This Honda Fit is a piece of E36 M3!

We bought our Odyssey at a dealer about 50 miles away, and I've been impressed with them. We had it in twice for warranty work to two different local Honda dealers (both about 15-20 miles away), and I was completely disgusted with both. When we needed major service done (timing belt, spark plugs, water pump, etc.), I sucked it up and went to the dealer 50 miles away because that was less of a hassle than dealing with either of the local dealerships. I completely feel your pain, it sounds like you've found an awful Honda dealer.

Not sure I'd go with another Honda because the dealership service has been so poor in our area. For our DD's, I want to be able to take it to a dealer and have it fixed right for a a fair amount of money. We have a local Toyota dealer who has been incredible to deal with. Good prices (10-15% of each service), good techs, good management, I can pick and choose what I want added/subtracted from the regular services, no sales pitch for unnecessary services, etc. It's nice having someone who I can trust to work on the car when I don't have the time/tools/ability to get into it.

I agree with the advice to follow-up with the dealer and then Honda corporate if the dealership can't make it right. Definitely take your issues up the chain to the management of the dealership if you're not getting the response you feel you should.

Here are some examples:

Our closest dealer was obnoxious to my wife and accused her of shoving stuff under the front seat and breaking the wires to the airbag. Then, they tried to tell us it wasn't covered under Honda Care (incorrectly). I called Honda Care, they straightened out the dealer, and I had a chat with the Service Manager. His staff was condescending and dishonest, and I didn't trust a word he said, so that was the end of going to that dealership.

I had the Ody flat bedded to the second local dealer (it was still under the Honda Care extended warranty) when the passenger side drive axle popped out of the transmission (no idea how that happened). They put in a new axle, we had it back for a week or two, and then my wife complains that the transmission is slipping in reverse. I warm it up, and check the fluid per the owner's manual. Nothing on the dipstick! So it's at least 1.5 qts. low. I call AAA and have it flat bedded again to the dealership to have the transmission fluid brought up to the correct level. Get it back, warm it up, check the fluid, and it's still a quart low. At that point, I just filled it to the correct level with my Honda ATF fluid and chalk it up to experience. Two tries and the dealership couldn't fill the transmission fluid. Wouldn't that be an obvious step when replacing a drive axle???

Further reasoning why I don't buy warranties because I always go to independent mechanics that are well known and not stealerships :(

I changed my fluid on my 2011 Accord 5-speed at 40,000 miles. It made a difference on how it shifted.

My Honda dealership is also a whistle dick.

I agree that you should get a regional Honda USA rep on the line and demand that they take action. Trump up the fact that you have been driving Hondas for a long time and that you have brand loyalty. Hopefully that will give weight to the situation.

And do your own maintenance! It's a Honda, so it has to be pretty simple.

I have a similar dealership situation with my Mazda. The one I got it from was great, but their service department isn't open on weekends (the only time I'm around) and the closest dealership to me just changed hands from a really sleazy, crappy one to one I had a real bad experience with when I had my 2009 WRX. At least the new one has a great parts department.

SilverFleet wrote: And do your own maintenance! It's a Honda, so it has to be pretty simple.

I bought a used manual on ebay. I do all my maintenance - it has been easy so far.

Yup, all you need to do is get on the phone with Honda corporate/customer relations. When I was at the Nissan dealership, then the Infiniti dealership, all you had to do to get something for free was call corporate. Usually they gave in before that, but corporate is a sure fire way. Good luck...keep us posted!

Slippery wrote: Sounds like the dealership is a piece of E36 M3, not so much the car. I would find another dealership to fix the problem and then do the maintenance yourself.

this

That sounds like a REALLY shady dealership.

30k for gearbox oil is odd, too. My wife's 2010 auto (which has been flawless for 52k miles, knock wood) says the interval is 60k.

I want a 1st gen Fit as my next DD (although a Sport manual is hard to find) and this gives me a bit of pause.

I changed the gearbox oil in our Fit at 60k miles per the manual. The job was easy, no plastic trays to fiddle with, and cheap too. We own an 08 so maybe the 2011 models are tougher.

But the fact that they conned you into a fluid change 30k miles ahead of schedule would be enough for me to be on the phone with Honda NA. FWIW, our local dealer sucks too.

I would like to add to this thread that our Fit has been entirely trouble free for 80k miles. Just tires and fluid changes so far.

For maintenance just find a local shop to work on it. Good luck!

waiting to see how it goes. I agree it sounds like a shady dealership more than anything.

my first new car (09 accent), it took it to the dealership for a free oil change. they left off the splash shield underneath when they returned the car to me which I noticed when I got home. not a huuuge deal (i went back and had them reinstall it) but its the principle of the situation. car has not been back to a dealership since and that was 90k miles ago. its kind of a PITA finding time to do my own maintenance on schedule but it saves me money and im learning a few things and i know i am not cutting corners.

In reply to poopshovel: Go above the dealership to DSM (District Service Manager). Lay out your case with that person in a clear reasonable tone. Don't get loud, don't threaten. And is a different dealership within reach of you? You can always take your business somewhere else...

from what I have read online.. first MTF change is 60,000 and then 30,000 forever more

Aeromoto wrote: Car dealerships make pimps and drug dealers look respectable

say berking what?

This is why I am so happy we as the consumer are protected by law from buying directly from and working directly with for warranty and service the big bad automakers. It makes me feel so good knowing that there is a National association of private manufacture representatives looking out for my needs as a consumer and protecting me from all the numerous ways the OEM wants to get in between me and my money. Go dealers go!

irish44j wrote: I rock all my lumber straight up out the sunroof. Because I'm hardcore like that.

Also, say what???

Online looking up Honda Fit service schedual all I see for tranny fluid (and it's auto, no mentoin manual) is 100,00km so 62k miles. I think they need to reimburse you for the un-needed change in the first place.

Adrian_Thompson wrote: Online looking up Honda Fit service schedual all I see for tranny fluid (and it's auto, no mentoin manual) is 100,00km so 62k miles. I think they need to reimburse you for the un-needed change in the first place.

I never saw anything for changing the fluid on my manual trans Accord either - I just figured 40,000 miles after 20 months seemed reasonable. I did however buy the Honda manual trans fluid (and crush washers) in case of some fight with a warranty.

Now I have 53,000+ miles and figure all the non-emissions type problems are mine.

In reply to JohnyHachi6:

How does this have any bearing to this conversation at all.......Oh wait, IT DOESN'T.

Keep us updated poop, I hope it goes well.

So,

Called at 10:15 this morning. Asked for Service Manager's name, then asked to speak to him, then left him a voicemail stating that the car had been there for almost 24 hours and I hadn't heard any news. Asked him to call back immediately.

Called back at 11:35 (5 minutes ago,) and asked to speak to the General Manager. Left him a voicemail and told him the car had been there for 24 hours and I hadn't heard anything from the service department yet.

Assuming I get a call back from either one, I'm going to tell them what I expect, and ask if they think I'm being unreasonable:

1. Rental reimbursement for as long as they have the car.

2. Reimbursement for towing.

3. New transmission.

4. Reimbursement for the unnecessary work that was performed (good call, Adrian.)

If they think any of those points are unreasonable, or I don't get a call back, then I'm going to TRY to close up early and make the 70+ mile trip down to talk face-to-face with the GM...and call Honda North America's customer service in the meantime.

Only number I've got is 1-800-999-1009. Sound right?

PS: I am a berkeleying idiot and left all my service records in the car. So I might be making the long-haul down regardless.

Also: Mentioning to Honda Corporate that I've raced Hondas, had pictures of Hondas we've built in magazines, on the cover, etc.: Good idea or Bad idea? ("Well, obviously you were RACING this car, which caused the transmission failure.") FYI: This is mama's car. Never been autocrossed. Hardly ever been run at WFO.

I don't know the answer, but here's a data point: Honda corporate knows GRM and has always been good to us. We had a run-in with a a bad dealer a few years ago, and Honda brought the hammer down on them after we called. Your mileage may vary.

I think Honda USA would be very interested to see the 30k transmission service receipts. Dealer doing something outside of manufactures recommendations? Be sure to get those and keep those.

In reply to poopshovel:

IDK, with SOA, even owning an sti with a ringland failure means you were racing it.....I wouldn't mention it personally. Just state you've owned several honda's over the years.....mention you are considering a Dodge after this experience. Should get your point across quite well.

Still no call from the dealership. I called Honda Customer Service and they've documented everything and started a case/gave me a case #. Customer Service person told me a Regional Rep. would be in touch with me by the end of the day tomorrow.

...waiting...

In the meantime, our 2-year-old is distraught that Mater (the tow truck) took away Lightning McQueen (the Fit.) She freaked when we put her in the Cruze yesterday, but now she calls it "That Funny Car." She came up with that one totally on her own.