[raemargaret]

I hear so many happy stories of elements, but I'm at the point that I am considering filing a Lemon Law claim in California. My experience with my prelude and accord was great. But I've had nothing but trouble with this car. I like the roominess of it, but really-- the car has had to have 6 tires, 2 sets of front brakes and one set of back brakes in less than 27000 miles. It's a 2006 model Honda Element EX. I drive it about 7 miles a day. Now I am on the road with it, and it needs 727 dollars worth of work to repair an ignition switch/key issue. The first and only long trip I drove this car on--and now this key issue happens while I'm on the road. I know some people have great experiences with their Element, I'm afraid this particular Element is completely unreliable for long distance travel.

Moreover, the car gets between 12 and 14 miles per gallon. I don't drive it any differently than I drove my other cars, which got close to what they were supposed to get. I'm considered a smooth driver by people who have driven with me. When I approached my home dealer about this problems (prior to the ignition switch problem), I was told they were all wear and tear. They refused to do a fuel efficiency test on it and referred me to Honda Customer Relations.

The wear and tear excuse seems ridiculous. I hardly drive the automobile (about 6 miles a day), and I drove my prelude and accord along the same routes. They were great and never had all these issues. I took the car to an independent service center, and they told me the bad master cylinder could have easily caused the first front brake job/tire replacement. They said the dealership was not being truthful with me. I've heard this from two tire dealerships and my independent service station.

I set up a case with honda customer relations to discuss the mileage and other issues but their case manager never called me back. My phone records show no calls from them. Now I'm on case #2-- the ignition switch problems. It is my understanding that I could go to the California Attorney General's office to file a lemon law claim and complain about the runaround I got at the dealership, but I was hoping Honda would resolve this with me privately.

Any ideas for how to go up the chain at honda about all these issues? I'm sure there must be a national corporate person I could go to but I don't know where to turn. I had such great luck with my prelude and my accord ex. I'm really bummed about the way the dealership who sold me the car has treated me.

Sorry to be complaining. I'm just really frustrated right now.

 

[wipeout97]

There is really no way to encourage honda corp to do anything. I had two dealings with them and in both cases never heard back from them. It really infuriated me that when I would go out of town my wife would have things done at a dealership only to have multiple invoices showing work was performed yet the car was never touched. This happened again with a recall (Flow Honda of NC). I ended up being escorted off the property when I ranted to other customers in the waiting room about my dealings but at least a few of them left.

So my guess is you either talked to the black guy or white woman via the complaint number. Neither of them will really give a damn about your situation. Just being honest with you . I've always felt that if consumers dealt with Honda Corp they would never buy another Honda.

 

[raemargaret]

Hey, thanks for letting me know about your experience with Honda Corporate. Sorry to hear that.

Well, I guess it's the Attorney General's office then. I spoke to someone in that office on Friday to inquire about the Lemon Law. Because they were not honest at the dealership about the issues with the car, they said I had a pretty good claim. Honda said they tried to resolve my first case, but I never got a call from them and don't find any record of a call from them in my phone company's records. Just to give them the benefit of the doubt, I assumed they had called the wrong number or something. But after what you said-- it sounds like I'll just keep hitting a brick wall with them.

 

[wipeout97]

Hey, thanks for letting me know about your experience with Honda Corporate. Sorry to hear that.

Well, I guess it's the Attorney General's office then. I spoke to someone in that office on Friday to inquire about the Lemon Law. Because they were not honest at the dealership about the issues with the car, they said I had a pretty good claim. Honda said they tried to resolve my first case, but I never got a call from them and don't find any record of a call from them in my phone company's records. Just to give them the benefit of the doubt, I assumed they had called the wrong number or something. But after what you said-- it sounds like I'll just keep hitting a brick wall with them.

Yep, I have heard similar stories to what you just said. "We called" and "We tried" seem to be the number one responses from these people. Before you consider a lemon law claim I would highly consider you read through lemon laws entirely. In many cases it's just not worth it. It's an instance of it sounds GREAT on paper and but not so great to the end guy.

 

[sig41455]

Lower quality, higher corp. profits. YAY!!!

Honda, at least in the U.S. sorry to say, is not the same as it used to be. Nuff said...

 

[07lmnt]

A 7 year old vehicle, your just wasting your time, and adding frustration to your life.

 

[Xvoltm2]

grave picking.... this thread is from 4 years ago....

 

[jesbecause]

So my guess is you either talked to the black guy or white woman via the complaint number. Neither of them will really give a damn about your situation. Just being honest with you . I've always felt that if consumers dealt with Honda Corp they would never buy another Honda.

I really need to throw my hat in the ring here, as old as it my be, the insult should've been deleted or corrected.

Now for further info on the subject of filing a customer complaint (w/o satisfaction) is to simply file a lawsuit in your jurisdiction and have it served upon Honda in Houston, Texas @ their home office. Have a process server, deliver the summons and complaint to the home office for $50 and they'll send you back a copy of the service affidavit and your on your way. Here in L.I. it costs about $300 to file this lawsuit. Sometimes it costs a few dollars to get noticed, better then shouting and yelling results. Do you really think they want to send a lawyer out to handle this case ????? Which they surely have too. A fair settlement should be close behind.

 

[GaryS]

grave picking.... this thread is from 4 years ago....

Yep, and the original poster hasn't been on the forum for almost that long. I suspect she unloaded that P.O.S. vehicle and moved on.