Faulty Brand New Honda Civic 1.6 i Detc & Can I demand a replacement?

Iceweasel

Is this your first new car?

Did you think that buying a new car meant that there would be no faults?

force_ten

this is why cars come with a three year warranty, so you can spend three years of running back and fore to the dealers getting all the faults and niggles sorted, and at three year old when the car is sorted we trade it in and start the whole process again :rotfl:

Iceweasel

Ho ho - it's also why I now buy a car at 2 years old for approx half of it's price when new - keep it for 3 years then buy another 2 year old.

I get 12 months warranty and then extend it.

My current car had a fault - the spring on the ash-tray lid failed - but it was replaced without a murmur at no cost to me.

Now if it was to fail again in the next few weeks, should I be rejecting the car and ask for my money back - I've only driven 8,500 miles in it in the last 5 months. I expected to have trouble-free motoring.

Snowshine - I think the Honda dealer is doing very well by you - you have nothing to complain about at the moment.

force_ten

Iceweasel wrote: »

Ho ho - it's also why I now buy a car at 2 years old for approx half of it's price when new - keep it for 3 years then buy another 2 year old.

I get 12 months warranty and then extend it.

My current car had a fault - the spring on the ash-tray lid failed - but it was replaced without a murmur at no cost to me.

Now if it was to fail again in the next few weeks, should I be rejecting the car and ask for my money back - I've only driven 8,500 miles in it in the last 5 months. I expected to have trouble-free motoring.

I would have written to the dealer and rejected the car because that is totally unacceptable on a nearly new car :rotfl:

snowshine

Iceweasel wrote: »

Is this your first new car?

No, I have had 4 new cars previously:
A Vauxhall Astra Followed by Honda Civic, A Honda Accord and Audi A4.

I did not have any problem in the last 27 years with new cars.

I would have written to the dealer and rejected the car because that is totally unacceptable on a nearly new car

I do not know my rights with regard to ...my position though?

My car has no previous owners nor an Ex Demo. I am told off for calling my car a new car!!

I am not a mechanic or do not know to identify where the problem lurks in my car. I could guide the guys at the dealer to put it right [repair]under guarantee and had my car by now, I suppose. I am a customer like another to that matter, bought one with no owner to be trouble free but bought myself trouble!!

I am writing this here for those just joined the thread to understand my circumstances & please those posted earlier to this thread -don't get 'Annoyed'
Regards

AdrianC

snowshine wrote: »

I do not know my rights with regard to ...my position though?

Simple. Any goods sold have to be fit for purpose. If they aren't, then the first resolution is for the retailer to repair them - which is exactly what they're doing. If they can't, or won't, then - and only then - do you have the right to reject.

Repeated failed attempts to repair may count as "can't". But you ain't anywhere CLOSE to that yet.

The warranty on your new car goes way beyond SOGA rights. You're still comfortably within your warranty, and nowhere near SOGA.

My car has no previous owners nor an Ex Demo. I am told off for calling my car a new car!!

No, people are wondering why you keep referring to it as a "supposedly" new car.

Ultrasonic

snowshine wrote: »

There is no further progress. I've heard nothing since Wednesday evening.

I'd phone them first thing Monday for an update, and hurry them up a bit if appropriate.

Do you have a courtesy car in the meantime?

snowshine

Ultrasonic wrote: »

Do you have a courtesy car in the meantime?

Yes, I have been given a Honda Jass.


Regards

llllllllllllllllllllll

Hi

I am new to the forum so hi everyone, I just seen this thread and thought I would share my pennies worth.

First the car, and fault, AdrianC is bang on the money on this, and with my experience I know almost 99.9% that the fault with your car is NOT the MAP sensor, for 2 to go down within such a small period of time is not impossible....but almost, what also points me to think its not the map sensor is that it is putting various warning lights on.

This is how it would of happened, car came in to honda dealer for repair, a technician would of hooked it up to obd(on board diagnosis)

This would of pointed to a map sensor, usual garage crap takes the obd for granted and doesnt look further into the system replace map sensor, this would include clearing the fault memory too,
without getting too complex and trying to keep it laymans level, the map like Adrian said takes a lot of different variables from ecu's around the vehicle, ambient temp, engine temp, engine speed etc one hiccup from any of these and it will throw the light on, which like kids the ecu's would argue and say its the map's fault...when it isnt...if that makes sense.

Judging by the length of time they have had the vehicle and again this is coming from experience, they have not found the fault with your car, I would guess that a master tech is now looking at the vehicle scratching his head, and I would put money on there being more than 60 miles on the car when you get it back.

Why are they being reluctant to give you the car back? they know that they are on 3 strikes and your out, it gets very difficult for a dealer to refuse a rejection after 3 times with the same fault, 3 times will stand in court too. If you get your car back and the light comes on pointing at a non faulty map sensor again the car will not be fit for purpose.

One thing you did mention is that the car is on finance, so sorry to say the car does not belong to you so rejection can be a little bit of a pain in the backside, like others have said first port of call is Honda UK, set up a case and insist they sort the issue, let them know that you will give them this last chance and if the light comes on again you will reject the car, if you do manage to get your car back and the light comes on again then to reject the car is to take it to the selling dealer, hand over the keys and give them a letter explaining why you are rejecting the car, and walk away, in the letter give them 10-14 days to resolve the issue, if after 10-14 days they have not resolved it write another letter of intention of court proceedings again 10-14days...also keep the finance company in the loop too, they will to try and stop you rejecting the car..especially HFS (Honda Financial Services), if this is the case you will need to write to the Financial Services Ombudsman explaining everything.

And never stop paying the finance whilst this is all happening, you will shoot yourself in the foot doing this, I would also recommend that the fault is causing social problems, never mention financial problems at all, the only finances I would talk of is what the faulty car has cost you in taxis, hire cars, etc etc for compensation reasons only, do not give them any reason to think you are finding it difficult to make repayments.

For social reasons ie:-

I have to drive down Mad axemans country lane at 11pm in the evening on my own and I do not feel safe in a car that I cant trust, as it could breakdown and I would be stranded all alone

Also mention to Honda UK you will be going to your local papers...the beauty of press is that all car manufacturers crap a brick when it comes to press, they will almost certainly step in and override the franchised dealers decision, Why?
Lets say 100,000 read the paper, 1000 are about to buy a new car, 100 of which are going to buy Honda, your story about a faulty new honda puts 10 people off buying a £20,000 from them..Do you really think Honda would want:-

a: Their name being in the papers for selling faulty cars
b:Lose £200,000 in revenue and a guesstimated loss of 10 new customers, for the sake of you wanting to reject.

Remember no Manufacturer wants to go into the court room, look what the press did to Toyota's reputation with a sticking accelerator pedal...they killed it overnight.
People get scared and worried like you are about trying to fight these big manufacturers, dont be worried, give them this final chance to get it right then they know you have a very strong case that the vehicle has failed 3 times within a 4mth period, in the eyes if the law you have given them plenty of opportunity to get it right

Hope this helps and dont worry, it could be worse, I know of a honda that covered 7miles and burst into flames.

snowshine

llllllllllllllllllllll wrote: »

That is very much appreciated. You've taken so much of your time to put the situation and ways I could go about. Very much thankful from the bottom of my heart.


Regards