Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Need advice on 2003 Honda Accord that engine died

james t kirk · 01-09-2004, 11:54 AM

I need some advice from the peanut gallery.

A very good friend of mine just bought (Nov. 18) a 2003 Honda Accord. Car was purchased BRAND NEW from a Honda dealer.

At 3,700 km, the engine quits on her.

Turns out there is no oil, or very little oil in the engine. It either leaked out, burned out, or was never there in the first place.

3,700 km. (Yes, three thousand seven hundred kilometres)

Car had to be towed back to the dealer where they say they can't figure it out. No sign of a leak.

Anyway, they fill up the engine with oil and tell her it's good to go. Just keep an eye on it.

Yeah right.

Anyone who knows cars will know that after about 10 seconds without oil, your bearings start to score.

Anyway, they tell her that if they have to, they will put a new engine in the car for her.

She's not stupid, so she tells them forget it, I want a new car. I just didn't lay out 35 grand for this shit. (Rightfully so.)

She calls me, blah blah blah.

I tell her, look, any car who's engine runs out of oil, the engine is done. Not only that, the car is BRAND NEW. A car with a replacement engine is never worth as much as a car with the original engine (In most cases.) None of us would probably want to buy a car where the engine is not original unless it is really cheap. God only knows if it is a new engine or a 0 time rebuild, whatever for that matter.

Anyway, the dealer gets abusive with her and tells her that they are NOT going to give her a new car. Start giving her the old three on one you're wrong treatment.

Well, she calls a few other people in the trade she knows and they all say the same thing. Get a new car.

I tell her to start keeping a journal, but call up Honda Canada.

She calls Honda Canada today and they tell her to get stuffed, they are not giving her a new car. At most, she will get a "new engine"

Suffice it to say, she is going to take this one to the the mattresses.

My question to the peanut gallery is:

Does anyone out there have any advice?

Any lawyer recommendations?

Any knowledge of government legislation to protect consumers?

I am quite surprised at Honda Canada. I had always thought that Honda was a little more consumer oriented than this crap.

The guy she spoke to at Honda Canada (after going up the food chain) would not identify his last name. (What is that all about??)

Makes you wonder.

01-09-2004, 11:54 AM	#1 (permalink)
james t kirk Junkie Location: Toronto	Need advice on 2003 Honda Accord that engine died - Brand NEW I need some advice from the peanut gallery. A very good friend of mine just bought (Nov. 18) a 2003 Honda Accord. Car was purchased BRAND NEW from a Honda dealer. At 3,700 km, the engine quits on her. Turns out there is no oil, or very little oil in the engine. It either leaked out, burned out, or was never there in the first place. 3,700 km. (Yes, three thousand seven hundred kilometres) Car had to be towed back to the dealer where they say they can't figure it out. No sign of a leak. Anyway, they fill up the engine with oil and tell her it's good to go. Just keep an eye on it. Yeah right. Anyone who knows cars will know that after about 10 seconds without oil, your bearings start to score. Anyway, they tell her that if they have to, they will put a new engine in the car for her. She's not stupid, so she tells them forget it, I want a new car. I just didn't lay out 35 grand for this shit. (Rightfully so.) She calls me, blah blah blah. I tell her, look, any car who's engine runs out of oil, the engine is done. Not only that, the car is BRAND NEW. A car with a replacement engine is never worth as much as a car with the original engine (In most cases.) None of us would probably want to buy a car where the engine is not original unless it is really cheap. God only knows if it is a new engine or a 0 time rebuild, whatever for that matter. Anyway, the dealer gets abusive with her and tells her that they are NOT going to give her a new car. Start giving her the old three on one you're wrong treatment. Well, she calls a few other people in the trade she knows and they all say the same thing. Get a new car. I tell her to start keeping a journal, but call up Honda Canada. She calls Honda Canada today and they tell her to get stuffed, they are not giving her a new car. At most, she will get a "new engine" Suffice it to say, she is going to take this one to the the mattresses. My question to the peanut gallery is: Does anyone out there have any advice? Any lawyer recommendations? Any knowledge of government legislation to protect consumers? I am quite surprised at Honda Canada. I had always thought that Honda was a little more consumer oriented than this crap. The guy she spoke to at Honda Canada (after going up the food chain) would not identify his last name. (What is that all about??) Makes you wonder. Last edited by james t kirk; 01-09-2004 at 12:05 PM..