I just don't know what to do anymore...Warning: Very Long

On April 18th I went to start my car ('06 Honda Civic - 7K miles, 8 months old) and it did not start. It is under a 3 year warantee at a specific dealership (in Brooklyn.)

I called a tow truck to have it taken to a local mechanic (that I trust) to make sure that I didn't go off buying a battery b/c that's what I thought I had - a dead battery. We give the car a boost, it works. I am on my way to the dealership and my car stops in the middle of the road. I call the dealership, the get me a tow, and I'm told my car will be looked at, and I can go to work, and they'll call me with the status.

I'm called the next day (April 19) and told that there is nothing wrong with the car, and I can come pick it up.

DH picks the car up, and it stalls and stops in the middle of him driving it. We again get a tow into the dealership and explain that a brand new car should not be stopping or stalling, and they can keep it however long they need to, just fix it.

The dealership then calls me on April 25 and tells me that they'll need to keep my car in for a little longer, and they are extending a courtesy car to me at no charge.

We are told the following at different points: (mind you, I have no idea what ANY of this means)
- Bad Fuel (they empty the tank and clean out everything, fill it up again.)
- Replaced spark plugs
- The alternator and starter are looked at and "tweaked"
- misfiring....
the list goes on and on....

They call us on April 30 and tell us that a representative from American Honda looked at the vehicle and is ready for us to pick it up.

DH picks the car up this morning on May 2 and not even five blocks away, the car stops AGAIN.

Here is the dilemma:
1. We have taken this car to them FOUR times now, and they cannot figure out what is wrong with it.
2. They refuse to let us take it to another dealership where we know someone in the service department (is Honda) b/c it will negate our warranty.
3. I can constantly redirected to customer service managers, but never to an ACTUAL mechanic or SERVICE agent.

I am getting no where, and DH is taking his frustration out one me, and I seriously cannot tolerate dealing with these people or HIM anymore.

I just don't know what to do. I do not want to take it to the other Honda dealership in case it does break my warantee and something MAY happen in the future. I shouldn't have to pay any $$$ towards any repairs, and I cannot get through to anyone with authority. I am tired, frustrated, and paying insurance on a car I am not using. I rely on my car for business, and I've had to reschedule appointments and events because of it.

Re: I just don't know what to do anymore...Warning: Very Long

I think this may fall under the lemon law

Re: I just don't know what to do anymore...Warning: Very Long

It may fall under the lemon law. Also, what kind of warranty on a brand new Honda restricts it to one dealership? I've never heard this. It almost sounds like a scare tactic.

You may want to tell them that you have spoken with your attorney and they may want to consider getting you a new car.

if they can't fix it, they need to replace it.

Re: I just don't know what to do anymore...Warning: Very Long

Re: I just don't know what to do anymore...Warning: Very Long

Re: I just don't know what to do anymore...Warning: Very Long

I would try a different dealer - I know you said you didn't want to - but a new set of eyes might help.

I would also call Corporate. These places get rated on their service and don't want to have complaints against them. I would take it further than the local level.

Or, if you can - take it somewhere else to diagnose the problem better and then bring it back to Honda and say FIX IT FOR FREE BUDDY

Re: I just don't know what to do anymore...Warning: Very Long

Re: I just don't know what to do anymore...Warning: Very Long

Re: I just don't know what to do anymore...Warning: Very Long

It will NOT negate the warranty!

I have brought mine to a different dealer many times - cause the one that we bought it from - $ucks!!!
and can never find anything!!

Go somewhere else - that is such crap!!

Re: I just don't know what to do anymore...Warning: Very Long

I agree with all the posters.

It takes a lot to actually get it done with the lemon law, but it will be worth it. My friend went through 3 Kia Sportages until she finally just said, I want my money back and got a completely different car.

Honda is a different story. They are usually great cars. You must have just gotten a bad car. What's the saying? Never buy a car that was made on a Monday or Friday?

I hope this gets resolved for you! I can't even imagine how frustrated you are!

Re: I just don't know what to do anymore...Warning: Very Long

can you get out of work and go there.

I would go there, walk right into the garage, and say WT F. then, I would ask who the "American HOnda' person is that looked at the car.

then I would threaten them with a "Help Me Howard" type of situation.


also, we bought our car (BMW) in Jersey. we CAN take it to the Brooklyn dealership..they just get pissy about it b/c we didn't buy from them, and we don't get a loaner...but it does NOTHING to the warranty.

I'd ask them to show me WHERE exactly in the warranty, it says I cannot bring the car to another HONDA dealer, the warranty breaker is when you bring it to a NON authorized dealer, b/c they can't guarantee the work.

something funky is up with this.

Message edited 5/2/2007 11:21:14 AM.

Re: I just don't know what to do anymore...Warning: Very Long

Re: I just don't know what to do anymore...Warning: Very Long

Have them check the injectors. I had exactly the same problem in my car (not a Honda). It is a time consuming, labor intensive fix and they, probably, don't want to put the effort into it. It may, also, be the ignition module. Again, an expensive part and alot of labor. If it was your alternator, you wouldn't have gotten as far as you did.
I would contact the Honda main office (not the dealership) and speak to someone there. I don't understand how taking it to another dealership negates the warranty. Since they are unable, or unwilling, to fix the problem, it seems to me the logical thing to do. This is why I hate using dealerships.

Re: I just don't know what to do anymore...Warning: Very Long

Thank you ladies, I'm calling the other dealership...will keep you posted.

I'm about to flip my shyte.

Re: I just don't know what to do anymore...Warning: Very Long

A Honda Civic should give you absolutely NO trouble at all. It sounds like you have a lemon. I had a '00 for 7 years and I never had a problem with it. The only things I brought it in for were for basic updates.

Re: I just don't know what to do anymore...Warning: Very Long

Re: I just don't know what to do anymore...Warning: Very Long

Re: I just don't know what to do anymore...Warning: Very Long

You can take it to any Honda dealer and it will NOT Negate the warranty they are just trying to scare you. The only reason I would tell you to keep taking it to that dealer is becasue for a lemon law to apply you have to take it to the dealer 6 times with the same problem. And sometimes its easier to prove the case if you take it to the same dealer and when you bring it in make sure you give them the exact same wording of the problem. This again will help you if you go the lemon law option. I didn't have a honda but i did have the same problem as you and I got my money back through the lemon law, it is a very long process and very frustrating.
FM and i can give you tips and any help you need with the lemon law. And mentioning the Lemon law when you go in for repair won't help you at all the service guys could care less, it could actually hurt you becasue they will change the wording on your service report so it looks like you are bringing it in for another reason. These are just some things that happened to me, and just warning you it could happen to you. Don't trust the service managers I thought he was trying to help me and when i went to arbitration he lied about everything.
FM I have tons more for you.

Message edited 5/2/2007 12:11:52 PM.

Re: I just don't know what to do anymore...Warning: Very Long

Lemon Law applies for the first two years

Re: I just don't know what to do anymore...Warning: Very Long

Re: I just don't know what to do anymore...Warning: Very Long

Here's the linkhttp://www.oag.state.ny.us/consumer/cars/qa.html

Re: I just don't know what to do anymore...Warning: Very Long

link

http://www.dr.bbb.org/autoline/kiallsum/standard/NewYork.pdf

Re: I just don't know what to do anymore...Warning: Very Long

THANK YOU again to all of you. I thought it only applied to the first three months. I am going to keep you all updated.


Again - thank you.

Re: I just don't know what to do anymore...Warning: Very Long

Re: I just don't know what to do anymore...Warning: Very Long

Sorry you are going through this...what a nightmare.