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Honda Accord VCM

2715 messages,  Last post on Oct 23, 2012 at 6:25 PM

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What is this discussion about? Honda Accord, Transmission, Sedan

Messages Page 246 of 272

#2450 of 2715 Re: VCM Problems [hondafool] by austinman7

Jul 23, 2010 (10:17 am)

Replying to: hondafool (Jul 16, 2010 10:55 am)
hondafool,
 
I have to agree with you about the superiority of the 2003-07 generation in some respects, especially in the drivetrain. My '04 4cyl. was peppier than a current 4 cyl. and the transmission was very smooth.
 
I traded for a used '07 SE V6 with 13000 miles on it last year, and the engine is great, but the transmission doesn't shift as smoothly as I think it should. (Of course, the service dept. says it's operating normally -- I'm used to that response with today's cars.) So I'm kind of looking for something else.
 
I would be driving a '10 Accord V6 right now if it weren't for the VCM and ANC. I keep checking this thread from time to time hoping for news that Honda came to its senses and at least made VCM an option. But I can't see that ever happening. So I'll probably drift away from Honda, in spite of the fact that I still love the overall build quality and driving experience of the one I have.

#2451 of 2715 Re: VCM Problems by elliott2

Jul 23, 2010 (11:30 am)

Replying to: austinman7 (Jul 23, 2010 10:17 am)
Just dropped my 2008 Accord (VCM) off for service this morning for numerous problems. The gentleman from the dealership gave me a ride to work and gave me an earful about the problems that customers are having with the newer model Accords. He even went so far to tell me that the service dept employees joke that someone would have to be crazy to buy the current Accord based on the problems they're seeing. Also, the person at the service desk told me that she just got rid of her 2008 Accord.
 
I have to agree with the statement that the previous generation of Accords were the last good Accords.

#2452 of 2715 Re: VCM Problems [elliott2] by daneel

Jul 23, 2010 (12:53 pm)

Replying to: elliott2 (Jul 23, 2010 11:30 am)
I have a 2004 EX V-6 and a 2008 LX-P Accord, both with AT. The V-6 model has done 54,000 trouble-free miles and is still on its original Michelin tires.
The LX-P, my wife's car, has done 26,500 miles without any problems whatsoever - even the rear brakes are still in good shape, no rattles, no squeaks, no nothing. In my opinion, the 2008 LX-P is the more solid vehicle and has the same sharp driving characteristics, e.g., steering response at Interstate speeds than the EX V-6. Needless to say, the V-6 engine is silky smooth across the ref range and consistently achieves 30 - 32 mpg at Interstate speeds. The LX-P engine is not as smooth and powerful but certainly has enough grunt to keep up with every traffic situation that it has been exposed to. I am a highly satisfied Accord owner that honestly think that the cars in the 2008 - 2010 model range are better than the those from the 2003 - 2007 years.
theprofessor

#2453 of 2715 Re: VCM Problems [elliott2] by jmillerjmiller

Jul 23, 2010 (10:46 pm)

Replying to: elliott2 (Jul 23, 2010 11:30 am)
The current generation accord is missing some of the attention to detail, along with the solid engineering that was the Honda stock and trade. Add some obvious penny pinching.
 
Details like how when driving at highway speeds in heavy rain, the water gets pulled back into the field of vision on the driver side by the wiper. Or the miserable low beams of the headlights, unless you re-bulb. BTW the low beam bulbs are a PIA to change compared to the older models.
 
I have a 2008 EX-L V6 Navi. I can notice the vcm mini-shift sensation, the lag in acceleration, and I have a steering wheel shimmy at certain speeds. Also some shudder under braking. Wheels were roadforce balanced, front rotors have been turned, and so on. I basically gave up, as the dealers aren't interested in trying to fix anything that takes more than basic skill and tshooting. I'll ditch this tub for something else next year, and not look back. Till then, drive on, as is, unless it shakes itself apart or breaks.
 
Yeah, it can get good highway MPG numbers, especially using cruise control - 29, but around town I get about the same MPG as my prior Subaru Turbo - 17. MPG was not why I bought it, and I think that Honda got off track using this technology when they haven't perfected it yet.

#2454 of 2715 Re: VCM Problems by elliott2

Jul 24, 2010 (1:38 pm)

Replying to: jmillerjmiller (Jul 23, 2010 10:46 pm)
I get similar gas mileage and agree with your observations regarding the lack of attention to detail.
 
Just had the rear brakes replaced yesterday and got the royal run around from a Honda customer service rep at their 800 number. The class action lawsuit has not yet been approved by the court so they did not want to reimburse me for the brake replacement. (The Honda factory rep had warned me earlier that the rear brakes would go quickly. Apparently, the manufacturer of the brake pads did not manufacture them to spec. Instead of standing behind their product, Honda decided to stand behind their lawyers and deny the problem.)
 
To add to the fun yesterday, there was a shiny new screw (used to install new license plates) sticking out of the tread of the front passenger side tire. The service desk told me to come back today to have it repaired. It didn't occur to him that I couldn't drive home and back on a flat tire.

#2455 of 2715 Re: VCM Problems [elliott2] by jmillerjmiller

Jul 24, 2010 (5:26 pm)

Replying to: elliott2 (Jul 24, 2010 1:38 pm)
Funny about that brake suit. When I had mine in for inspection, I actually heard the service writer telling a customer about it while giving them the usual bad news that they needed brakes. This will be a case where the dealers price the settlement in, make more profit, and the buyer feels they got a break - since they only pay the difference between the max reimbursement and the repair cost.
 
Service writers have been taking up-sell classes, that's why they wanted to replace my cabin air filter at less than two years and 18K miles. Neat how being reluctant to do so got the quoted price to come down...chalk it up to the maintenance minder cutting down on routine months/miles maintenance work for the dealer.
 
I think it bothers them if someone's bill is for just state and emissions inspections. I'm probably too negative, but for me these days customer service seems to be lip service at best, or outright insults. Speaking of hating home builders.....
 
So did they claim the screw must have been in the tire when you gave it to them? Or did they pony up and do the inside patch repair and rebalance at their cost?

#2456 of 2715 Re: VCM Problems [jmillerjmiller] by elliott2

Jul 27, 2010 (3:33 am)

Replying to: jmillerjmiller (Jul 24, 2010 5:26 pm)
After I pointed out that the screw was a shiny new screw that identically matched those used by the dealership to install new license plates, they quietly fixed and re-balanced the tire. HOWEVER, the dealership came back and suggested that I needed the transmission fluid changed at 29,000. (Not sure what this has to do with the flat tire but appears to be a means for charging for something to offset the tire repair.) Politely said "no thank you" and will have it checked at another garage.
 
This car rivals the last GM car we owned as far as poor quality. This is the only car I've ever had that you could actually hear and feel the gas sloshing in the gas tank when you stop at a light or stop sign.

#2457 of 2715 Re: VCM Problems [elliott2] by jmillerjmiller

Jul 27, 2010 (10:02 pm)

Replying to: elliott2 (Jul 27, 2010 3:33 am)
Glad they fixed it. Seems like a common thing for dealers to do, if they do something gratis they try and tack something else on. Had a Chrysler with the ultradrive transmission fail at 28k, and the dealer insisted the coolant needed flushed when they were changing the trans (I had already had the coolant done at an independent shop). If you say no, you wonder what will be wrong with the other repair. Hard to trust after that.
 
Honda dealer here wanted to replace the cabin air filter and engine air filter at 2yrs 18k miles - car just needed state safety and emissions inspection (and had passed not needing anything). I was expecting rear brakes, but they said they were nowhere near worn out. If only they would chase the vibration with such vigor - but alas, it doesn't pay nearly as well.
 
I play the radio, so no fuel sloshing heard here. Also, I tend to keep the tank fairly full.

#2458 of 2715 2011 Honda Accord Coupe -- no issues with VCM by eds66

Sep 10, 2010 (7:35 pm)

Hi guys. Two days ago I purchased a new Honda (2011) Accord Coupe EX-L V6 with Navi AT. I test drove it thoroughly -- both local roads and highway -- before shelling out the money. I saw no issues during the test drive. After I handed over the check to the dealer, I came across this forum and this thread. I was petrified. For the past 2 days I've been driving the car trying to reproduce if not all then at least some of the symptoms several of you have been complaining about in this thread. Fortunately for me, I have not able to generate any of the aberrant VCM behavior so scrupulously described by numerous posters. The car drives smoothly. I feel no jitters, bucks, shimmies, or any other drive train anomalies at all. There are no road force vibrations, no pops and rattles -- yet! -- from the dash, and no sloshing sounds from the fuel tank. There is road noise, but it's not so bad, and I am pretty sure it's caused by the monstrous Michelins that Honda opted to put on the wheels. The wheels, by the way, have been changed. To me they look much nicer now -- five spokes -- and they don't extend past the rubber. This will reduce chipping and scratching in the future, I am sure.
 
Finally, I owned a 2009 Honda Accord Coupe EX-L Navi 6 speed Manual Transmission, which I sold 9 months after buying it. I liked the car, but the gearbox left much to be desired. The third gear was atrocious ( when the car was cold it was simply impossible to go from 2 to 3 without forcing it) and Honda could not do anything about it. The clutch was heavy, and the gear ratio was really weird. In fact, although the car was clearly faster off the line than my current Honda, I would bet that gear shift misses would probably negate most of the torque superiority of the 6 speed MT (at least in my case, although I've owned many MT vehicles.)
 
If any of you have any questions about my 2011 Accord, please let me know.

#2459 of 2715 Re: 2011 Honda Accord Coupe -- no issues with VCM [eds66] by jmillerjmiller

Sep 10, 2010 (9:39 pm)

Replying to: eds66 (Sep 10, 2010 7:35 pm)
Hi,
 
Glad that your car is meeting all your expectations. Four years into the new design, it would be past time for them to have fixed the teething issues that some had. As it stands for me, I'm not crossing Honda off my future list, but it is no longer a 'no brainer' to buy one.
 
When I bought mine, I discounted the advice that is/was typical for many domestic makes, which is to avoid the first model year or two of a re-design. My 2008 Accord Sedan EX-L V6 Navi was the first year of the eighth generation Accord, and to add to that the first year of the 3,4,6 VCM setup (it's been pointed out that the Odyssey had a 3,6 version) , amongst several other techno things - like the attempt at noise cancellation.
 
Basically, its an OK car, but if Honda would listen - I am not very impressed. I've owned many new cars of various makes, and I expected this one to deliver, like the subaru, toyota, I owned prior. It is a notch or two below on fit, finish, and NVH. It actually has started to feel a bit like some old domestic cars in being a bit bloated feeling (unlike those, it handles well due to the big tires and good suspension setup).

Messages Page 246 of 272

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