Just under 2 years ago, I purchased a used Honda Civic from a main dealer, the car being then only about 6 months old and is now still under warranty. Because the car was for my wife to ferry children about, I asked the dealer if he was sure that the car hadn't had any accidents, which he assured me it hadn't.
Two years later, the paint starts peeling off the front bumber and front wing. I know Honda usually replace such damaged bumpers on these cars, but it seems that this one hadn't been replaced, but resprayed, along with the front wing. You would have thought that the main dealer who sold it to me would have noticed - especially as I paid nearly £200 for them to apply Supaguard paint protection.
Now the main dealer has gone bust and Honda tell me, if this happens, the dealer (or administrator) keeps all records of the cars and Honda have no records.
I tracked the original dealer for the vehicle when new to Glasgow, who tell me (and its news to me) that they sold the car to Enterprise Rent-a-Car, who I've also spoken to and who also keep no records.
So, as Honda take no responsibility for the actions of their dealers (legally "agents"?) - and even suggested that it was possible that I caused the damage - it looks like I'm going to have to fork out for a replacement bumper, respraying the wing, and still have a car that's been in an accident.
Oh, they did offer to contribute £40 to the cost of the repair in their workshop - probably less than their profit on the job.
Am I stuffed again? Other than taking a muck spreader to the HQ in Langley, any suggestions anyone?
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Afraid you are stuffed - buying a used car from anyone implies a certain amount of "sold as seen". Even if you have the "never had a shunt" in writing it would be difficult to prove that you were deliverately misled.
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AFAIK some big car rental companies do not insure their own cars for accident damage, they pay out full price for repairs if cars are damaged. So it may have had a less thorough repair done than it would have had at a Honda dealer. And that could explain a genuine lack of knowledge of an accident repair when you bought it.
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Honda may well not have even known about the accident. Enterprise and the such use independent bodyshops most of the time to do repairs - one of my clients is one such place and he does lots of work for the rental companies, as far as I can tell most are not even done through insurance and as such are done to a very (cough) competitive price!
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Two years later, the paint starts peeling off the front bumber and front wing.
You would have thought that the main dealer who sold it to me would have noticed
Now as you have had the car for two years and have only just noticed the problem, how do you expect the dealer to have noticed two years ago?
If you had bought the car new, you could dump some responsibility on Honda. You have however bought a second hand car from Jo Bloggs, who happened to be a Honda dealer for new cars. Your legal redress is with Jo Bloggs because it was second hand. Alas Joe bloggs is no more so You are stuffed I am afraid.
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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Would the car not have a paint warranty from new? OK, I know it wouldn't apply if the car had been repaired outside the Honda network, but I would have expected Honda to sort this out amicably as it was supplied by one of their dealers.
I realise that they have no legal liability as they don't own the dealer, but Honda's are largely bought on the reputation of the brand - if there's no security in buying a car from a franchised dealer then let's all buy our cars from car supermarkets, use specialists for servicing and put the dealers out of business..
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i read some piffle on here-----------
car was s/h, new owner could have had an auto inspection on it ,he didnt and now the paints falling off
and its hondas fault? why not blame the the man in the moon its his fault as well surely?
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i read some piffle on here----------- car was s/h, new owner could have had an auto inspection on it ,he didnt and now the paints falling off and its hondas fault? why not blame the the man in the moon its his fault as well surely?
From Honda's website: "Find yourself an Approved Used Honda - they're as good as a new one"
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i why not blame the the man in the moon its his fault as well surely?
Don't get me started on that guy. >:-(
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Oldman, it's not "piffle" actually, but a serious issue that questions the value of buying from a mian dealer and paying the premium that this involves.
If I authorise a company to sell under my brand - in this case, Honda's - that normally implies agency through franchise.
The dealer did their own inspection / PDI, which reported no such problem or repair.
Unless, or course, I'm stupid for not knowing that main dealers usually lie as much as dodgy independents are reputed to.
The point is, is there any benefit from paying extra to buy from a mian dealer for "peace of mind". In this case, buying a used vehicle from a main Honda dealer, it seems not.
All I'm asking is that the people who take the profit take some responsibility. In this case, it seems that is too much to ask, and I won't be buying from a Honda main dealer again.
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Would the car not have a paint warranty from new
Yes
know it wouldn't apply if the car had been repaired outside the Honda network,
It has, by a car hire company, in their own workshop to not very high standards. Hence the paint warranty (and body) is null and void.
The irony of all this is, is that probably Honda sold the cars to the car hire firm with a guarantee to buy them all back at xxxx price to put throught he approved dealer network as second hand, All the delear knew was he took a couple of car transporters worth of "approved used hondas" to sell. How is he supposed to now it had had a knock if it was a clever repair?
Or there was a closed auction (open only to honda dealers) where honda UK sold a few hunred cars they had leased short term to the car hire firm,
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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IMO if you buy second hand, you take a risk, whether from a dealer or a car supermarket, so you might as well go for the cheapest (which is not always the supermarket BTW). You can't expect the dealer to know what has happened to a car that has been out of his hands for 6 months, if it's been repaired and looks as good as new when it comes back to him, no more than you would expect a car supermarket to know the same.
AFAIK most body shops, including reputable ones, only give 12 months warranty on repair work anyhow.
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what happens to the paint warranty?.......
if in this case a Honda Dealer sells a car to a customer, who presumes the 6 month old car being bought from a main dealer is covered by the warranty...
but.....
because the dealer has bought a car from a hire car company that has done a dodgy repair, it has invalidated it....this should not mean this is the end of Hondas' responsibility.....why was this car for sALE ON A honda dealer's forecourt in the first place.
the customer sees a big Honda sign outside the dealers' premises and presumes 'Paint Warranty' if i buy from here.... and a load more... such as reputable company, customer service, etc,etc
the fact that Joe Bloggs Honda has now gone bust should not mean that Honda do not have some responsibility to look after the customer, because otherwise, as stated above what would be the point of buying from a main dealer?
we, the customer, expect main dealers to have integrity, higher standards and to be buying a more quality product, with meaningful back up....that is why we are willing to pay more........if this is not the case, then the consumer really is 'up the spout'.
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There comes a time when you are totally helpless. no one is going to give you any joy. If the car has had an accident and you are unhappy with the safety aspect then you must bite the bullet and change for another car.
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I could be wrong but I think the paint warranty would have expired by now even if he had bought the car new, so I doubt it would stand under the current situation...
Blue
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I tend to agree with westpig the only caveat being whether th car had dealer history (either before it was sold by the dealer of after the OP bought it) so was inspected which could have picked up a deficient repair.
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Honda has a 3 year paint warranty, separate from the 6 year perforation warranty. I'd start with Hondas warranty fulfillment . If Honda wish to regain cost of putting right a sub-standard repair by a 3rd party, thats up to them. In the meantime, unless out of time, the warranty is supposed to be a Honda call. Dealers can spot a respray a mile off: the average buyer cannot.
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Were all the steps taken that needed to be to keep the warranty intact?
Regular dealer inspections etc?
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