HONDA

HONDA TRANSMISSION FAILURE, / RECALL BRANDON, Florida

18th of Jun, 2011 by User763868

Tuesday, May 3rd, I was driving approximately 70 mph on I-75 when all of a sudden, my car FELT like someone slammed on the brakes and I went flying forward. Luckily I had my seatbelt on. It happened 2 more times, then when I got home, I couldn't go in reverse. I got in the house, researched it and was shocked to find out this is an ONGOING issue with the 2003 Honda Accord EX V6 model. (also the Odyssey model) Honda isn't calling it a recall because no one has been hurt yet. Meanwhile...the next day, I was in bad pain due to the jolts and seatbelt marks from them restraining me, Thank God or I would have gone thru the windshield.
I called American Honda and they started a claim. They told me to take it to my local dealership and get a definite diagnosis first. I asked the man on the phone, what if they say I need a new transmission. He said 'no problem, you're now with American Honda.' I called next morn and drove there, and my transmission failed many times on the way there too. I never had any warnings.
While waiting...the VIP director came up to me, telling me I'm a VIP customer, having bought hondas for 22 years and a loyal customer. Shortly thereafter the svc manager came and told me yes, the transmission was gone and American Honda agreed to pay $900 out of the $4300 bill they were charging me. I asked what about the known issues Honda has with this year and model? He said all they offered was $900. The VIP manager told me he would NEVER put $3400 in a sinking ship. I said 'SINKING SHIP????' He said 'well it DOES have 89k miles on it.' I said 'It's a Honda...that's why I paid big bucks for a honda because they are supposed to go for a long time.' He said 'well pretty soon you'll be at $100,000 miles and will lose a lot of value. He sent a salesman over to me who asked 'sooooo what are you looking for????' I said 'looking for??? I'm not looking for anything. He tried to sell me several cars and I was blindsided, couldn't think straight and asked if they would put me in a rental. He said no, you can call Enterprise. (I'm a vip customer, remember...) I explained my cell phone is dying...he said 'you can use the landline in the lobby'. I said well I don't have Enterprises' phone number programmed in my brain and I just started crying so hard. I felt SO helpless, no car, my phone died, no contact phone numbers, and no one at Honda would help me. They tried to take advantage of my bad situation to make a sale. I rememebered ONE friends number and called her. She said I'm on my way. She arrived and drove me to Hyundai...who immediately said 'If you were in a Hyundai, this would be a non-issue as we have the 100,000 power train warranty. After a short while I told them I can't buy a new car. I don't know what I'm going to do. They asked how I'm getting around and I said I don't know...I have no car to drive. They offered me a brand new car to drive for 4 or 5 days while I figure things out. I didn't know these people from Adam and they bent over backwards to accomodate me. Next day I called the GM at Honda as well as some others. He called back and said that's a sales ploy by Hyundai to let me take a car home. I said why didn't Honda? Where I'm a VIP, REMEMBER? Once they knew they weren't making a sale, they all ditched me. The GM said he would pay $1250 towards the new transmission, adding to the $900 Honda America would pay, leaving me half the balance. And he would give me a car. (how decent of him...huh?) When I called Honda America, they informed me that I wasn't the owner of the car. I said I most certainly am. I've owned it for 4 years and bring it Brandon Honda for all my oil changes and scheduled maintenance. Nope...they still had the previous owner listed...AFTER 4 YEARS!!! All the recalls, all the other things from Honda, I never receieved because it went to the previous owner. The svc manager who was VERY nice...tried to show me a sheet with a 'c' on it which meant something was complete. I said "I'm supposed to accept that as verification on the SAME SHEET THAT STILL SHOWS ME AS NOT THE OWNER, from the previous day.' He himself changed it that day to show me as the owner. All the times I'd gone to Brandon Honda and they never changed it. I bought it at Crown Honda and they never put me as the owner, 4 years ago? Talk about incompetence. I did have my mechanic rent a flatbed, and take it for a 2nd opinion. He said it was burned. Honda said they would pay the $1200 and American Honda would pay the $900 and then they tell me it won't be a new transmission, it will be a used, rebuilt one...but I have to pay $2150 for a used transmission. I had called American Honda again and they said they would check into again and see if the could pay more money towards the transmission. Now NO ONE is going pony up money and pay half if they are not at fault. PERIOD. They tried to throw me a bone by offereing $900 then added $1200 and a car for a week. I should not have to pay for ANY of it as I was almost severely injured. They are not calling it a recall because no one was injured YET. THIS IS EXACTLY LIKE TOYOTA KNOWING THEY HAD A BRAKE PROBLEM BUT DID NOTHING ABOUT UNTIL SOMEONE DIED. I want Honda to step up and pay ALL of my faulty transmission that could have killed me and they are VERY aware of this ongoing problem with my year and model of Honda only.
I'm not going away! And I'm not waiting until someone gets killed first.

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Comments

4668 days ago by Bradb704

My wife also has the 2003 Honda Accord V6. The transmission went out about a month ago. I was given the same run around as you and even had the same issue with the car not being in our name, according to Honda. I was quoted $4500 for a used transmission and Honda America said they won't help at all. Honda told me it was our fault that the transmission went bad. They said we didn't maintain the car properly. Very interesting how they know exactly what we have done with the car although they didn't know I even owned the car. Unfortunately I can't wait any longer for Honda to do anything about it. I called a local transmission shop and they told me they have at least one 2003 Honda Accord a month coming in. It is ridiculous how Honda can get away with this. Hundreds of people are having the same issue and Honda does nothing. I am disgusted with Honda and am stuck with 2 of them. Trust me, that won't happen again.