On approximately February 13, 2022, my son was driving his 2019 Honda Accord. He said he couldn’t accelerate and the engine light came on. Luckily he was on a rural road, which he stopped the car and shut it off. He restarted the car and the engine light didn’t come back on. Since he was going out of town, I told him to take my car and I would see if the engine light came on. Finally two days later after the car seemed like it missed from tie to time it came on. And it was a Christmas light.
I took it to a certified Ashe mechanics shop to put on the code reader. He told me to take it to Honda. This was on February 16, 2022. Everything was going off, including TPMs, radar, don’t accelerate too fast. Take it to Honda dealership. I made an appointment first thing the next day. On Thursday, February 17, 2022 I went to the local Honda dealership. The service advisor said the Honda had a bad head gasket. (Photo attached of estimate). I asked to be shown the coolant that was allegedly leaking into cylinder 3. Mind you, how often have you heard of a bad head gasket at 88,000 miles and especially a Honda?
Service advisor told me the cost could be approximately 3700.00 to fix. Later correspondence with the service advisor I requested a breakdown of the cost since it wasn’t provided, parts, labor etc. and the service advisor said it was provided. The service advisor also said he would put in a request for Honda to pay some of the cost. I told the service advisor I would replace the spark plugs since I could get the parts for about 124.00 and it would take me about 20 minutes. They wanted 265.00 to replace. I also asked the service manager the hourly rate. He advised it was 144.00 an hour.
When he said Honda denied the claim I was disgusted. A head gasket does not fail at 88,000 miles. I told them to fix the car since I didn’t have a choice. The final bill was 2483.00. I know this car takes 15.6 hours allegedly from the guideline. 500.00 for head milling if needed and another 260.00 to replace the spark plugs. That math puts it about 3000.00. I wouldn’t have questioned it would have cost 3000.00.
Fast forward. I finally got through to Honda and they called about a week later. Robert went through a big speech but ultimately said Honda would not contribute for repair costs. He hash the nerve to make the statement for lack of maintenance. When I questioned and asked about lack of maintenance. He said the car hasn’t been to the dealership for maintenance. I advised Robert that I do the maintenance and who would take a car to a dealership that charges 144.00 an hour labor? I also asked Robert why no trouble codes were listed on repair bill? I have never seen a dealership in my 32 years of driving that doesn’t list the code on repair bill. (Photo attached).
I am quite skeptical that they didn’t list the trouble code when TSBs are listed on NHTSA.gov for cylinder misfires. As I said to Robert, I will never purchase another Honda and I will tell everyone my experience. They can say Al, dealerships are personally owned. Someone needs to hold them accountable for the fraud that was committed on this repair.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
click to see larger images
On approximately February 13, 2022, my son was driving his 2019 Honda Accord. He said he couldn’t accelerate and the engine light came on. Luckily he was on a rural road, which he stopped the car and shut it off. He restarted the car and the engine light didn’t come back on. Since he was going out of town, I told him to take my car and I would see if the engine light came on. Finally two days later after the car seemed like it missed from tie to time it came on. And it was a Christmas light.
I took it to a certified Ashe mechanics shop to put on the code reader. He told me to take it to Honda. This was on February 16, 2022. Everything was going off, including TPMs, radar, don’t accelerate too fast. Take it to Honda dealership. I made an appointment first thing the next day. On Thursday, February 17, 2022 I went to the local Honda dealership. The service advisor said the Honda had a bad head gasket. (Photo attached of estimate). I asked to be shown the coolant that was allegedly leaking into cylinder 3. Mind you, how often have you heard of a bad head gasket at 88,000 miles and especially a Honda?
Service advisor told me the cost could be approximately 3700.00 to fix. Later correspondence with the service advisor I requested a breakdown of the cost since it wasn’t provided, parts, labor etc. and the service advisor said it was provided. The service advisor also said he would put in a request for Honda to pay some of the cost. I told the service advisor I would replace the spark plugs since I could get the parts for about 124.00 and it would take me about 20 minutes. They wanted 265.00 to replace. I also asked the service manager the hourly rate. He advised it was 144.00 an hour.
When he said Honda denied the claim I was disgusted. A head gasket does not fail at 88,000 miles. I told them to fix the car since I didn’t have a choice. The final bill was 2483.00. I know this car takes 15.6 hours allegedly from the guideline. 500.00 for head milling if needed and another 260.00 to replace the spark plugs. That math puts it about 3000.00. I wouldn’t have questioned it would have cost 3000.00.
Fast forward. I finally got through to Honda and they called about a week later. Robert went through a big speech but ultimately said Honda would not contribute for repair costs. He hash the nerve to make the statement for lack of maintenance. When I questioned and asked about lack of maintenance. He said the car hasn’t been to the dealership for maintenance. I advised Robert that I do the maintenance and who would take a car to a dealership that charges 144.00 an hour labor? I also asked Robert why no trouble codes were listed on repair bill? I have never seen a dealership in my 32 years of driving that doesn’t list the code on repair bill. (Photo attached).
I am quite skeptical that they didn’t list the trouble code when TSBs are listed on NHTSA.gov for cylinder misfires. As I said to Robert, I will never purchase another Honda and I will tell everyone my experience. They can say Al, dealerships are personally owned. Someone needs to hold them accountable for the fraud that was committed on this repair.
- Terry H., Clear Spring, US