NHTSA Complaint #10450413 — 2008 HONDA FIT

WATER LEAKING THROUGH REAR HATCH WEATHER SEAL. ORIGINALLY THOUGHT WATER CAME THROUGH REAR HATCH WHENEVER I OPENED IT TO GET THINGS DURING A STORM.I BEGAN TO REALIZE THAT WATER WOULD ACCUMULATE WHEN IT RAINED EVEN WHEN THE HATCH WAS NEVER OPENED. I STARTED TO HEAR SPLASHING TYPE SOUNDS THINKING IT WAS THE FUEL OR A LOW COOLANT LEVEL. A FEW MONTHS AGO I WAS VACUUMING THE CAR AND LIFTED UP THE REAR FLOOR COVERING OVER THE TIRE WELL AND DISCOVERED AT LEAST TWO GALLONS OF WATER ALMOST SUBMERGING THE SPARE TIRE. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS I STARTED TO OBSERVE WATER DRIPPING DOWN THROUGH A PLASTIC COVER THAT HOUSES A UTILITY HOOK ON THE CAR'S CEILING. THE HEADLINER ALSO WAS LEAKING NEAR THE HATCH .I NOW CHECK THE TIRE WELL AFTER IT RAINS AND IT NEVER FAILS THAT THE TIRE WELL AND SURROUNDING AREA ARE WET. I CAN ONLY USE THE DEFROST SETTING BECAUSE IF I DON'T THE WINDOWS WILL FOG UP. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THE REAR SEAT CARPETING GETTING DAMP EVEN WHEN ONLY THE DRIVER'S DOOR IS USED DURING A STORM. THE DEALERSHIP HAS DOWN PLAYED THE SITUATION SUGGESTING I HAVE THE WEATHER SEALS REPLACED BY THEM WITH A CHARGE FOR THE PART AND LABOR. I SPOKE TO HONDA OF AMERICA AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP TO BE DIAGNOSED FOR A FEE. I HAVE SPENT SEVERAL MONTHS INVESTIGATING ON MY OWN AND HAVE REACHED MY OWN DIAGNOSIS THAT THE WEATHER SEALS ON HONDA FITS ARE DEFECTIVE. I AM ABOUT READY TO TRADE THE CAR IN FOR SOMETHING ELSE BESIDES A HONDA. I LOVE THE CAR BUT CAN ONLY FORESEE MORE AGGRAVATION DOWN THE PIKE. I AM CAPABLE OF APPLYING SILICONE CAULK UNDER THE EXISTING WEATHER SEALS BUT WILL NOT BECAUSE I AM DISSATISFIED THAT HONDA HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM ON ALL HONDA FITS. *TR