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Honda Civic Service Experiences

25 messages,  Last post on Nov 17, 2010 at 11:00 AM

You are in the Honda Civic Forum.

What is this discussion about? Audi, Honda, Hyundai, Car Warranties

Messages Page 1 of 3

#1 of 25 Service departments by greendoctor

Sep 04, 2006 (1:35 pm)

Everyone should post their experiences with their dealer's service department & rate them for everyone to see. Then we can all decide which location truly wants our business.
For the past 16 years, I've been changing my cars every 3 years, just before the warranty expires. Why? Because of my horrible experience with my slightly used {but no remaining factory warranty}cars, prior to my decision to buy new & dump, so I wouldn't have endure such incompetence.
During the past 16 years, I've owned 5 new cars from 5 different manufacturers{nothing domestic, thank you} & absolutely non of the service departments have impressed me enough to go make me want to either keep that vehicle or even trade it in for a new one of the same manufacture.
I know that all of the manufacturers spend so much time, money & effort into sizing-up the competition, research & development & improvements to their cars & yet It seems no-one realizes how important it is to retain their clients by offering a decent service department. Isn't that amazing?

#2 of 25 Re: Service departments [greendoctor] by wildsandpiper

Dec 03, 2006 (7:50 pm)

Replying to: greendoctor (Sep 04, 2006 1:35 pm)
I picked up my 2007 Civic few days ago. Yesterday I brought it in for them to put on the leather wheel cover (included in the price I paid). At first they told me it would take 1 hour, but I actually had to wait for 3 hours!!!
 
All they can say is "we apology!". When I asked why it took too long, the service supervisor said they had to make sure the cover fit very well to the wheel. Since we waited too long, they did send someone to give us a ride to a restaurant and then picked us up after that but still I went home, unhappy.
 
To make it worse, today I found out a white spot (small but noticeable) on one of the button on my steering wheel. The white spot looks like a scratch on the Cancel button - used for canceling the cruise control function. The spot has an arrow shape. Since I didn't discover that spot right away, I'm thinking if I should put that service department on fire or I should ignore it and never come back there again.

#3 of 25 I hear you by greendoctor

Dec 04, 2006 (11:51 am)

I know just exactly how you feel. So what is it about the car manufacturers that makes them so stupid or arrogant.
Arrogant because they think that they make the most wonderful products & that we would just sit back & take their crap.
Stupid because they go on spending so much money trying to find out what would sell better or how to improve or get you to buy their cars but would totally detach themselves from the service departments.
That makes absolutely no sense at all.
Let us all put our minds together & come-up with a solution.
Complaining to the dealership dosen't help much. One way would be to share our nagative experience with as many potencial buyers & servays as possible.

#4 of 25 Service timelines? by sramachandran

Feb 22, 2007 (12:23 pm)

Hi -
 
I bough my Honda Civic in Nov 2006. When is it due for forst service? It has 3800 miles on it.
 
Thanks.

#5 of 25 Re: Service timelines? [sramachandran] by greendoctor

Feb 22, 2007 (5:29 pm)

Replying to: sramachandran (Feb 22, 2007 12:23 pm)
Check your owners-manual. It is probably every 6000km or 3 months. The one thing you shouldn't expect is service. Once any car manufacturer gets your money you can kiss the respect goodbye.

#7 of 25 Best place to service honda/acura vehicles? by jamodi83

Feb 13, 2007 (6:13 pm)

Is it best to take the vehicles to the dealerships? Is anybody familiar with pro honda/acura repair facilities?

#8 of 25 Re: Best place to service honda/acura vehicles? [jamodi83] by tseosh

Feb 17, 2007 (11:04 am)

Replying to: jamodi83 (Feb 13, 2007 6:13 pm)
In my experience the great deals supposedly to be had from independent shops and franchise repair shops don't really exist.
 
The non-dealer shops know what the dealer charges, and will sometimes be a few dollars cheaper to get your business. But, they will likely use cheap, remanufactured and/or non-Honda parts. I made this mistake on an Accord exhaust system and still regret not spending the extra few dollars on the genuine honda parts at the dealer.
 
You really need to price shop for a specific repair to see if there is a difference in price and then decide- and I have been surprised many times to see the dealer come in the same or less expensive than the local foreign car mechanic/guru.
 
The dealer has the right tools, the service bulletins, and a level of accountability the others don't have. Compare prices, but I'd give the edge to the dealer.

#9 of 25 The Right Mechanic by sandman46

Feb 18, 2007 (10:18 am)

I think if you find the right mechanic who knows his stuff, that should also work. We've got a great Japanese mechanic really close to the house who knows his stuff and my guy within walking distance of my installation is tops. Also have used the dealer too. Been happy with both choices. Do your homework and choose wisely.
 
The Sandman

#10 of 25 I trust my local mechanic by wsustudent

Feb 19, 2007 (6:22 pm)

If you can find a good mechanic to service your Honda or Acura, I would go with them. They are considerably cheaper in my past experiences and really know what they are talking about. This is of course a biased opinion though, since I had a horrible experience recently with my local dealer, basically "guessing" with the cooling system problem I had with my car and spending my money on unnecessary repairs. (see the Honda Civic climate control system board). I took it to my mechanic and he did an excellent job diagnosing the problem for the first time, and did a head gasket, water pump, and timing belt for about $600. Called the dealer annoymously out of curiosity to see what they would charge for the same job and they wanted just over $1000. I am currently fighting the dealer for my money back for the unnecessary work they did. Like sandman46 said, just do your homework before taking it anywhere. Independent mechanics can turn out to be bogus too. Good Luck.

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