[Shizzo]

On April 9th, I bought a 2007 Element at Coggin Honda in Deland, FL. The car was advertised online and on the lot as Honda Certified.

I logged onto OwnerLink, and noticed that I had no warranty on the car. I called the dealer, and they sent me some BS paperwork that said that the car was certified. They said it was an error in the way the information was put in the computer, and that it would be corrected soon.

This past Saturday, June 5, I went to my local Honda dealer (not the dealer where I bought the Element). I got an oil change, and got to talking with my buddy, who is a Service Writer there.

We were talking about the service techs accidentally locking the keys in customer's cars, and I mentioned that I didn't have a spare key or a spare remote with my car. At that point, he told me that if it was certified, it is required that you get two keys, and valet key and two remotes with the car.
He was able to look in Honda's database and see that my Element is NOT certified pre-owned.

He then brought me out the CPO check list that the dealer is supposed to go over to certify the car. He gave me blank copies of this to use for ammunition when I went back to the dealer where I bought my car.

So, I went back to Coggin Honda where I bought the car and raised hell and they told me again that it was a computer glitch and that they had it corrected. They then told me that they would provide the additional keys and remotes at that time.

I raised even more hell and said that the vehicle hasn't been inspected. They just sold it as certified when there wasn't even an inspection done or an inspection sheet filled out. The sales manager says "I assure you that it is certified." and then he had his service writer go and pull the paper file on my truck.

The lady comes back with the folder, and they go flipping through it, and the inspection checklist is not there. So then the guy says "Oh, we're just backlogged on our filling. We'll mail you a copy."

At this point I argued, because he told me earlier in the conversation that the vehicle was supposedly certified on March 4th of this year- a month before I bought it. I said "You expect me to believe that your filing is 3 months behind, and thats why you don't have my certification checklist?"

I went on to tell the guy that the certification was never done, and I don't want them to just put some checkmarks on a checklist and mail it to me. I want the truck to pass certification and actually be the reliable vehicle that Honda CPO should be.

I ended up going in to the General Manager's office, and he said that he would look into it and talk to the tech that supposedly certified the vehicle, but I'm at a total loss here.

I don't know how to proceed.

Also- after they got all my keys cut and programmed, they came back and told me that the keys will start the car, but they will not unlock the driver's door, and that I'd have to come back and have them take a look at that.

Then, the sales manager said that "Since the car is a CPO Honda, you can go to any Honda dealer and have it repaired under warranty."

Can anyone offer me some insight, tips or advice on this situation? I feel like they tried to fraud me out of the warranty. I purchased a car at a CPO price, but they didn't actually pay the extra money to get it certified and brought up to CPO standards....

 

[lizzurd]

Can anyone offer me some insight, tips or advice on this situation? I feel like they tried to fraud me out of the warranty. I purchased a car at a CPO price, but they didn't actually pay the extra money to get it certified and brought up to CPO standards....

Call this number.....

Honda Customer Service

1-800-999-1009


Tell them your story.

 

[Shizzo]

I called them, and they are forwarding my information to a case manager.

I'll post back when there's any new developments.

 

[AKRunner]

FYI when you call Honda's 800 number the first step for them is to call the dealer and notify them that there is a problem. You need to get to the District Sales and/or Service Representatives because the dealer already knows and is not fixing the problem. If they were sincere they would have had you come in and allowed you to observe the inspection as nothing else will be satisfactory at this point. It has obviously not been done even though you in effect paid for it when you purchased the Element as "Certified". You also need to push the issue with both Honda and the dealer that they have committed fraud and this is a punishable offense that will cost them a lot of time and money. If other cases are found it could cost them their dealership. I work(for 16 more days) in the industry and have seen manufacturers close dealerships for fraudulent activities. Stop talking to the managers at the dealership and get an appointment with the General Manager or Dealer Principal(owner). The whole idea behind certified cars is that you get a vehicle that has been inspected and warrantied and they get to charge more for it. If they do not cooperate you might talk to the D.A's office as if they have done this to you how many more have they done it to?

 

[Shizzo]

Update:

Update:

I called American Honda, and opened a case and was assigned to a case manager.

The General Manager of the dealer called me and told me that there was a "mix-up" and that the car wasn't properly certified.

We made an appointment for this past Saturday to get an alignment, fix the issue with the driver door lock, and to re-do the certified pre-owned inspection.

When I arrived at the dealer, I told the Service Advisor that after they completed the CPO inspection, I would be returning to the Honda dealer that I trust to get the CPO inspection done again at my cost.

I informed him that once both inspections are done, I plan to forward them to my case manager at Honda, so they can put them side-by-side and find any discrepancies.

I arrived at the dealer at 10:30a, and when I checked back with them at 1p, they were still working on the door lock and had done nothing else.

I came back at 3:00p, and they told me that I was all finished and that I needed to sign the paperwork and be on my way.

So, while looking at the paperwork, I see that they did an oil change, replaced the rear brake pads, replaced the air filter and the fuel filter. They had also fixed the driver side door lock and done the alignment.

The service advisor handed me a print out from the alignment computer that told me what my camber/caster was when I showed up, and what settings they had corrected it to.

So, I'm looking at this sheet, and noticing that apparently, the car was *way off* when I arrived. The corrections were monstrous.

After further inspection, I noticed on the sheet of paper that the alignment settings that they had used were for a 2007 Non-SC model.

My Element is an SC. They calibrated/aligned it to the wrong specs. So, I show that to the service advisor and he says "Wow, I'm glad you caught that!" and then he calls the tech over and they put the Element back on the rack.

At 5p, they gave me the car, and I left the dealer, and it was pulling to the left more than it ever had. It was worse than when I brought it in.


Needless to say, that dealer is a snake pit and I won't be back. I've completely written them off.

So, if you're in Central Florida, and you're looking to buy a Honda, don't shop at Coggin Deland Honda. The sales and service staff are either incompetent or con artists, and, either way, are not worthy of your business.

Their parent company is Asbury Auto Group. Steer clear.

 

[slimerdogs]

Sorry to hear the schtuff you are going through. Get the tires rotated and see if it still pulls to the left. And look for a wear pattern that will cause it to pull.

 

[z(+)diac]

Update:

Needless to say, that dealer is a snake pit and I won't be back. I've completely written them off.

So, if you're in Central Florida, and you're looking to buy a Honda, don't shop at Coggin Deland Honda. The sales and service staff are either incompetent or con artists, and, either way, are not worthy of your business.

Their parent company is Asbury Auto Group. Steer clear.

That's a real shame, but unfortunately not every dealership is staffed and operated in a competent matter.

I truly hope you pass along your experience to your case worker. Hell, I'd go as far as writing/contacting Honda US operations regarding this. It makes you wonder just how many other vehicles they align wrongly :shock: