Honda owners - Warranty question

[sciphi]

I'm sitting at the dealer having the lost-motion-spring recall done on the Fit. The service writer tried to upsell me on a $500 30k mile service package. I declined. It ended up with him telling me that since I didn't have the Fit serviced at the dealership, any remaining warranty with American Honda basically flew out the window. He said that oil analyses or other technical measures wouldn't matter, just service history at the dealer when determining any remaining powertrain coverage.

I think that it's a total crock, and a scare tactic to try to sell a transmission flush and air/cabin filter replacement. I also think that the remaining powertrain warranty would be upheld since we've followed the owner's manual recommendations, and have documentation to prove that. Specifically, the owner's manual says the first transmission service needs to happen at 60k miles.

So am I justified in thinking I'll have a "leg to stand on" providing my own documentation if anything happens with the engine/transmission?

 

[eljefino]

Ask him to put this statement in writing.

 

[Quest]

tell that service writer to (a) don't do anything other than the warranty-related work.

(b) courteously ask for his name and his manager's name, and file a formal complaint to Honda America. I'm sure that they will not be very happy with the dealership you are dealing with.

Also: tell that service writer that since your vehicle is bought in continental North America, it can be taken into any Honda dealerships here in NA definitely for warranty-related servicing and should be fully warranted by Honda America.

Don't let him take you on a ride. When in doubt: ask him to put what he said in writing and take it to Honda America.

Q.

 

[ChiTDI]

I believe your thinking is correct.
I would,however, change that cabin filter yourself.
I do mine annually and they need it.

 

[sciphi]

I've already done the air and cabin filters. Both were easy as can be.

I'll ask for his name when I leave. Seeing as the car is in their clutches right now, I don't want him telling the tech to set the valves to "grenade the rocker arm" mode. This particular recall needs the valves to be adjusted since they're taking the rocker arms off.

 

[SrDriver]

Call Honda America. Make sure you get the name of the service manager too.

What a bunch of crock!

 

[Vikas]

Actually, tell him to set an appointment for the "$500" visit. Be nice and get his name.

Once you have your vehicle back, then you start dropping the bomb.

- Vikas

 

[onebigunion]

This kind of nonsense is still surprisingly rampant, particularly in smaller, rural areas, especially where there is only one dealership for a particular make. My brother-in-law was a salesman for years with a Buick dealership. He said it was standard procedure to refuse to do any service work, warrantee or not, on any vehcile not sold at that dealership. It wasn't his role to have any place in that decision, but he seemed to support it. (As I guess he might, as it might be a way to discourage low-info buyers from shopping out of town). I never got into it with him, as I never had the slightest interest in owning a Buick, and he was a good guy - but what a load. I imagine they could refuse to do out-of-warranty service work, but no way for warranty - I'd love to hear that conversation with corporate. What kind of a business refuses an opportunity that generates revenue? The kind that doesn't STAY in business.

 

[sciphi]

Got the guy's name and called Honda America shortly after getting away from the dealer.

The dealer also tracked dirt all over the engine side (aka the side supposed to be filtered) of the air filter. I pointed that out, and the same service writer diddled for about 5 minutes then went to the parts counter and handed me a new air filter. I replaced it and saved the other one. A little birdie told me to check the air filter right before driving off the dealer's lot.

I misspoke. Turns out the "30k mile service" that is nowhere to be found in the owner's manual costs merely $350 according to the warranty paperwork after some magic discounts, not $500 like he originally said.

To top that all off, the junior tech assigned to shuttle van duty parked me in, needing another conversation with them. Kind of the cherry topping on the cake.

The car itself has a lot more power, better fuel economy by about 2 mpg, and is purring like it did when it was new.

Warranty work done, warranty hopefully maintained, and a UOA will be pulled on the next oil change in case any funny business happens with the engine 20-30k miles from now.

 

[NYSteve]

What did Honda America say when you spoke with them?

 

[sciphi]

Originally Posted By: NYSteve
What did Honda America say when you spoke with them?


A whole lot of nothing. They took down my information, thanked me, and hung up.

 

[Dan55]

My dealer charges 20% over list on parts (Rockland)

 

[NHHEMI]

Originally Posted By: sciphi
I'm sitting at the dealer having the lost-motion-spring recall done on the Fit. The service writer tried to upsell me on a $500 30k mile service package. I declined. It ended up with him telling me that since I didn't have the Fit serviced at the dealership, any remaining warranty with American Honda basically flew out the window. He said that oil analyses or other technical measures wouldn't matter, just service history at the dealer when determining any remaining powertrain coverage.

I think that it's a total crock, and a scare tactic to try to sell a transmission flush and air/cabin filter replacement. I also think that the remaining powertrain warranty would be upheld since we've followed the owner's manual recommendations, and have documentation to prove that. Specifically, the owner's manual says the first transmission service needs to happen at 60k miles.

So am I justified in thinking I'll have a "leg to stand on" providing my own documentation if anything happens with the engine/transmission?


This is complete and utter rubbish that sadly you hear time and time again from dealerships. The law allows for you to have the work done at an independant mechanic of your choice or to do the work yourself. You do NOT have to have general repairs( non warranty )or maintenance done at a dealer, nor use OE parts, to preserve your warranty.

You simply have to use the correct part/fluid and in regards to maintenance you must do it within the mfg's required time limits. All you must do to preserve your warranty is use the right parts and do it on time. PERIOD! You will have to hold on to your receipts to back it up too.

Now, if the mfg requires that only the dealer can do your oil changes for example, and that it must be done using OE parts, to preserve your warranty they must provide that to you FREE! That is the only way they can force dealer only and OE parts on you. Obviously warranty repairs are dealer only and OE parts only.

Just document what you do, keep the receipts, use the correct parts and fluids and do the maintenance on time, and you are golden. If the dealer or Honda tries to deny coverage because of that you have a 100% iron clad case against them in court.

Just note that Honda is not responsible for damage caused by non OE parts installed by non dealer techs. If you used say a Wix filter and changed the oil yourself and the filter failed and blew the motor( just hypothetical worse case here )then Honda would not be on the hook for it. Wix would. IF the engine failed while running a Wix filter but the filter was fine and working properly, they can not "legally" deny coverage.

 

[sciphi]

Thanks for the re-assurances. I got out of the dealer without spending a dime, the recall work done, and made an enemy of that service writer.

So far we were lucky to have had one other brush with the storied "Honda arrogance". This brush painted over the formerly good view we had of that dealer. It just might be enough to keep us from buying another Honda, knowing we'll be treated poorly at the region's Honda dealers.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: sciphi
So far we were lucky to have had one other brush with the storied "Honda arrogance". This brush painted over the formerly good view we had of that dealer. It just might be enough to keep us from buying another Honda, knowing we'll be treated poorly at the region's Honda dealers.


Although I don't care all that much for our local Honda dealer (mostly because of their sales practices), I also wouldn't generalize one bad experience to "Honda arrogance". If anyone would be more arrogant than Honda, it'd be their luxury subsidiary, Acura, but our local Acura dealer has been one of the best dealers I've dealt with, of all time. One of the reasons I didn't buy another Cadillac when I traded my '01 STS in was because of the local Cadillac dealer. A big reason why we didn't buy another Chrysler when we sold our '07 T&C was because of the local Chrysler (and Dodge) dealer. A big reason why I've bought two Toyotas in a row now is because of our fantastic Toyota dealer.

There are so many variables to ownership experiences, and this is an excellent example. There are good and bad dealers of all makes, Honda, Acura, Cadillac, Chrysler, Dodge, Toyota, and everyone else. Whenever I recommend a car to somebody, I always suggest they take into account their local dealership, because a rotten dealer can make the ownership experience of even an excellent car downright miserable.

Glad you got out of there with your car in one piece.

 

[sciphi]

Hokieyfyd, the "Honda arrogance" has been experienced at two area dealers: the dealer we bought the car from, and this second dealer who has a far better service department than the first dealer. The first place was horrible all around. This second place hasn't been bad, except for this one service writer who left such a negative impression.

Agreed, the dealers make/break ownership experiences.

And, thanks! I'm glad to have escaped unscathed also.

 

[Hokiefyd]

I tried patiently with our local Chrysler and Dodge dealer, but both were pretty poor. And they've got nothing to be arrogant about... It's interesting because the Chrysler dealer is in the Rick Hendrick family of dealers, and the excellent Toyota dealer is also a Rick Hendrick dealer. I can try to make sense out of it, but when it comes down to it, it's really not unlike dealing with people in any other part of life. Sometimes you meet nice people and sometimes you meet not-so-nice people. Experiences like yours (and mine) just go into our bag of tools for later on...and probably much to the chagrin of the vehicle manufacturer represented, we make future purchase decisions based on that as well...

 

[sciphi]

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[FZ1]

I get all my work done at one Honda dealer. $18 to change the oil,2x a year. $39 for the annual state inspection. It's goodwill. They know me when I roll in. Better on close calls,if they know you are a regular customer.

 

[Vikas]

You mean to tell me they never get paid to do 7500, 15000, 22500 etc service on your vehicle?