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Honda

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Honda • Airbags • Brakes • Bumpers • Fires • Honda Care • Ignition switch • Odyssey doors • Odyssey seats • Paint • Radiator • Transmission • Windshield • The Insight --- • Honda To Sell Hybrid For Under $20,000 • Honda Drops Accord Hybrid • Feds Probe Honda Ignition Problems

It's true. We even get complaints about Honda, which some would call the world's most perfect moderately-priced car. Something Honda should be concerned about is that loyal, repeat customers are beginning to grouse that they will defect to Toyota because of reliability and warranty problems in the latest crop of Hondas.

Here a few of the more recent complaints:

Wing of Rowland Heights, CA February 7, 2010

Let's start with my vehicle details: V ID: 5FNRL38885B025165. 2005 Odyssey Touring Model. Vehicle Contract # V002146765. Let's start with what has happened to this Odyssey engine computer, or engine warning light last three years, two problems so far: 1) All services / maintenance of this vehicle are done by Diamond Bar Honda, now Diamond Honda at City of Industry since I bought this vehicle. Therefore, you can get all service details.

A little over one year after I got this Odyssey, the yellow engine light started to come on. Took it to Diamond Bar Honda, they just reset the light without doing any checking; they told me this is Honda imposed standard procedure. Couple months late, the engine light came on again. Took it back to the dealer, they found the catalytic converter sensor was no good. But Honda Care would not authorize to replace the defective part. Again, just reset the computer and sent me away.

Another few months went by, the engine light came on again. This time Honda Care authorized the part replacement. The issue: Honda is trying to save money at my and other owner expense. I had to put up with this engine "light on" annoyance for three times! This engine light went on and off many times, wasting all my time back and forth to the dealer.

2) I thought things were OK not until the Engine light came on again, this time with big amber message stating "Inspect VSA" also. I stopped and restarted the engine, the light went off. On the second day, while I was driving at I-60, suddenly with no warning, both Engine and Inspect VSA came on again. And the car started to slow down considerably on the freeway.

The vehicle slowed down to less than 20 mph with did not response to the gas pedal. I had to immediately pull my car to right side shoulder, almost rear ended by a semi-truck. This is absolutely down right dangerous and un-safe. I could have been seriously injured by this from driving at 65 mph and slowed to. Honda will not reimburse there engine computer malfunction. This is false advistement of selling the expensive Honda extended warranty.

Don of Geneva, FL February 5, 2010

Sliding side doors stick shut occasionally. Potential safety hazard. Found a (almost) free and easy fix for the problem: Put the finger-tips of both hands in the upper door seam (toward the back) and pull outward toward yourself until you hear the weather stripping come unstuck. Door will then open normally. Keep weather stripping treated with silicone spray and runners greased with white lithium. Problem solved.

Sheri of Richmond, TX February 5, 2010

Transmission issues issues worse after 2 Manufacturer software updates and torque converter replacement. HOA exteneded the power train warranty to 60k miles but that is not enough. I have a expensive car that has been in the shop for 6 times, 2 days at a time where the dealer didn't even put me in a temp car while they "tried" to fix the issue. I have visited two different dealers to no avail.

Don of Geneva, FL February 4, 2010

This is a 2001 Honda Odyssey: The sliding side doors will intermitantly stick shut for no apparent reason. This conditon can and does exist for days at a time, until, again, without apparent cause, will suddenly cease and the doors will once again operate normally. I have seen advice in an internet chat room that says to disconnect the battery for a few minutes to "reset" the system. I haven't tried this yet, but will. It's my understanding that this is a long-standing and well-known problem with these mini-vans and should be the target of a Honda "fix" across the board.

Dan of Springfield, MO February 4, 2010

My 2003 Honda Odyssey transmission went out at 70,000 miles. According to my online research virtually all the 1999-2004 Hondy Odysseys have faulty transmissions which go out sometime after 60,000 miles. They clearly were faulty and Honda clearly is at fault. They want to charge me 3100 for repairs. They need to replace the faulty transmission for me. Honda wants to charge me 3100-4800 to replace their faulty components.

Martha of Sanger, CA January 28, 2010

I currently own a 4 door, 2001 Honda Civic EX. One morning in the Summer of 2009, I was driving home on the road I take everyday in the countryside & wanted to slow down well in advance for the school zone up ahead because there was a hill, when I suddenly noticed the car was accelerating by itself to well past 55 mph and I didn't have any foot on either peddles. I stepped on the brakes but the car wouldn't stop. It kept on accelerating like it was possessed & I didn't have anywhere to try & pull over, plus the car wouldn't stop either. Thank God, the school was already in session & the children were inside because I sped past the school at 65-70 mph. I was scared to death because my turn home was coming up and I remembered thinking, "Is the only way to stop this car to crash?" I forced my foot on the brakes as hard as I could and the speed extremely slowly started to go down but not by much.

I could feel something still trying to accelerate pushing the brake forward, so I quickly turned right onto the intersecting street at about 35 mph, swerved the car to the right, off of the road and immediately turned off the ignition, without even putting the car in park. With the engine off, I put the car in park. I was scared to death and took a long time to catch my breath and think about what just happend. I wasn't far from my house, so I thought maybe this unintended acceleration was over.

I attempted to start the engine while staying completely in park and with my emergency brakes on just to see what happends. Right when the engine started the car sounded like I was getting ready to start a race, as if my foot was on the gas peddle, which is what manual cars can do in the neutral position. Thank Heavens, my car was still in park or else I would have gone straight into a pond. What a disaster that would have been with the property damage, etc. I immediately turned off the engine and called my brother. He told me to try and start it again so he could hear the acceleration noise and sure enough it was still there. I waited for him to show up and of course the moment he got there and we tried starting it again, it disappeared. I was terrified, I didn't want to get back in the car while it was in motion at all. I just kept replaying the image of my speedometer accelerating past 60 mph as I was trying to stop the car over and over again.

Until this day, I still see that image; especially, when I'm approaching that elementary school. Sadly, I still have the 2001 Honda Civic EX because I had barely bought it in 2007 and had finally started driving it in 2008. It's my only means of transportation because I'm a college student. I am still horrified today that I always glance at my speedometer, especially when my foot is off of the gas. As a consumer, I wonder , "What can be done? What caused this to happened? Will it happen again? What if there's children in or near the car the next time it happends?" I have many more questions and concerns, just like those who have experienced this in any car.

Teri of Saugus, MA January 27, 2010

I own a 2000 Honda Odyssey. This morning, the right front coil spring snapped off.

Gene of Kings Park, NY January 24, 2010

Our leased Honda was not turned in on time (July, 2008)-we had purchased a Saturn and they took the car. They failed to return the Honda on time and we were charged an extra month and late charges. We finally got Saturn to pay this charge but Honda lost the check. The salesman at Saturn could not access the check (going through a divorce) but gave proof (a bank statement showing the check cashed by Honda, which we have.)

Honda would not accept this and put us in collections. All papers were faxed to Honda financial, but they would not accept this. They claimed it would be too much to look up the payment. We argued back and forth-cannot understand why they could not track the payment as we had the proof and date it was cashed and the correct amount. The salesman from Saturn could not get the check although we tried to get him to cooperate. It was a certified check.

The last representative from the collections agency assured us that they would kick this back to Honda-we heard nothing for a few months and then went to extend our home equity loan and were turned down due to this lien on our credit report. We had no choice but to pay this charge again (457.64). Honda now had two payments for this account and our credit is bad. They assured us that this lien would be taken off once they processed our payment, but it was not. We are still waiting, after calling them again. So our complaint is that our credit is ruined and Honda collected twice for this claim. We have all proof to show you. We would like our money back and the lien taken off our credit.

Patty of Lincoln Park, NJ January 15, 2010

The transmission on my Honda Civic 2002 completely went in November 2009. I had 98,000 miles on it. I did oil changes every 3,000 miles and took good care of that car. The transmsission just went without any warning. It cost over 3,300 to have a rebuilt transmission put in there and I had to rent a car for over 2 weeks for 500.00. I called my Honda Dealership and they said that was not a safety issue. I could not believe it. I went online and saw how many complaints about Honda transmissions failing. I then saw they was a lawsuit for transmsission failures on Honda Accords and Oddesys, but not for Civics. This is so wrong. I had it fixed, but I will never buy another Honda.

Candace of Grants Pass, OR January 14, 2010

I have a 1998 Honda Accord V6. It is dark purple in color. We purchased this car 6 years ago and about 6 mo ago the clear coat started to peel away on the roof and around the edge of the trunk. Since mine started doing this I know notice Honda Accords around the same year EVERWHERE that are doing this! Some are much worse than others. We took our car in to a body shop for an estamate to see how much it would cost to have it repaired. The paint guy told us that in '98 Honda started using a clear coat with a different base and since then this has been a major problem they see time and time again.

After speaking to him. I then took the time to write Honda a letter concern this probelm. I told them how much we love our Honda's, that this is my second Honda I have personally owned, that i come from a family who drives Honda's and planned to give this Honda to my daughter in 3 yrs and then personally purchase a new Honda. However, I would not feel comfortable purchasing a new Honda if this was going to be the out come of the paint job on Honda's. I figured such a reputable company would not want cars looking this bad driving around as advertisment for their company.

5 days later i recieved a call from a RUDE customer service rep. and was told becasue there is no recall--they can not help me! In my letter I said I can not stand behind a company that will not stand behind their product and their customers. She said that is my opinion. I told her to "Google" Honda Accord Paint Problems and you will see that it is NOT just MY opinion but the opinion of almost ever Honda Acccord owner in or around that year of Accord. Needless to say, I will not be purchasing another Honda made vehicle. I know there is not a recall on them but maybe there SHOULD BE!!!!!

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