Honda Fixes Flawed Beam Design In 2015 Fit, Gains IIHS Top Safety Pick Rating
After a poor performance at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Honda has redesigned the front end of the 2015 Honda Fit to correct an issue with the compact’s front bumper beam.
Autoblog reports the beam had broken free during the small-front overlap test earlier this year, resulting in a “Marginal” grade by the IIHS. The broken beam allowed more impact energy to be absorbed on the driver’s side of the Fit.
In turn, Honda’s engineering team set about to fix the issue, then ask the agency to retest the Fit. The newly updated compact hatch fared better in the test this time, bumping the original grade up to “Acceptable.” On top of receiving “Good” status on the vehicle’s other four tests, the IIHS gave the Fit the title of Top Safety Pick, a goal Honda desired for the compact hatch according to chief vehicle safety engineer Chuck Thomas:
We had targeted “Top Safety Pick,” and just weren’t satisfied with not achieving that. We had studied the results of that test, and made some modifications to the front bumper.
The modifications were made on the production line in June, and the 12,000 owners with their Fits already in possession can bring back the vehicle for the free upgrade. Honda will send notices in September.
Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.
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There's a thesaurus built into your word processing program, you know.
Give Honda credit, it the world of GM , we know we have an problem, lets not fix it, Honda found the problem and fixed it and will fix it. I just hope the test fix , works in the real world. This is why Honda fans buy again and again , thru have faith management and the company will do the right thing.
looks pretty good in the video, definitely better than 500L or Grand Cherokee.
We bought one for my wife. have had it for a month and love it.