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Honda Accord Quality Control Issues
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Comments
Of course, you should know that forums like this are bound to attract people with tales of woe to tell. I guess, it would be easy for a person like yourself to jump to the conclusion that the sky is falling.
Honda builds GREAT automatic transmissions.
Do they ever have troubles...of course!
And, I think you are correct. I think when a transmission needs to be overhauled, they simply replace it with a remanufactured unit rather than repair the old one. Same thing with alternators and starters.
Still waiting for someone (you, perhaps?) to tell me how long a manufacturer should do work for free after a warranty expires?
I'm honestly curious about what people think?
Re: "Honda builds GREAT automatic transmissions." - I don't even know how begin to respond to an unqualified, general statement like that. Do you even care to know the product you're selling? Or have you read so much of Honda's sales literature that you now believe the stuff at face value?
I will say that my personal opinion on the subject is this. How long an automatic transmission lasts depends in large part as to how it is treated and cared for during the life of the vehicle. Since I change my transmission fluid every 30K, come to a complete stop before changing from reverse to drive, almost never change gears to downshift or pretend that I am shifting gears manually, I would be upset if I don't get at least 75K from my transmission and really expect to get 150K. I would probably ask Honda to replace it for me up to 75K and take whatever I could get.
I admit I am not very mechanically inclined and may be extremely full of [non-permissible content removed] with my methods but that is my opinion - right or wrong.
Oh, add your last post too.
Yes, I do know the product I am selling.
But, at this point, I don't care...you can think whatever you want to.
When I started posting here regarding my first transmission problem, isellhondas was less than cordial. Come to think of it, he was outright heartless in his terse comments.
I had two transmissions replaced by Honda and finally realized I didn't want the car any more. I didn't want a THIRD STRIKE with my car once again sitting in a Honda repair facility.
Now isellhondas has branded me a trouble maker saying that I constantly post and am a complainer. Well, I have ever right to post my story and don't give a "rats [non-permissible content removed]" what isellhondas thinks. I have posted my story on other Honda boards and guess what---"The Accord transmission problem has been posted on numerous boards"! Many others have posted the same problems that I incurred with my Accord. This is why the NHSTA has all types of documentation regarding the problem. As far as the nonobjective statement of Honda Accord transmissions as being "reliable", that is now a fallacy. Up until the 5th Generation Accord, Honda made a very good transmission. When the 6th Generation Accord debuted, that "once reliable" transmission was no more!
There is "nothing" and I mean nothing objective by any comment that he posts regarding transmission failure. He is a mouthpiece for Honda. Hypothetically, if he sold a brand new Accord to a customer and the transmission fell off while driving off the lot he would say that things like that just don't happen and stick his head in the sand. Ya that "Ostrich effect" is isellhonda to the T! Being sarcastic regarding his over zealous posts just makes me nauseous. That's my two cents and I sympathize with anyone that has encountered 6th Generation Honda Accord transmission failure.
For the benefit of the newcomers here, let's get a couple of things straight. I hate being misquoted.
rbruehl, you, indeed had a tale of woe to tell, you had not one but two transmissions fail. Honda offered to replace your transmission for the third time but you opted to throw in the towel and buy a Toyota. I'm sure you had reason to be frustrated and I do hope your Toyota will provide you with a long and troublefree life. If probably will, since it's a Toyota. Like Honda, they build excellent cars with a good reputation.
And, you have remained on these boards, forevermore, retelling and retelling your story.
I guess that's why I (and others) have become weary of hearing the same story so many times.
I mean..isn't it time to move on?
Beachnut...well, I guess I would think a no charge replacement at 50,000 miles as a goodwill offering would be a good thing. I don't work for Honda nor can I speak for them. I'm sure if the customer had receipts showing regular maintainance it would help in my decision.
I have NEVER ONCE said in any forum that Hondas never have problems. We all know that any car can and will have glitches.
Hopefully someone will agree that some balance is needed in these forums.
I have never used these forums to promote myself or my business. I state my opinion truthfully as I happen to see things.
The sky isn't falling. The transmission problems that affected some 1999-2000 V-6 Accords and Odysseys have been long resolved under warranty.
One of the reasons I started this topic was reading about various quality control topics at other Honda boards. One topic that was constantly mentioned in those boards was the Honda Accord transmission problems regarding the 6th Generation model.
It has to make one wonder if so many people are posting this problem--there has to be concern. It has been listed in all 6th Generation Accords including both the I-4 and V-6 from 1998 to 2002.
To conclude, I contend that this is hardly a coincidence.
Before I get jumped on by someone....I have no doubt that some 4 cyl automatics have acted up. When you build millions of something mechnical, things will happen.
I think if you were aware of the history, you would, perhaps understand my reactions at times.
Example...Awhile back, a poster commented on how bad Accord brakes are. I think they told a story of a sister or someone who went through front pads every 20,000 miles or something...I don't remember the details.
I didn't respond until a couple of others chimed in, telling tales of woe about how bad Honda brakes are.
Now, from my personal observations and experiences, this just isn't the case. From my years of managing a large auto repair shop, it was my experience that the driver of the car was the major determining factor on how long brakes would last.
And, out of curisoity, I decided to have the brakes checked on my 99 V-6 EX Accord Coupe.
At the time, the car had (I think) 42,000 miles on it and the brakes still had over half the lining left on the original pads.
And, I'm not an abusive driver but I don't baby my cars either.
Next, someone critized the "horrible" Michelin tires and said they were terrible in the rain, poor traction etc...Again, I've had no troubles, nor have I ever heard on other complaint.
I am in a position where I hear complaints.
So, when I cried foul on these two issues, I get jumped on for being biased, having my head in the sand etc...
I guess no one wants to hear that an abusive driver will wear out brakes quickly or that a person who drives too fast in the rain may have trouble stopping?
On the tire issue I even said that I had no doubt that better tires are available and when the time comes, I'll probably put something different on the car.
But your point about empathy is well taken.
I do take offense, however to being called a liar (without using that word) when I attempt to reassure Honda owners that they will probably never experience some of the oddball problems others are having.
Isell: I believe you when you say you have not seen any problems with the I-4, but you are one person, in one area, working at one dealership. I'm sure you have connections and friends at other dealerships who may be telling you the same thing. But official numbers would speak louder, and you must admit that there is the possibility you could be wrong. I always try to base my opinions in fact. I would think that you would like to do the same.
Why do I care? Well, my '99 had a quirky transmission, searching for gear and jumping around at low-speed. That just doesn't seem normal to me. My '00 does the exact same thing. The dealership and Honda say this is SOP. Well, if it's normal then great, but I've been into the dealer twice now complaining. I'll be out of warranty in less than 10K and I'm concerned. I bought the Accord based upon it's excellent reputation. I want to keep this car for a good long time. But I really have to wonder, especially when my transmission does weird stuff, then I come to these forums and read what I've been reading..
The Accord, for example has a firmer shift than the Buick they traded in. They assume something isn't right. They return to the dealership where they are told, truthfully, " they all work like that".
They leave, unconvinced, and search forums like these for " the truth".
It gets frustrating...
Later
I do wish you well.
I'm not one to mince words, however and I'm sure that can come across as a lack of empathy.
I do appreciate your kind words.
I have a V6 Accord, and have had no tranny problems thus far at 64k miles. So, I can add my offsetting personal experience to the tales of woe. That doesn't mean I don't believe those who post their troubles, but one must keep in mind that people are much more likely to post complaints and problems than they are to post about not having problems.
Regarding the warranty and replacing a transmission, here's my opinion. For the first 50k miles, I think Honda should replace the tranny at no cost. Why do I think they should beyond the 36k mile warranty? I think it is reasonable to believe that the problem began before the warranty expired, even though the failure didn't occur until after that point.
Honda should offer some partial payment between 50k and 100k miles, probably on a sliding scale from 50 percent down to zero percent co-payment on Honda's part. Would that make an owner happy who had one fail at 55k, 85k or 105k miles? Probably not. But you don't buy products with the right of eternal happiness.
Some TVs last 5 years and some last 25 years. I'd probably change brands on a TV that only lasted 5 years, but I wouldn't expect the manufacturer to pay for a repair.
I had a Ford tranny fail at 110k miles, and it's made me leary of Ford transmissions. Fair or not, that's how I feel. And I understand anybody having a Honda tranny fail feeling the same way.
Also, are the 4 cylinder Accords still prone to the automatic transmission problems than the V6's have? Do the 4-cylinders still have adequate power? Thanks in advance for any help.
Bob
Japanese v. American Accords have been discussed before. Here's something to keep in mind - a friend of mine has a 2000 EX-L sedan (I4), built in Japan, that had a new engine put in at 10,000 miles because pieces of metal (shavings, shards, etc.) were found in the original engine. Japanese-built Accords are not perfect. American-built Accords are not perfect.
I still maintain that there is no difference in build quality between Japan and US Hondas. Not that I've ever been able to tell anyway. My 99 coupe was built in the US and it's been flawless.
Like someone else said...no car will be perfect.
The 4 cyl Accords are not "still prone" to any transmission problems...they never were. The V-6 problems were isolated events.
As far as power? I think the 4 cyls have plenty of power but you should drive one and be your own judge of that.
Good luck!
Any preliminary word on the 2003 Accord coupe changes from 2002? Thanks again, I'm glad I found this board.
Regards,
Bob
Yes, I would take a Japanese built Accord any day in the week over the Ohio produced Accord.
Why is that Japanese manufacturers such as Acura, Toyota and Nissan all build their "luxury" models in Japan? Are Japanese car companies telling us something?
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Share your vehicle reviews
Personally, I've never been able to detect one twit of difference between them.
But...what do I know?
Loving my defect free '99 EX-V-6 coupe...US built!
What do ya mean "my defect free EX-V-6 coupe...US built" ?
Hey, I thought I had the only one! Er, wait a cotton-picking-minute, mine is a '98 and yours is a '99. Ok, ok, now we know where the good ones went.
Is yours US built by way of Pitcarin Island?
And is yours a "Monday" car?
Mine is a "Second Shift Tuesday" car. So there!
Made in Mexico? Ah...don't think so!
To each his own...
Of course, maybe what I bought wasn't a real "Honda." You know - like the "Ray Bans" you buy for $10 in Tijuana??
http://www.autointell.com/News-2001/April-2001/April-18-01-p3.htm
I've never seen one much less sold one.
Now that I look at the dealer sticker, it says the port of entry was San Diego, engine and transmission from USA, final assembly point El Salto, Jalisco, Mexico. Interesting!
I don't mind at all that my Accord was made in Mexico... it's still a Honda. I'm confident that it will give me years of reliable service. At least I have another 35,000 miles before I need to worry about it.
Going back a few posts on brakes. I just had to replace my front pads at 68K on my 01 LX. I have no complaints on the wear and performance of my brakes. But I will warn others out there that are used to using the brake fluid reservoir level to determine pad wear, that my fluid level was midway when the pads needed replacement. All the other cars that I had owned lately would have been at the minimum level. Noone else added any fluid either because I do my own routine maintenance.
In my Accord EX 97, my little son, put some coins inside the casset player. Now, the casset goes inside and comes back again. It is not playing, but the AM/FM is fine. Any idea how to fix this? and a rough cost ?Thanks for your help.
J.D. Power rated Toyota's Tahara, Japan, factory that builds the Lexus GS 300/430 and LS 430 cars as the world's best for producing quality vehicles.
Ever since Mercedes Benz put a plant in Alabama, their quality has slipped. BMW's plant in South Carolina doesn't put out the once stellar cars it produced in Germany. Look at the VW plant in Mexico that produces the trouble prone VW bug.
Look at the Honda plant in Ohio and ask yourself, "Are these cars built as great as they were 10 years ago"? If your answer is Yes, go to the NHSTA site and look at all the complaints.