[PrG]

I dropped my vehicle off this morning at the dealer to get it rust proofed, and while I was there I figured I would have them install the roof rack cross bars while it was in, $33.00 charge, pretty minimal ... Anyway later in the day I get a call from my service manager to tell me that while they were installing the bars they broke the clips to the front cover of the roof racks and that the part is on national back order and won't be available for several months. So being the nice guy I am, I told him ... no problem just call me when the part comes in and fix it then. He replies ... that's not all ... My heart sinks ... It turns out that further along in the installation the mechanic slipped and fell dropping something on the roof of the car damaging the vehicle. So the car has to be sent to the body shop for a week to be repaired. In the meantime ... I am stuck with a loaner Accord that has big white bold lettering that says Pflueger Honda ... Courtesy Car ... blah blah blah .... you thought Ferraris got stares.

Anyway ... Is there any legal recourse in this ... can I refuse to take the car back ? I will file a complaint with American Honda tommorow against the dealer service department although I am pleased with the fact that I was notified. I will be contacting a lawyer ... well he happens to be a close friend ... and I will be visiting the service manager's manager Saturday.

Is there any further action that I can do and any legal base for it ?

Appreciate any input you can offer ... even if just to say ... "suck it up "...

PrG :3: :3: :3: :3: :3:

 

[PrG]

And ...

On top of that ... the window scrunching issue ... the service manager's answer was ... that after driving in mine and taking the demo out he definitely noticed the scrunch ... and after contacting Honda's techline ... the reply was ... no solution ... there is none ... just send the customer home and get him off our back ...

:3::4: :3:

 

[banningjr]

Did you get to check the damage done by the tech. Depending on how severe I would consider other recourse. This was a complete dealer issue. If it was just a small dent or a scratch I would probably ask for some free service. If it is major body damage where you'll end up with bondo or replacement parts or permanent damage they should be offering you a new replacement vehicle (maybe a small fee on your side for mileage) or have them throw in some options. They should definitely be sucking up for their stupidity.

 

[N_Jay]

I hate re-paint

Since any body work will require a repaint, I would get either a long term (10year) warrenty on the paint, or some level of compensation for the fact that the vehicle is likely to be worth less at sale/trade in in 7 to 10 years.
Afterall, Honda factory paint should hold up with minimum maintenance for at least 10 years, and re-paint is often an issue after 5 years.

 

[renov8r]

Re: I hate re-paint

Since any body work will require a repaint, I would get either a long term (10year) warrenty on the paint, or some level of compensation for the fact that the vehicle is likely to be worth less at sale/trade in in 7 to 10 years.
Afterall, Honda factory paint should hold up with minimum maintenance for at least 10 years, and re-paint is often an issue after 5 years.

I hate repaint too, but THE GOOD NEWS is PrG has WHITE (which is the THE BEST for any paint work) AND PrG is in HI, where as long you don't park in the ocean or a lava flow and have some shade for a parking space, white paint should last about 50 years!!

I'm almost thinking that the "AHMC complaint, lawyer,demand new car/adjustment to value" HORSE CRAP that I'm hearing here is directly related to the PRICING ISSUES!

But is it chicken or egg? Would dealers get less of this OVER REACTION if they cut fairer dealers? Would buyers give a "no problem brah" to dealers if they didn't feel like ADVERSARIES every time they met?

...why can't we all just get along...

 

[N_Jay]

Dealer issues

My dealer is fine, a friend, and a nice guy.
I would still be pissed if I had to re-paint a new car.

 

[jfrano]

You bet...if its more than just a slight touch up, you should seek remedy. If its bad, its almost like they stole you're 'New' car.

Joe

 

[jay]

I've never not had a dealer screw something up when I let them install something. On an '89 Toyota Tercel, they took a chunk out of the dash installing a cassette player. No warranty work ever on that car, which I put 170,000 on in 5 years.

On a '98 Accord LX from the same dealer where I got the Pilot- scratches all over the interior from installing a CD changer, keyless entry and alarm, including another big chunk out of the dash. Another great vehicle otherwise.

I refuse to buy any vehicle that requires the infamous "Due in Deal." It always results in damage. Once I leave the lot, I hope that the only work the dealer does is the regular mechanic stuff, which even then usually results in greasy hand or foot prints on the interior of the vehicle. :^(

I feel really bad for you, and hope they're able to fix it to your satisfaction.

-jay

 

[N_Jay]

How many miles are on it?

How many miles are on it?
Did you get to see the damage before they did anything?
You own the car, so if they started work without your aproval, you might have cause to justify hat now, THEY own the car, and you will take the next one that comes in.

 

[PrG]

Thanks for your input ... I will let you all now of the outcome ... I gave the dealer permission to fix the dealer and as an afterthought decided that may have not been a good idea. Today, after work I headed down to the dealer with camera in hand to see if the vehicle was still there. It wasn't ... already gone to the body shop. With my best poker face on I went and poked and prodded the service manager ... All he could do was smirk and constantly say I'm sorry ... yeah it's too bad ... so now I am really irate.

I will have my vindication and get even ... I always do.

PrG

 

[PrG]

UPDATE ... not good news ...

Ok ... so I figured everyone makes mistakes why not let bygones be bygones ... I will pick up the car and write it off as a innocent mistake ... It's a new model the mechanics have no experience with the PILOT .... blah ... blah ... blah ...

Today I called my service advisor just to make sure my car would be ready for pickup tommorow ... He said ... yeah .. no problem ... it will be ready ... Well, I got a call this evening ... the PILOT had another mishap ... It was damaged again ... I am not sure the extent of the damage but the service advisor said the parts were on order and it would be fixed by Friday ... So I said ... horse *(^%^& ... enough of your non-chalant attitude ... do not fix the car ... I called my sales manager and asked him if he knew what was going on ... he didn't have a clue ... apparently our little service advisor was trying to get things done in the shadows without anyone knowing ... Well come tommorow all HELL is going to break loose ... bottom line ... I am not bringing the vehicle home ...

More to come ... by position at work I have access to attorneys, local news and media, and direct influence over a large number of folks ... being on an island I can easily make Pflueger Honda's life very very miserable ...

Perhaps this is anger speaking ... but I am pissed ... I am fuming and am looking for repair and retribution.

PrG

 

[PrG]

Re: Re: I hate re-paint

I hate repaint too, but THE GOOD NEWS is PrG has WHITE (which is the THE BEST for any paint work) AND PrG is in HI, where as long you don't park in the ocean or a lava flow and have some shade for a parking space, white paint should last about 50 years!!

I'm almost thinking that the "AHMC complaint, lawyer,demand new car/adjustment to value" HORSE CRAP that I'm hearing here is directly related to the PRICING ISSUES!

But is it chicken or egg? Would dealers get less of this OVER REACTION if they cut fairer dealers? Would buyers give a "no problem brah" to dealers if they didn't feel like ADVERSARIES every time they met?

...why can't we all just get along...

How about we swap PILOTs then ...

PrG

 

[banningjr]

PrG, I think you are right on with this one. In its most basic form they are literally vandelizing YOUR car and still expecting you to be happy about it. Depending on what this second piece of damage is a new car is probably not out of the question. Let the dealership keep this one as a test drive vehicle.

What would you like as your next color? (Watch the door jambs on Silver!)

 

[TheWorm]

I'd really encourage you to personally take a look at the car to see the extent of the damage. Not to throw you into a tizzy, but they could be telling you it's minor scratches requiring a repaint but hiding something more severe.

I recall someone on Autopia posting about a Caddy Escalade that the service tech raised a bit too high on the lift, which crushed in the roof. That's major surgery!

I think you otta go down and make sure they're not soft-selling you the damage they did.

 

[renov8r]

Re: UPDATE ... not good news ...

Ok ... so I figured everyone makes mistakes why not let bygones be bygones ... I will pick up the car and write it off as a innocent mistake ... It's a new model the mechanics have no experience with the PILOT .... blah ... blah ... blah ...

....
Perhaps this is anger speaking ... but I am pissed ... I am fuming and am looking for repair and retribution.

Hey, no fair posting what I said after the FIRST mishap! This time I'm with you! 100% The should institute MANDATORY DRUG TESTING in the service dept. YESTERDAY! These guys are screw-ups!

I think they now have shown themselves to be incapable of not damaging something.

I don't think they are gonna be too upset with the media (does anybody really watch the news in Hawaii, and its not like there are tons of dealers to chose from) but I would think even a half glazed judge would side with you in this case. The standard is "reasonable care" and managed to damage the vehicle MULTIPLE TIMES is just NOT REASONABLE!! GO GET 'EM!

 

[N_Jay]

You should have them do fog lights while they are at it.

My guess is they will drill in the wrong spot, and you can get a new bumper also.

 

[Len]

You should have them do fog lights while they are at it.
My guess is they will drill in the wrong spot, and you can get a new bumper also.

That's just plain evil...I love it!
:22:

 

[TGAUSSELIN]

IF THE DAMAGE WAS NOT DONE INTENTIONALLY, THEN YOU HAVE NO REAL LEGAL RECOURSE. HOWEVER, WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IS ASK FOR THE OPTIONS YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO BE AT NO COST TO YOU. GOOD LUCK

 

[banningjr]

Why exactly would he have no recourse? This is a 'certified' Honda shop who has some real issues getting things right. Are their no Hawaiian Lemon Laws? There must be some type of recourse, the dealership (aka Honda of America) is causing damage to his vehicle which in the future will directly affect the value of that vehicle. That is an issue. If there is no change in value in their eyes but their is in the owner's they should be doing everything possible to alleviate the situation. This was not caused by the customer, heck PrG probably hasn't even paid the first payment on it yet!

(Tgau, Caps is shouting - unless you meant it.)

 

[r_hammel]

I'm not a lawyer, but my understanding of Lemon Laws are usually to cover when the manufacturer/dealer cannot repair a single problem, not when it has to keep fixing different problems. If PrG was taking it back in for the same thing and they could not fix it, then he could maybe consider it a lemon. Also, it might be considered a Lemon if there were excessive manufacturing defects. These are not manufacturing defects, but rather, faulty craftsmanship.

However, to say that PrG has no legal recourse is not true. There doesn't have to be intent to have justification for recourse. In this case it is just pure incompetence or bad luck. If he can prove a loss in value, it doesn't matter whether it was intentional or not. I may not mean to drop a brick on your new Pilot, but if I do, you can and should expect to make me pay for it.