Problems with 2011 Dashboard

[laryssa]

Hi all,

I'm hoping I can get some opinions on what to do for my situation here with my new 2011 Honda Pilot.

I had to have the windshield replaced. My deductible is $500 to do it through insurance, so I didn't call them and just went around the corner to the body shop that's been there since I can remember. I got back the car within two hours and brought it home and let it sit there for about a day until I needed to use it again.

I tried to place my parking pass on my dash and it disappeared. I was shocked, and went to try and grab it? and there was about a half an inch of space between where the glass and the plastic meet on my dashboard. I looked around and the whole thing is unaligned now.

I called back the body shop and they said they had no power, bring it back tomorrow. I drove past and they had power, by the way. So I called my Honda dealership and said this happened, and I just want some sort of back up from your technicians that there is a problem, and made an appointment for this morning.

I went there, had my first oil change, and asked them to look at it. The service desk gave me an attitude that I was even asking them to look at it. But he noted it on the requisite.

I got back the car within two hours of waiting there and they told me that it was fine and there was no damage. So I had nothing to shove in the auto shop's face. I went back anyway and he told me the cheap plastic interiors are just like that. Now, I'm fuming mad because the car has less than 5000 miles and I want it to look that way, too. My boyfriend insists I'm being OCD but it really bothers me.

I'm hoping someone can give me an idea of what I can do to have a third party person fix it for me, or convince the dealership/auto body guy to do so?

Here are pictures of what I'm talking about. It's okay if you don't think it's a big deal but I still appreciate some help, haha!

http://oi44.tinypic.com/2ugfojk.jpg
http://i39.tinypic.com/308icux.jpg
http://i44.tinypic.com/a2zrlv.jpg

Thanks in advanced, guys

[Arizonaadam]

That's pretty glaring. This picture (http://i39.tinypic.com/308icux.jpg) could pass muster but the other two are bad. I'm not sure what the new windshield install would have to do with it, though. You say there's a gap "now" which I take to mean you know for sure it wasn't like that before? If that's the case ask the body shop if they need to remove any interior trim to replace a windshield. If they put it back together like that they need to fix it, end of story.
But, new windshields are put on from outside the vehicle (not that you don't already know that). The ws. sits inside a channel, it's not as though it should be snugged up against the trim, but the other way around. I'd try another dealer and then call Honda directly. If the first dealer had an attitude I doubt they paid it any attention at all.
Good luck, and welcome to the forum.

[pinzg35]

Originally Posted by laryssa

Hi all,

I'm hoping I can get some opinions on what to do for my situation here with my new 2011 Honda Pilot.

I had to have the windshield replaced. My deductible is $500 to do it through insurance, so I didn't call them and just went around the corner to the body shop that's been there since I can remember. I got back the car within two hours and brought it home and let it sit there for about a day until I needed to use it again.

I tried to place my parking pass on my dash and it disappeared. I was shocked, and went to try and grab it? and there was about a half an inch of space between where the glass and the plastic meet on my dashboard. I looked around and the whole thing is unaligned now.

I called back the body shop and they said they had no power, bring it back tomorrow. I drove past and they had power, by the way. So I called my Honda dealership and said this happened, and I just want some sort of back up from your technicians that there is a problem, and made an appointment for this morning.

I went there, had my first oil change, and asked them to look at it. The service desk gave me an attitude that I was even asking them to look at it. But he noted it on the requisite.

I got back the car within two hours of waiting there and they told me that it was fine and there was no damage. So I had nothing to shove in the auto shop's face. I went back anyway and he told me the cheap plastic interiors are just like that. Now, I'm fuming mad because the car has less than 5000 miles and I want it to look that way, too. My boyfriend insists I'm being OCD but it really bothers me.

I'm hoping someone can give me an idea of what I can do to have a third party person fix it for me, or convince the dealership/auto body guy to do so?

Here are pictures of what I'm talking about. It's okay if you don't think it's a big deal but I still appreciate some help, haha!

http://oi44.tinypic.com/2ugfojk.jpg
http://i39.tinypic.com/308icux.jpg
http://i44.tinypic.com/a2zrlv.jpg

Thanks in advanced, guys

I had a similar problem to your 2nd picture that I noticed. I talked to my service manager about it and they gladly replaced it as it was just that cover piece that wasn't sitting flush. You should ask to talk with the service manager and see what they say. The 1st pic you posted looks normal, no? Is there a noticeable difference to the right side?

Good luck!

[iggibar]

What did you pay with? If you paid with a credit card, call them up ASAP to dispute the damage! The spacing you showed in the pics would be enough for me to do backflips over their heads!

[laryssa]

Hey all! and thanks for the welcome.

I'm so glad to get some different perspectives on this.

The first picture I was trying to show basically.. the gap is the greatest at the top, and then it starts to get progressively better near the bottom there the VSA switch is (or progressively worse if you go up the other way past the vents, towards the windshield) But that's very minor near the bottom, I agree.

I'm almost 100% positive that there was no gap before going to get the windshield replaced but I cannot prove it without a doubt. I have no proof other than my own memory and the fact that I've placed my parking pass in the same spot since I bought it in August and it's never slipped through a half an inch gap at the bottom of the windshield/top of the dash. I also checked it out pretty through and through when purchasing for interior dings to make sure someone didn't ruin anything while test driving.

I am doubting myself, however, since I know exactly how windshields are replaced, and it seems very odd to me that they had do to anything that would cause that sort of damage.

I am going to take your advice to speak with the service manager about it, and then try another dealer before going to Honda. I think I'm going to get a lot further through Honda as a company rather than the mom and pop shop down the shop that already got his money...

Especially when I let my sales guy know that I will probably buy an Altima now instead of an Accord. Haha.

Thanks again for the welcome and I look forward to speaking to all of you!

[BYUFAN]

I would go to another dealer and tell them you are not happy with the fit and the gaps. I wouldn't even bring up the windshield replacement. That piece should not have even been affected by the replacement.

Good luck!

[Jedi215]

Let us know the outcome. Good luck.

[2010exl]

I agree with the earlier reply.......windshields are removed and installed from the outside. There is no need to remove any Interior trim pieces.

Those gaps were probably there from day one.

[mmm666]

I think body shop messed it up.

[1YESfan]

I think someone installed microphones and tracking devices in your Pilot during the windsheild replacement visit. ;-)

[megatron]

What I would do is go back to that service guy you talked to at Honda or to a different service department at another Honda and have a walk with them to look at ALL the other Pilots they have on their lot. If the majority have that same gap, then you are mistaken and it was probably like that from day 1. If the majority do not have that gap, show your service guy and have them fix it under warranty. Simple as that...

[reggieburris]

It's sad to say but I think the tolerances are not as tight as they used to be. However, I am not trusting any significant fix to anyone unless it's through my insurance or the dealer. I've been burnt too much in the past.

[pilot38]

Replacing the windshield would have no bearing on the dash and it's alignment. Windshield replacement is all done from the outside of the car.

[jensent]

laryssa
I am wondering why you would have to pay anything? Glass replacement on my vehicles is covered under comprehensive and covered 100%.
Tom

[Arizonaadam]

Originally Posted by jensent

laryssa
I am wondering why you would have to pay anything? Glass replacement on my vehicles is covered under comprehensive and covered 100%.
Tom

Do you have a zero deductible? Mine is $1k for c/c.