CRV - Great Car, Horrible Service

[konfuzed]

Hiya...

I have a (well had, as I'm selling it after this) 2008, 4wd CRV, that has always been serviced around the right time at a dealer bearing the logo of the manufacturer.

I have had an incident where after a service, a clip was misplaced on a coolant hose and the car subsequently broke down.

The dealer are refusing to accept any blame, say that i've had it repaired elsewhere, claim that they have informed my wife with a detailed breakdown of costs (they haven't).

I've contacted the manufacturer who have said that they have no power to do anything in this case, which surprises me as there must be some form of license to use the manufacturer's logo to represent their services.

To add insult to injury, the manager of the dealer had refused to speak to me until I was noisy in the waiting room while people are checking in their cars for servicing.

Anyway long story short, my mistake was putting faith in a manufacturer's badge and assuming that service would be backed up by reputation...

If someone is looking at a new car, out of the common Japanese brands, I would highly recommend a Toyota or a Mazda or a Mitsubishi or a Subaru after my experience, and if you must have a car that begins with H, choose a Hyundai or a Hummer.

[cooked]

Aren't they all the same?

[indothai]

Toyota is garbage..... The fact is they are all garbage. None will stand by their workmanship.

Go sue, they will give in.

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

[konfuzed]

planning on going to the OCPB... its just disgusting that there is no pride in the name, just using and abusing it...

[chiang mai]

CRV is a great vehicle and Honda is a brilliant company, have driven Honda for over twenty years including seven in a CRV. What can be said, mechanics make mistakes, that's life, kinda sad that the dealership doesn't accept responsibility but this is Thailand and weird stuff happens here sometimes, even in Honda dealerships. My advice, don't let the one incident cloud your judgement over what is a great vehicle, just go find another dealer and perhaps write a letter to Honda Bangkok.

[NanLaew]

So one botched service and the whole 6 years of dealer service is out the window? And all Honda service stations nationwide are similarly panned. And anything that Honda makes is now absolute crap?

Even if they did leave a coolant hose clip off, whoever was driving it when it 'broke down' (we assume you mean they cooked the engine), must have been ignoring the warning lights and temp gauge, no?

The car is out of warranty and they don't have to be liable for operator error.

[culicine]

Why would a coolant hose have a clip misplaced after a regular service? Is it part of a regular book service to get the coolant system serviced?

[sjonburi]

Comment from AOP in 3..2..1...

[chiang mai]

I bought a new CRV in 2005 from a dealer in CM, the first dealer promised me a firm delivery date which he he then broke via telephone thirty minutes after pocketing my deposit. It took a further three weeks to get my deposit back despite having just handed the money over an hours earlier - to get it back I threatened to stand near the door all day and tell all incoming customers that the dealer was a crook, an approach that worked well and resulted in a collection being taken up amongst staff to gather my 20K deposit.

Three years later in Phuket I complained repeatedly at service about poor petrol mileage and shoulders were shrugged. Eventually, at a come to Jesus meeting with the service manager on this very subject a girl who worked in service reception seemed to click with the issue, a giant light bulb was powered up. I was given a loaner car and told to come back the next day and the problem would be sorted - next day I found out that the gas tank had been replaced following a recall two years earlier about which I hadn't been notified, the tank it seems was prone to splitting along the top of the tank resulting in the loss of petrol whilst driving but leaving little trace of the problem when the car was parked.

So, despite those things, would I buy another Honda, absolutely yes.

[VocalNeal]

Can the OP prove it was the dealership? Was there a dealership seal on the hood/bonnet? I doubt it. That they won't take responsibility is sort of understandable as I suspect they get bogus claims all the time. 100,000km warranty and engine seizes after 50,000 because the owner has not checked the oil. This happens all the time, firstly with Volvo as they were first with that kind of coverage. It might have happened at the dealership and in the wesy if you bought the car from them and always use them they might pay for the towing repair etc. with the expectation that you would buy another car etc.

What would the OP do if he owned the dealership?

Put the clip back on, refill the radiator and carry on with your life. Just put it down to one of life's experiences.

[konfuzed]

Can the OP prove it was the dealership? Was there a dealership seal on the hood/bonnet? I doubt it. That they won't take responsibility is sort of understandable as I suspect they get bogus claims all the time. 100,000km warranty and engine seizes after 50,000 because the owner has not checked the oil. This happens all the time, firstly with Volvo as they were first with that kind of coverage. It might have happened at the dealership and in the wesy if you bought the car from them and always use them they might pay for the towing repair etc. with the expectation that you would buy another car etc.

What would the OP do if he owned the dealership?

Put the clip back on, refill the radiator and carry on with your life. Just put it down to one of life's experiences.

would love to, but unfortunately it needs a THB50,000 baht repair bill first...

yes i know its my stupid fault that i trusted the dealer, last time i make that mistake...

and its quite obvious in the original picture that the clip was left out of place after it had exited the garage as it was caked in dust that came off on your fingers, and there was no marking on the hose...

The technician at the dealership told me that they should have checked the dipstick under the clip, and around that area and that they should have seen the clip and should have fixed it.

i can't prove it wasn't repaired elsewhere aside from showing credit card statements, but that doesn't prove anything as you could have done XYZ...

[sjonburi]

Toyota is garbage..... The fact is they are all garbage. None will stand by their workmanship.

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

[Ace of Pop]

No i wont bite sjon... Honda put the Book Services on Computer and give you printouts of where it was, or was not last serviced at any true Honda Dealers all over Thailand.. just like Toyota my other fav...... So if You Nip into the B.Q Yellow place to save 50Bht they Nip Yer Balls.

[PiPiFFS]

Can the OP prove it was the dealership? Was there a dealership seal on the hood/bonnet? I doubt it. That they won't take responsibility is sort of understandable as I suspect they get bogus claims all the time. 100,000km warranty and engine seizes after 50,000 because the owner has not checked the oil. This happens all the time, firstly with Volvo as they were first with that kind of coverage. It might have happened at the dealership and in the wesy if you bought the car from them and always use them they might pay for the towing repair etc. with the expectation that you would buy another car etc.

What would the OP do if he owned the dealership?

Put the clip back on, refill the radiator and carry on with your life. Just put it down to one of life's experiences.

would love to, but unfortunately it needs a THB50,000 baht repair bill first...

yes i know its my stupid fault that i trusted the dealer, last time i make that mistake...

and its quite obvious in the original picture that the clip was left out of place after it had exited the garage as it was caked in dust that came off on your fingers, and there was no marking on the hose...

The technician at the dealership told me that they should have checked the dipstick under the clip, and around that area and that they should have seen the clip and should have fixed it.

i can't prove it wasn't repaired elsewhere aside from showing credit card statements, but that doesn't prove anything as you could have done XYZ...

I'm sorry but the 50,000 repair bill is yours and yours alone as it appears you ignored the temperature gauge and no doubt the red light warnings and just drove it till it went bang. A simple mistake to make and one so easily picked up with no real damage if you had been watching your dash

[konfuzed]

i'm sorry but i didn't ignore anything, first sign it was going wrong was the aircon went, then the power went it blew the coolant out so quickly there was nothing to do about it...

surprised that there was no engine warning light came on...

[ktm jeff]

Another nail in the Honda coffin. Why dont they either decide to go back to making good cars and bikes they made years ago , or just close up shop and let the professionals take over.

[konfuzed]

Another nail in the Honda coffin. Why dont they either decide to go back to making good cars and bikes they made years ago , or just close up shop and let the professionals take over.

Problem is they do make good cars but they just can't support it and they prostitute their brand away. Real shame.

[konfuzed]

Another update. My wide tried to take over and help me out. She accepted a technical manager offer of fix the car for free but with no warranty and it's only a temporary fix to sell it.

Technical manager phoned back later to rescind the offer and say his bosses deny it.

[NanLaew]

i'm sorry but i didn't ignore anything, first sign it was going wrong was the aircon went, then the power went it blew the coolant out so quickly there was nothing to do about it...

surprised that there was no engine warning light came on...

Back in (about) 1988, I had a Honda Accord automatic when the 'dek pump' didn't put the radiator cap back on properly after a pit stop. I got from Pattaya Klang to Sukhumvit, less than a 1 minute drive back then, when she stalled. I looked at the dashboard lights and the temp guage was already pegged all the way over. We pushed it all the way back to the gas station but a mechanic advised not to immediately refill with water or I would warp the aluminum block or head (or whatever). Went back next morning, filled her up and gingerly cranked the ignition. Voila! No problems but maybe just a slight knock when the accelerator was pressed. Sold it shortly afterwards (never mentioning the hot incident) and the car ran for years after that with the new owner. Honda make some pretty tough engines IMHO.

You must have missed that temp warning sign as it does happen quickly with the ambient temperatures over here.

[jingjoke]

Posts 18 and 19 lay out precisely why one should be wary when thinking of buying a second-hand automobile: 'it's only a temporary fix to sell it' and 'Sold it shortly afterwards (never mentioning the hot incident)' say it all.

These two are prime examples of those who would undermine the entire second-hand trade.

Caveat Emptor....

[PiPiFFS]

i'm sorry but i didn't ignore anything, first sign it was going wrong was the aircon went, then the power went it blew the coolant out so quickly there was nothing to do about it...

surprised that there was no engine warning light came on...

I'm sorry but it is a Japanese car and as such they all have various lights that would have warned you to stop and you obviously didn't hence the big repair bill. As well as lights the temp gauge will have maxed out very quickly as well. Another indication something is wrong and to stop and look. You didn't.

The mistake was with the garage initially but the blame for the damage is down to you in my opinion.Sorry

[NanLaew]

Posts 18 and 19 lay out precisely why one should be wary when thinking of buying a second-hand automobile: 'it's only a temporary fix to sell it' and 'Sold it shortly afterwards (never mentioning the hot incident)' say it all.

These two are prime examples of those who would undermine the entire second-hand trade.

Caveat Emptor....

OMG... I feel so bad now. That's despite seeing my old banger tootling around for another 5 years until the kid graduated, got married, got a job and... traded it in for something newer maybe?

"Yes, only 18,000km since new and regularly serviced. Here's the receipts. But I did boil the buggery out of the engine last summer so, tell your what, just for you, I will knock off 100k. Is that OK? Deal?" or maybe, "...just for you, if you have any engine issues, I will take it back and refund your money plus 10% for your trouble. Is that OK? Deal?"

Now, how about those that undermine the real-estate trade by selling a condo with known water or noise problem or, selling a house that has a sewage backup every rainy season or land with no legal title, or the travel agent selling you an 'awesome' ticket deal on a code-share partner airline with 30" seat pitch and a 18 hour layover in Delhi?

Caveat emptor by itself would have been sufficient. After all, it IS the used car business you are on about isn't it?

[Ace of Pop]

Yeh Stuff up a Trader if possible, but not a Private Buyer.