Honda has really screwed me over and now I’m stuck ☹️

TT89

Any advice would be welcome as I’m literally at a loose end with them. 

• I brought my car into Honda Edinburgh last Monday following a recall for passenger airbags. 
• I waited five hours to be told they needed to order a part (apparently they didn’t anticipate needing this particular part as it’s an issue with my car or something).
• They said they didn’t have a courtesy car and they couldn’t give me my keys back because it’s apparently an MOT fail, so I was left stranded 40 plus miles from my home.
• Phoned Honda customer services to try and get a hire car (Honda Edinburgh advised this), but they told us no because we didn’t meet the criteria. 
• Eight days on and my car is still at the garage because they are still waiting on this part. We were initially told 3-4 days then told it will need a few more days and I am fearful that this will go on and on. We have another car but my husband needs it to get to work so myself and small child are stranded Monday to Friday as we are very rural.
• I am looking at getting a hire car but surely I shouldn’t be out of pocket due to a manufacturing recall? Help! 

Car_54

The “MOT failure” is a red herring, unless you’re due for an MOT.
They have no power to refuse to return your car.

diystarter7

Hi

I always post very honestly and reading the title, I felt it was slightly OTT

Having read and read your post, the title warrants it

This is disgusting.  I'm assuming its a main dealer and I would have assumed you recently paid thousands to get your new car ad then they do this to you. IMO, at the very lease a taxi fare or a workers dropping you off then offering you a free loan car the day after would have been the right thing to do.

Personally, I'd seek compo via goodwill for the distress, stress and being car less so soon after buying it


We have cars from a different maker, the dealer has always been great to me - not sure if its luck or the way I speak to them but they have bee good but not to a couple of other people I know. I guess its down to who you get to talk to but please pursue compo. FYI, I'm no fan of compo, but they have messed you about as IMO, at the very least could have dropped you off/cab then day two onwards offered you a FoC laon car inc insurance if yours did not cover it.

I hope its sorted soon

I would also leave the otfit an honest and accurate TP review

Thnaks

TT89

@diystarter7
Sorry, I should have said I bought the car second hand in October last year and it’s about ten years old. Not sure what difference that makes though. 

TT89

Car_54 said:

The “MOT failure” is a red herring, unless you’re due for an MOT.
They have no power to refuse to return your car.

No it’s not due it’s MOT until October. Would it be worth phoning the police? Sounds extreme, I know but it’s technically theft as I’ve asked for my keys back. 

diystarter7

TT89 said:

@diystarter7
Sorry, I should have said I bought the car second hand in October last year and it’s about ten years old. Not sure what difference that makes though. 

Hi

Thanks. I'm assuming it was a main dealer/honda and if so, this IMO is not the kind of service you would expect from a mai dealer

Car price/age should not matter but it can influence some people.

The funny thing, my first Merc over 20 years ago was the used model but still pricy - but i got the top customer service. Then one  of  my siblings bought a brand new S class LWB. Different dealers but when we were talking re cars their car went back in several times under warranty for niggles and kept there for the whole day or days and I jest you not, they were given a Smart car as nothing else was around. It's a bit of what I said, luck of the draw and whom you speak to ask. I guess I was lucky. 

The way you have been treated is what you see on tv in a back street garage. Not say all back street garages are like that but its the stories i used yo hear when younger.

Anyway, good luck and if you wish, update us with the good news/outcomes/etc

Thnaks

baser999

If the car was booked in byway of a recall, why did the dealer not have the part already there before pulling it apart? Being told they’d not anticipated a particular part being needed is inexcusable, they should have had parts available to cover all contingencies

DullGreyGuy

TT89 said:

Car_54 said:

The “MOT failure” is a red herring, unless you’re due for an MOT.
They have no power to refuse to return your car.

No it’s not due it’s MOT until October. Would it be worth phoning the police? Sounds extreme, I know but it’s technically theft as I’ve asked for my keys back. 

Here you get into the catch22 or pit pro quo 

They dont have rights to refuse to return your vehicle but they are perfectly entitled to report you to the police for driving an unsafe vehicle which is unrelated to if you happen to have a valid MOT or not. 

Having had a failed airbag the issue was that they are considered explosives and so tend to be transported by land rather than air making it much longer to get in. Record keeping, particularly on a 10 year old vehicle, isnt perfect so you cannot expect them to know with certainty that you still have the original airbag to be able to pre-order it before they get you in.

Personally, the issue here was allowing it to go in before they confirmed they had a courtesy car you could take. 

Grey_Critic

IF the problem is with the Airbag - A SAFETY ITEM - and the required part is for that then the dealer cannot hand the car back with a non functioning - Non operating airbag. Yes it would be an MOT failure but it would also be illegal for them to hand the car back in the circumstances.

You should not, under the rules applicable to Safety Recalls have to do anything - It is the dealer who should be talking with the manufacturer. Go back to the Dealer Principle

TT89

DullGreyGuy said:

TT89 said:

Car_54 said:

The “MOT failure” is a red herring, unless you’re due for an MOT.
They have no power to refuse to return your car.

No it’s not due it’s MOT until October. Would it be worth phoning the police? Sounds extreme, I know but it’s technically theft as I’ve asked for my keys back. 

Here you get into the catch22 or pit pro quo 

They dont have rights to refuse to return your vehicle but they are perfectly entitled to report you to the police for driving an unsafe vehicle which is unrelated to if you happen to have a valid MOT or not. 

Having had a failed airbag the issue was that they are considered explosives and so tend to be transported by land rather than air making it much longer to get in. Record keeping, particularly on a 10 year old vehicle, isnt perfect so you cannot expect them to know with certainty that you still have the original airbag to be able to pre-order it before they get you in.

Personally, the issue here was allowing it to go in before they confirmed they had a courtesy car you could take. 

The letter said the work would take approximately an hour so I expected to be able to drive my car back hence so courtesy car booked. I will never take a car in for recalls again, especially an old one. 

Grey_Critic

TT89 said:

The letter said the work would take approximately an hour so I expected to be able to drive my car back hence so courtesy car booked. I will never take a car in for recalls again, especially an old one. 

Under normal circumstances the recall would be done and on your way. the problem arises when another part fails whilst they are doing the job and they need to order a new part -  It is quite likely that the part has immobilised the vehicle which is why you cannot bring it back another day.

Depending how busy the workshop is they probably did not have a technician available to do the job straight away - not being facetious but they do not have mechanics stood around - You are booked for 8.30am and don’t turn up until 9.00am the mechanic needs to be doing something productive. That will throw your job back until a technician becomes available