First and Last Honda I'll ever buy
 

Since I've owned this car the back door has been a constant source of noises. Non stop ticking noises when I'm driving and it's most noticeable when I open and close the door. So far Honda has replaced the hinges and boom arms and that still hasn't fixed the problem. The funny thing is, when I'm driving at night it doesn't do it at all, only during the day when the sun is beating down on it. It's been driving nuts since I've owned the car (12 months). Honda quality? Where?
Has anyone else had a similar problem? My next step is to get them to replace the whole back door.

Honestly I wouldn't judge the quality Honda typically puts out, solely on a Honda Fit. The Fit is the bottom of the barrel honda in my opinion. I've had numerous Hondas, currently have a 2010 Fit and 2016 Pilot. This is my 2nd Fit, quality has always been low compared to every other honda I've had.

I'm not saying your problem is inconsequential, but you might want to go read message boards for Minis, VWs, Fiestas, Darts, Fiats, Jeeps, etc., before concluding that this one issue is a blight on all Hondas. Heck, there are people here with Fits who've had more issues than that.

If the dealer can re-create this but not fix it, have you thought of trying a different dealer?

I'd complain about a ticking noise if I bought a Lexus, Benz, BMW, Rolls Royce, or something of an expensive, luxurious nature.

This is an entry-level car from an economy make. It's not going to be perfect. That being said, I haven't even seen the inside of the new generation Fit. Is it really so bad that it's worse than its competition from Ford and other makes? I find that hard to believe just because every Ford I've ever been in has had the absolute worst fit and finish. I still think Honda is pretty up there, but have things changed?

If you have a roll of tinfoil at home, I'd strongly suggest tearing off a good length of it and fashioning a snug Fitting cap. That should alleviate any phantom noises you're hearing around your car or home for that matter.

If that is still ineffective one should consider psychological care including powerful pharmaceuticals. YMMV of course.

Does your license plate have screws in the top two holes or in all four? If only the top two the plate will rattle and you will hear it in the car if you are the type who is sensitive to hearing rattles (like I am). Put screws in the two bottom screw holes and report back.

Small, lightweight cars don't have the mass to dampen out all the NVH.
Puppies are cute.
Taxes suck.

Those are about the top three in the blindingly obvious category.

Not the issue, I've bolted that baby down with 4 lugs. Tight as possible. Took it to my buddy's body shop today and he pinpointed it in the window. Seems the back window was not sealed properly around the frame. Opening and closing the door sounds like its about to collapse in on itself. Getting worse by the day. Looks the whole back door is gonna have to be replaced.

You must not have read to NEVER buy a new gen car on the 1st year. Customers are used as test rats to get things right. I learned my lesson at a ignorant age of 19 when I dropped 34k on a brand new 00 S2000. You live and learn. But i can tell you one thing, you'll read up on the next car u buy one sites like these and never buy the 1st year ANY car is released and is not built in a low quality country like Mexico (hence why i bought me a 13' because its built with hi margins in Japan)...

I said that to myself before I made the plunge and bought it, but I told myself, it's Honda they are better than that. You're right, I've learned my lesson - Live and learn. Oh ya, and don't get me started on all the recalls I've had for this thing.

At first I thought Honda was better than that too, and was willing to buy the 2015 Fit. But then came the cryptic delayed launch. And then all the complaints about the inferior quality at the new Mexican plant. Then the seemingly endless recalls. And the quality issues aren't all in our heads, as Honda dropped from fourth rated down to eighth in consumer reports due to all the complaints. So I kept my current car for an extra year. And finally a few weeks ago I bought my 2016 Japanese Fit. Time will tell what happens, but I am definitely glad I waited.

Hey who are you calling a 'Test Rat'? ***Shaking fists***

:rotfl:

Since you found out the problem at your friends shop is Honda going to fix it for free? At least you have a buddy with a shop and got the problem figured out.

I like mine. I bought my Fit and my wife by the CRV in January of this year. I plan on giving my son my Fit as he is getting his driver's license and buying a '16 Fit next year.

I'm continually amazed by the responses of the Honda fan boys and apologists in this place.


FWIW, I love the car, but the growing list of issues that the dealer can't, and Honda won't fix is making me feel that buying it was a mistake.

Is that me? I'm no fan boy. When I give my son my car for getting his license I want a small hatchback that gets great gas mileage and has good passenger and cargo room. What else would you suggest? The Fit is the first Honda I've owned since my '90 Civic. For new cars I've owned two Nissans, two Subarus, and two Hondas. My favorite car I've owned was a '98 Subaru Outback. I'd love to get an Outback, but they cost too much and the gas mileage is too low.

No, my post was directed at the posters above who said that the OP had no right to expect good build quality from an entry level Honda, and the couple who questioned the intelligence of the OP for buying a "first year" design (as did we all, by the way). Most of all it's directed at the poster who questioned the sanity of the OP for hearing a noise at all.

Sorry for the misunderstanding

My 2015 Fit EX CVT has performed flawlessly since delivery in August 2015. I was well-versed in 1st year jitters, but was already a Fit driver, and took the leap. Glad I did, and glad you were able to resolve your unusual rear window problem. :vtec:

you may have a first year vehicle, but it certainly is not a first run production one. the car was on the market over a year before you purchased yours, and there had been a slew of issues and improvements done to yours by the time you received it. i have had my fit a year longer than you, yet we have the same model year.

as a previous honda fanboy of 25+ years, the fit has fallen short of previous honda quality by quite a measure. gone are the days of 200k+ trouble free econo cars. this is not necessarily a Honda only problem. in recent years all the manufacturers have taken quality hits, mostly due to cost cutting and further outsourcing of cheaper parts. my previous commuter car, a 2012 kia rio, i purchased new. only had it for a little over 2 years and 70k miles. aside of a slew of mechanical issues, the car had rust issues and was in the process of rotting out, so, i offloaded it for the new fit. i immediately had a large mechanical failure in the fit... :violin: not a good start, imho. now i have a bunch of little issues, none of which cause me to not to get to work,. so they are dealt with.

although not the cheapest in it's segment, we need to see this car for what it is. it is an entry level commuter car and should be treated as such. expecting any more, and you will be let down. it will have "issues". took me a few years to accept it, but expecting perfect fit and finish is not realistic anymore. honda is now living off it's bulletproof reliability status earned in the 70's, 80's 90's and early 2000's. things have gone downhill since they put struts in the civic...

again, it is not just honda. toyota too is living off a previously earned reputation. i had a 2011 tacoma that at only 59k miles needed a/c compressor, both front wheel bearings, replacement radio, rear springs and had rust on the frame. in july of this year i offloaded it for a 2015. some rattles in the new truck, but overall it is ok. only have 7k on it at this time, so i am sure that will change in the future... :p

am i annoyed when i walk up to the fit in the morning, notice the bumper edges pushing out, notice the plastic clips on the lower shield broken/missing, or piss poor engineered afterthought of rear inner fender liners? sure i am. but a quick wack with my hand solves the bumper issue, sourcing better quality plastic clips for the lower shield, and more vigilant cleaning of the rear of the car in winter solves the issues for me.

my driver seatbelt is making noises, squeaking at the clip. i went to the tool box, found some teflon spray and put a dab of it on the little spring. first time i ever had to do this on ANY car before. :eek3: i feel lucky that in my youth when i was "broke", i had access to some bulletproof cheap econo cars.

i guess my point on this long winded post is cars are not what they used to be. it is a different world with different goals. imho, it seems manufacturers are putting together cars that just try to make warranty end date, not the quality vehicles we have seen in the past. :nod: