found under the center console. Maybe the chickens scared them out.

 

Took starter off 2008 sport model and put it into my base 2007 Fit (after rebuilding it myself.)
make sure to test your starters in the auto parts store before installation; It's free and smart
Aftermarket solenoids may have different width of the quick disconnect connector. So crimp the 1/4" wide female spade terminal to the 2-3 feet long wire 14 Gage and attach it to the male spade inside of the solenoid connector; crimp 1/4" male spade terminal to the other end and stick it into the end connector of the black wire
Turn key and see what's going on

 

I replaced my starter with a Denso 280-0368. No problems.