Issues with new car

[magnet18]

About a month ago I had a breakdown and bought a new car, a 2018 honda fit.  I have had everything from engines to steering go out on other supposedly "reliable" ised vehicles, so I gave in, because we need something reliable/safe for my wife to commute ~500 miles/week in (separate issue)

1. For a week or so, at speeds less than 15mph, there is an obnoxious rattle noise from under the front of the car, sounds like a pop can on a string. As soon as you hit 15mph, it suddenly goes away entirely. I hadn't worried about it enough to do anything about it yet

2. Today, the car started making a racket from the front right wheel at low speed, i walked next to it and it's pretty obviously a dragging brake, makes noise when there is no pressure on the break pedal, and the wheel seemed warm.

3. Rear door leaks water



1 i wasn't too worried about, probably a piece of gravel stuck somewhere, i have a gravel driveway
3 is a common issue and I can fix it myself

2 royally pisses me off, is it normal to have issues like this with a new car?? I assume it will be taken care of under warranty, but is there anything i should ask for for my trouble with all these issues?  10 free oil changes?  Free extended warranty?  Lemon law the car and go buy a used 2014 fit?

I knew I was paying a premium for a new car, i was hoping I was paying for reliability
</rant>

[RWD]

Yes, try to get stuff fixed under warranty. Make sure to get documentation for why you brought it in in case it doesn't get fixed and you need to build a lemon law case. Typically you need to have the dealership fail to fix the issue three times then send a last chance letter to the manufacturer. After that you sue the manufacturer to buy back your car.

Steve Lehto is the internet authority on lemon law so go search for his articles or just watch his videos:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMljRGC0eBJrxbUorWEnasg/videos

[Awesomeness]

Keep in mind if you get another one, the 2014 is the first year of the one you have. Ideally the 18 should be better.  The 2013 fit is all Japan and the last one of that model.  I had one, great fun little car. Only traded it for my 2014 xB because of everyone else worried about me driving such a small car.  People are asses though and I got tailgated a lot in that car. Doesn’t happen in my scion.

Anyway Honda moved the fit to Mexico for the new model.  Pretty sure this is accurate but haven’t car shopped recently. I’m all about a 2012 Lexus LS 460 for my next car.  Haha

I’d go to the dealer and keep documents of everything.  Give them a chance to fix it and maybe the problems will stay away.  Yes it would burn me up too having issues w such a simple car that should be trouble free.

[lbmustache]

Lemon laws are pretty strict so you're probably not there yet. All of these issues are unacceptable. Go to the dealer for all of them. At the very least they need to supply you with a loaner, they may throw in some oil changes or something else as goodwill.

[Retire-Canada]

I assume it will be taken care of under warranty, but is there anything i should ask for for my trouble with all these issues?  10 free oil changes?  Free extended warranty?

You can ask for a double scoop ice-cream sunday as well. You won't get any of that, but hopefully you get the problems resolved quickly under warranty.

BTW - I would get the dealer to fix both problems. If you try and fix the brake problem and it turns out it's beyond your skill level or a part is defective they can deny your warranty claim if you've been in there working on the problem at home.

[magnet18]

They might actually do coupons to a local ice cream shop, I'll ask

I'm just gonna pull the wheel off tomorrow and see if it's obviously debris or something, if not I'll get it into the dealer

[magnet18]

Well last night it made the noise all the way home, including highway speeds, then right as i was about to pull in the driveway it stopped, and won't make it today

I popped the wheel off and everything looks fine

​​​​​​​Dunno, can't take it to a dealer now, they don't fix problems it's not making, we'll see if it comes back

[Retire-Canada]

I hate intermittent problems! Hopefully it was just some gravel and it's popped out on its own.

[Clean Shaven]

Re: rattling at low speed -

Does the car have hubcaps (not alloy wheels)? Check hubcap fasteners for looseness. Check that there is no gravel trapped behind the hubcap.

[lbmustache]

Re: rattling at low speed -

Does the car have hubcaps (not alloy wheels)? Check hubcap fasteners for looseness. Check that there is no gravel trapped behind the hubcap.

I believe the Honda Fit has a plastic or foam cover underneath the gas tank in the front. Some people over on the Fit forum have reported it coming loose, falling off, getting damaged, etc. since it's pretty low to the ground and not attached very well. This may be what is causing the noise for OP?

[Dr.Jeckyl]

The most unreliable cars I've ever owned were new. Then again, that's due to expecting more from a newer car. I don't mind a few minor issues on a used car. They give it character. It seems that my cars had the most issues when they were under warranty simply because I took them to the dealer to get fixed.