NHTSA Complaint #11286747 — 2012 HONDA FIT

THE LEFT FRONT AXLE SHAFT BROKE IN JUNE 2018, WITH 89,032 ODOMETER MILES, AND THE RIGHT AXLE SHAFT BROKE DECEMBER 3, 2019 WITH 105,436 MILES. IN THE MOST RECENT INSTANCE I WAS STOPPED ON A HILL, WITH A CAR BEHIND ME, AND WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE THE AXLE BROKE AND MY CAR STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS. I APPLIED THE BRAKES QUICKLY ENOUGH TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR BEHIND ME. IN THE FIRST INSTANCE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR MILES FROM HOME WHERE SHE WAS STRANDED UNTIL A TOW TRUCK COULD BE CALLED. MY MECHANIC SAYS HE IS SEEING THIS WITH SOME FREQUENCY ON HONDA FITS, AND IT SEEMS TO BE THE RESULT OF RUST WHERE HONDA INSTALLS A RUBBER VIBRATION DAMPER AT THE AXLE. THE POTENTIAL FOR A SERIOUS INCIDENT IS OBVIOUS IF THE CAR WERE TO LOSE PROPULSION ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEED, OR WHERE THE CAR SUDDENLY STARTS TO ROLL BACKWARDS AS I EXPERIENCED. AND APPARENTLY THIS IS BECOMING A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE HONDA FIT, AND MAYBE OTHER MODELS WITH THE SAME DESIGN.THE REPAIR OF BOTH AXLES HAVE COST US A TOTAL OF $740.00.