| BellTeck |
I have a post under this board in a different spot but I wanted to make sure everyone reads this and checks thier MDX for an oil leak ( Right front underside - look at the oil pan and make sure there is no drips ) - sweet and simple .. my MDX is in the shop gettin a new motor put in it .. only 4000 miles on it.
Ive been out of my MDX for 15 days now and the Acura Cust care guy for my state offered me the extended warranty free for my troubles.. I told the guy that I am moving ahead with the lemon law for this state and that I will take it into consideration what has been offered so far. I am also going to go through the BBB Auto line as the warranties book says to.
What would you do if you were in my situation?
This will list my experience with my MDX sofar and I hope this helps anyone in deciding on buying a vehicle right now. :confused: |
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| ghm2112 |
Teck:
Sounds horrible! Just make sure it is actually a new engine.
As for me, unless the offer of extended warranty is intended to be some sort of bribe to keep you from persuing the BBB and lemon law mechanisms, I'd say 'thank you very much and why don't you fix the Thud (and figure a fix for the weeping mirrors) while you're at it.' IMO, they also should be paying for a replacement rental car.
If the offer is meant to dissuade you from holding their feet to the fire... well...:mad: |
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| JNanas |
I think I'd pursue a new vehicle - and possibly visit a lawyer to see what your rights are. After 4k miles, I'd hate the thought of a new engine in the vehicle (if it really is that - sounds more like they're doing a rebuild - otherwise, slapping a new engine in there shouldn't take that long).
Either way - people on this board have received that extended warranty for around $1k, meaning the cost to Acura is much less - not exactly fair reimbursement for what you've gone through. |
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| TheWorm |
BellTeck --
Do a quick search for engine and also check out the engine ping/rattle thread.
Someone else had a low-mileage MDX that blew a cylinder and needed a new engine. He got some sort of deal from Acura Corporate but hasn't posted details online - probably due to the gag order you have to sign. PM/email him and maybe he'll give you some advice.
Good luck. |
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| BellTeck |
:) Thank you all for your reply's .. especially you worm .. I did find the post ... although it was very general about the satisfied acura customer that was going thru a motor problem/ replacement.
Your right, he did not say what they did to make him happy .. I did email him but im not sure if I will get a reply.
To all .. I felt the same way about the warranty .. like the rep was trying to make me a satisfied customer with that but I told him point blank that I would rather have a MDX without any major problems even more than an extended warranty. They did supply me with a rental car free of charge ( on my 4th one - enterprise sux ) but ive made so many trips to the dealer, had to take time off work, phone calls, paperwork, and not to mention the stress of knowing you have a very expensive BROKE truck.
Im going to start the BBB right now and I have the letter ready to go to Acura tomorrow morning. The TV thing was sure on my mind ... they have a nasty news channel down here that loves to offer legal advise over the air. Mybe I'll call the rep and ask him to be on TV with me .. im sure he'd love that.
again thanks for the reply's , I will update the progress for those who are interested and those who may have to deal with this ( god help you if you do ) yourself.
Teck! |
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| BellTeck |
oops..almost forgot...
does anyone know of anyone else who has been offered some kind of compensation from acura for a repair situation?
Teck! |
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| johnnyreb |
how an oil leak could cause an engine to need replacing unless you lost all the oil or they forgot to replace the oil when you had it changed. Was this what happened? Did the engine seize up? Did you get any warning at all? Why exactly did the dealer say you needed a new engine? I'm just curious. Anyway I wish you good luck in your quest for justice.
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| BellTeck |
Jreb ,
No I did not lose all the oil in the truck and infact it was a very very small leak .. maybe a dime size drop on the floor each day or two. ( Still not what I want out of my brand new SUV ) The dealer replaced the oil pump pan and gasket and it still leaked .. the engine replacement was per the Acura Tech help line that they call.
I just got a call from the dealer ( weird ) and he told me that they have the new engine in and running. said they were going to put the computer on it and make sure it has no problems.
AND FOR THE RECORD: He told me they replaced the lower housing ( crank case and complete lower engine assembly ) but used my original heads etc.. Im not sure what to think about this but im to the point where I just dont care anymore .. the entire experience has been terrible. The truck will have to pass my inspection when I get it back in a day or two .. unless something else happens ( just my luck ). :confused:
Will update more when I hear.
Teck! |
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| JNanas |
Bellteck-
That's not a new engine then - they basically rebuilt your engine with some new parts.
The leak they mentioned might not have been severe on the outside, but could have been a crack in the housing that would have caused total engine failure sooner or later.
If you're content with the rebuild and the extended warranty, then you're fine. I'd still try and get them to throw something else in for your time and efforts (how about some freebie dealer installed options? - still cheap for them to pay, but would be of considerable cost to you if you wanted to purchase them yourself). |
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| BellTeck |
Your correct , its not a new engine.
I just called the BBB auto line and started a case with them also. this will take a couple of days to go through as I have to fill out forms they send me and then send them back.
As far as keeping the ext warr and asking for options ... I would have to ask for the rear spoiler, wood shift knob, trailer hitch, and fender flares. :rolleyes:
opt #2 - demand a new MDX under the lemon law. :D
opt #3 - Sell it and get somehting else :(
TECK! |
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| Crem de la SUV |
Option #2 is very much the best way to go. The state laws differ, but we are talking about a full refund here, sales tax, registration fees, everything. I did it last year with my Isuzu Trooper (nice truck, inept service). I wholly recommend taking that route if you qualify under the law.
If you present Acura corporate with this, they may be willing to extend your warrantee to 100K miles, anyway. |
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| johnnyreb |
I'd go for option 2 or 3. I'd be damned if I'd start out with a new car with a partially rebuilt engine whether they gave me an extended warranty or all the options they had to offer. Let them fix it and sell it as a used car. If they did, I don't believe many people would be interested in a used car with a partially rebuilt engine for over $30,000 when they could get a new one. Why should you be saddled with something you paid good money for without at least having the enjoyment of an engine that is as new as the rest of the car. I don't see where the problem should be yours. I honestly think that Acura owes you a brand new MDX since you did not cause the problem with the engine. We are not talking about a minor defect here. Of course you should do what you consider is best for you. This is just my opinion. Acura sold you a lemon. If they want to fix it that's fine. Let them have the aggravation of trying to resell it or using it as a demo and then trying to resell it.
Regards,
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| JNanas |
| Outright selling would be a hell of a loss, economically. I'd focus on the other two options, and keep #3 as a distant third. |
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| BellTeck |
I agree .. a sale of the truck would be a major loss ...
Maybe I could just set up a meeting with my acura rep and the channel 7 news team for an interview so we can give the rest of south florida a heads up on this problem. ;) |
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| Redwing |
I don't know how impatient you are, but with what you've already gone through, I'd take the current vehicle and force their hand for extended warranty, routine maint, and options. You'll be further ahead and they'll likely treat you well. If you go the lemon route, you might get the money back, but then no MDX.
I think you need to decide if this is emotional or rational. Rational says keep the vehicle. Emotional says lemon.
Good luck - go with your gut! |
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| tdnone |
quote:
Originally posted by BellTeck
Your correct , its not a new engine.
I just called the BBB auto line and started a case with them also. this will take a couple of days to go through as I have to fill out forms they send me and then send them back.
As far as keeping the ext warr and asking for options ... I would have to ask for the rear spoiler, wood shift knob, trailer hitch, and fender flares. :rolleyes:
opt #2 - demand a new MDX under the lemon law. :D
opt #3 - Sell it and get somehting else :(
TECK!
Teck,
I would suggest you do consult with an attorney about lemon law before starting any PR things since once you are on that road, it may become a legal battle and you are handicap of not knowing enough legal maneuvering on your side, going alone. Just a letter from a lawyer (may cost you some bucks) but will greatly enhance your position of bargaining from strength, whatever options you will choose.
Good lucks and keep us informed. |
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| JNanas |
Redwing-
I agree - except I think that the engine being rebuilt bothering him is not so much emotional, but logical. Logic dictates that the rebuilt engine should be inherently less reliable than a new engine (hence the reason all remanufactured or factory conditioned items must be labeled as such and not sold as new).
I'm with TDnone - I'd see a lawyer. A letter might cost you a few bucks (~$150 or so?) - and you can call one and ask the cost first, without paying anything. When dealing with a $40k+ car, it pays to have someone with a strong knowledge of the law behind you.
My gut feeling - show them you mean business (with an attorney, or serious public exposure) and they'll talk turkey back. The extended warranty is NOT acceptable, given how much time, effort and grief this has caused you. |
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| BellTeck |
Redwing - Unfortunately I dont have the time to be emotional about all that has happened sofar. My mind has been more on my union and company agreeing on a contract by this friday at midnight or it will be strike time.
I will admit I dont like the fact that my new truck will have a rebuilt engine in it.
I dont like the fact that my dealer told me the truck would be ready last thursday,friday,monday,today,and now tomorrow or thursday.
I dont like the fact that my dealer told me they are having problems getting my brand new motor out of my brand new truck
What can I do? Im at the mercy of the dealer and the manufacturer. My choices have been listed and im just playing it by ear. I have done everything that the warranty book says to do as far as the BBB Auto line and Lemon Law is concerned. I have been offered an extended warranty for my hardship and in the eyes of the manufacturer, this is ample compensation
Your all right ... im not a lawyer and I dont know all the laws involved. I do know that I have certain rights as a consumer and it is an option to get a lawyer. I want to give Acura a chance to step up to bat and do the right thing and if that does not work then I will take an alternate action at that time.
Emotional? no .... out of my truck for more than 1/2 a month and on my 4th rental car while getting limited information from my dealer and a brand new truck with a rebuilt engine back. yea.
So you think if I went the lemon law route that they would give me a refund instead of another truck? I love my truck dont get me wrong.. but im no fool when it comes to business and backing up your product.
Sorry for the rant and thank you all for your reply's .. this is one of the best forums ive been to.
TECK! |
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| JNanas |
BellTeck-
I hate having to go the lawyer route, but I think it's your best option right now, if you want a quick and satisfying resolution to your problem.
What exactly you're due via the Lemon Law depends on your state, status of the vehicle (nature of the failure) and other intangibles that neither I nor most of the posters on this board could tell you.
I admire your resolve to wait for Acura to come to the plate - but at this point, I'd call the lawyer just to see what Plan B would be should they decide not to do so. At a bare minimum, it would cut down your waiting time.
My guess - and I hate the fact that the world works this way - they'll jerk you around for awhile, but once they see you mean business and have hired representation, they will go out of their way to accomodate you, both because of the lemon law and because they don't want to further damage their reputation.
I'd say a new truck is in order - you went 4k miles - that's not enough to merit a rebuilt engine. If you had 40k miles, it would be a different story entirely. But like I said - I'm speculating - if you want exact answers, hire someone who knows them.
If you consider it's a $40k investment being jeopardized, it's not even an option to wait any longer.
Good luck,
-John |
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| BellTeck |
Thanks John,
I called Acura's Cust Svc line today and asked for the District Manager to call me back. Again, I want to give Acura a chance to do the right thing.
Im not out to ruin or tarnish the reputation of Acura or the MDX. It really is an awesome automobile but I do feel I have certain rights and in this situation deserve a new vehicle.
Like I said before .. Im more focused on my job right now but hopefully that will all be ratified by this weekend and next week i can devote more time and energy to the situation with my truck.
I really hope Acura reads these boards .. I think this is the best idea for fedback I have ever seen. If they do read it... Robert (Acura dist manager), you'll have to call me at my office today.
TECK! |
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| BellTeck |
I just got my call back from Acura ...
Looks like I will be seeking legal representation as they feel " the extra warranty is ample compensation for this " and " that this is why we have warranties."
Along with legal representation, I feel a call or letter to the local news station and newspaper is in line also.
Very disappointed in Acura ... Looks like customer satisfaction is not thier #1 goal.
TECK! |
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| JNanas |
BellTeck-
I'm very sorry to hear that - good luck with your complaint.
Tell them to take a good hard look at this and the Edmunds forums - you'll see quite a few customers who have shied away (and I'm on the fence right now) from Acura because of some dubious customer service practices.
Best of luck,
-John |
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| BellTeck |
I got a call from my dealers service department today and he told me he would deliver my truck back to me tomorrow after an 18 day stay and a rebuilt engine.
I got another call tonight from my dealer asking me if the service that was done on my truck was to my satisfaction. I told the girl NO and she asked what they can do to make it right. I told her she can exchange my truck for a new one. ( she laughed ) I told her if she actually read the repair bill she would know that I was not kidding. She appologized and told me she would have someone call me back tomorrow. I then told the girl I dont even have my truck back so I dont know what they are even calling me for. ( shows how screwed up Esserman Acura is )
I called Acura's customer service department and asked for my state rep's email address .. they told me he didnt have one. I told Acura this is the year 2001 ... high school children have email address's .. I thought acura was a major corporation? They told me there is no email but she gave me a fax #. What BULL!!!
So anyway , I will find an Acura Email address somewhere and CC every magazine that did a review on the MDX along with some local news papers. I will then print the Email and FAX it to the 1980's company Acura Customer Support - Attention BOB Gibbins. I feel I need to let other consumers know what they are getting into before they decide to purchase an Acura MDX. I wish someone would have done this for me.
TECK! |
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| BellTeck |
Geez and they told me they just rebuilt the engine :confused:
The good thing is this fixed the THUD problem !!! |
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| BellTeck |
A junior mechanic brought my truck back to me today to my office. It was raining so I invited him in while I looked at the paperwork. It said very basic very general things and listed few parts and a couple kits. I told the guy that the return invoice date said 7/31/01 and today was 8/2/01 and the milage was not filled in - for these reasons I would not sign the document. I made a statement saying I guess if I dont sign this you wont give me my truck back will you .. he said no.
The rain slowed up a bit so we went outside. I started to inspect the outside of the truck for scratches all the way around but its hard to tell when the truck is soaked. I started the truck up and then turned it off and opened the hood up. within a minute I noticed a wire hanging down on the left side by the transmission. I asked the mechanic if this wire had to do with the operation of this truck and he responded yes. I told him that he needs to return the truck to the dealer and get this repaired.
Before he left I took the keys again and told him I wanted to see something. I started the truck up and noticed the odometer said 5012 Miles. I told the mechanic when they took the truck it had 4500-no more than 4600 miles on it. I told the mechanic either:
1) someone drove my truck to keywest
2) The service manager drove it home everyday for the last 2 weeks
3) someone took an extended trip
4) the dealership let customers test drive it
He said he did not know anything about it. So he took the truck back.
I called Acura customer service and talked to the district manager and told him the situation and that this is the 3rd trip t the service department. He told me I did the right thing by sending the truck in for service again and as far as the miles, he would call and talk to the service manager. He asked me if I bought the truck or leased it.
The service consultant from the dealership called me back and said the mechanic just pulled into the dealership. I asked him if he explained why and he said yes and that he would repair the wire and call me in the morning. I told him to redo the paperwork and he asked why. I told him it says the invoice date/return date is 2 days ago. He told me he would not change it and that if I wanted to put that date on that I am more than welcome to do it when I signed it. ( makes a guy feel uncomfortable ) So i also told him about the miles and he raised his voice at me and said that it had 4900 miles on it. I told him this issue needs to be resolved between the district manager and your service manager. He asked me who the district manager was and I told him, he told me he never heard of the guy. ( Nice )
I called the service department a while later and asked them to fax me a copy of my service invoice. At first the girl was hesitant but I told her if she would not do it to get me someone who will. She faxed it over to my office and right away I noticed the milage was filled in now and it said 4948 miles. pretty slick guy..I wish I would have kept one of the copys when the mechanic brought it back but I did not even think about it. Oh well .. hindsight...
Is it me or is this just getting worse? AACK !!!
TECK! |
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| JNanas |
BellTeck-
Sounds like they're screwing with you.
If you haven't done so already, I'll repeat myself - call a lawyer. Also - don't even bother with e-mail - I'm a tech guy myself, and I can tell you those types just throw away any e-mail they'd get anyway.
What I would do - find a lawyer somewhere (maybe not even a lemon law expert; a friend would do just fine) and copy him on some correspondence. Written - not faxed or electronic - and sent registered mail. Indicate that you are now left with no other option than to pursue litigation, as the matter has not been resolved to your satisfaction, and you believe that fraud has been perpetrated.
Send this letter to a bunch of folks - pick people out of the Honda/Acura phonebook if you have to (and calling their office and finding a receptionist will go far, since they're more than willing to hand over information as far as address, name, and position of employees).
Last resort - include copies of this post, and find every site you can that does car reviews, and tell your tale. Let Acura know that even though you're one person, you will not stop until you have persuaded 10 buyers to not suffer as you have.
My guess is once they hear they'll have to pay a lawyer, they'll realize it's cheaper to give in than fight. |
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| BellTeck |
John ,
Im going to upgrade your title from " Dorkus majorus " to " Testicola ElGrande ". I like how your think !!!
I am indeed going to get representation but I have to wait until next week per my job and what I posted in a prior post. Unfortunately Acura left me with no choice but to go this route. I was really counting/expecting on Acura to be a company that stands behind its product..its really quite disapointing.
Of course I can only list certain items on this board as im sure that there is someone from acura reading each post.
As far as the extra miles on my truck, I feel that it will be my word against the dealer and as arrogant as Acura is getting with this truck im sure the chips on all of thier shoulders are big enough to almost fill the cargo area of the MDX itself. ( both seats folded down ). Its not bad enough that a consumer has to pay FULL sticker price and in some cases PLUS... we have to deal with arrogant dealers and a company. Now im starting to see the arrogance move into the service area also and thats truely a sad thing to hapen.
I really liked your quote
" Let Acura know that even though you're one person, you will not stop until you have persuaded 10 buyers to not suffer as you have. "
And of course I will use that logic as I feel smart consumers need to know what the experience has really been like. Hopefully I wont piss anyone off on this board ... I do realize people love thier MDX and yes mine is a limited case bassis but this is why they should step up and replace it.
Thanks again ,
TECK! |
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| BellTeck |
The dealer called me and told me they were delivering my truck to my house today. I will be ready with the digital camera and a microscope. Pictures to come soon...
TECK! |
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| Beige_MDX |
I agree with tdnone. Talk to an attorney first. It may not cost you anything. My dad's a lemon law attorney in CA; and somes states' laws proscribe that the customer's reasonable legal fees are paid by the car company.
Best scenario - they pay you every penny you laid out (maybe less a reasonable use fee - check FL laws) AND IIHS gets a MDX to crash test!
see Autopedia Florida Lemon Law Site. If your car is determined to be a lemon, you can get your costs and elect to get a refund or a replacement (costing upto 105% of your car), and the manufacturer must comply within 40 days of the decision. Thus, you could elect to get a new MDX (with perhaps extra options) and wait no more than 40 days! Consult an attorney! |
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| jliveMDX |
| damn teck, it pains me to read your story.... i admire your patience during all this and i agree with the others, get a lawyer... you;d be amazed what kind of results that will get from people... you suggested contacting the local news station, and i would do that too.... i see ur in lauderdale, so what dealer did you deal with? rick case, acura of sf, esserman??? i went through rick case myself... |
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| JNanas |
BellTeck-
I like the new nickname - what do you think it would take to get my wife to call me that? ;)
Now - here are the hard facts of the case:
a. They had to rebuild the engine in your new car of ~4k miles.
b. It was returned with a dispute as to the mileage.
c. You went a full month without it, and it was returned with unfinished engine repairs (the wire hanging).
And here are some hard truths for Acura:
a. The lemon law protects you; a lawyer will enforce that.
b. The MDX they have from you can be easily re-sold, for a hit of a couple thousand dollars.
c. If you make a big enough stink, you will cost both the dealership and Acura $$$'s.
Given those facts - once you get a lawyer - you'll be able to petition them for a new car. They'll sell your old one, and bypass the costs of legal mumbo-jumbo and hard feelings by getting you a new one. You might have to pay up for some vehicle depreciation in the meanwhile (what does an Acura lease for these days? $600/mo?).
All said and done - wouldn't you pay an extra $1500 to have a brand new MDX sans the rebuild issues? I would; but that's up to the individual.
Fight hard - I've taken heat on this in other discussions - but there is NO REASON why you shouldn't expect 110% customer satisfaction on a vehicle of this price class. If you bought a Hyundai, I might understand (but would still be a pain in the ass). Here - the dealer profit alone (given an invoice price of 31k) is several thousand dollars. Somebody's gotta help you here.
Good luck
-John |
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| BellTeck |
John ,
They brought my vehicle back to me today and I was able to take 50 + pictures of major sratches and dings plus some other problems including the original oil leak again...
The Dealer is Esserman and NO I would never send my worst enemy there !!
To sum it all up ... I may be a very satisfied customer soon.. dont want to jinx it now.
Thanks to all the replies
TECK! |
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| ghm2112 |
With proper respect to FatBoy and others, for my money, BellTeck wins the prize for the 'Most Screwed-With' Member of acuramdx.org.
Congratulations! Maybe the people at Acura will send you a nice new pen, or maybe some wheel locks.
From your last post I just hope they don't bribe you into not discussing your experience with those on the board. Normally that's the explanation for people going from 'royally screwed' to being 'very satisfied' customers. For the sake of the rest of us I hope that doesn't happen, and that Acura takes care of you with no strings attached. Let us know!
Happy Trails.:) |
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| BellTeck |
Sorry I cant post more guy's, Ive been very busy today and to add to all my fun I had to get another car rental because the blazer I was driving had a nail in the rear tire and it shook real bad on the highway.. im in a big ole dodge ram with the magnum V8. I hope they'll pay me for my gas for this one .. Whew !!!
Will update when I can
And thanks for the most screwed Acura customer award .. I'd like to thank my dealer and the canadien motor crew along with my corporate friends.
TECK! |
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| Beige_MDX |
quote:
Originally posted by BellTeck
They brought my vehicle back to me today and I was able to take 50 + pictures of major sratches and dings plus some other problems including the original oil leak again...
BellTeck - This now sounds like a lemon b/c it will be the 3rd time serviced to repair the leak. "If the vehicle has been back to the service agent for repair of the same recurring problem at least three times, the consumer gives written notification by certified, registered or express mail, to the manufacturer (not the dealer) to afford a final opportunity to repair the vehicle. Check the warranty book or owner’s manual or other written manufacturer supplement for the address given by the manufacturer. A Motor Vehicle Defect Notification form may used for this purpose. Click here for the Instructions and Motor Vehicle Defect Notification form. Upon receipt of the notification, the manufacturer has 10 days to direct the consumer to a reasonably accessible repair facility, and then up to 10 days from delivery of the vehicle to fix it. " Get to a lawyer, you will probably get all costs reimbursed AND a new car (less a modest usage fee). |
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| BellTeck |
Beige,
The certified / return request is on its way to Acura as we speak plus the BBB Auto Line is in the process also. I really do feel I am entitled to a brand new vehicle and all my cost and hardship covered. This is the #4 time it is in the dealer and they know it so per lemon law thats all folks.
Acura is sending someone to check the vehicle out and they will let me know what they find.
The pictures I took with my digital camera turned out GREAT .. If I dont hear what I want to hear I think I will have to post them and share them with other consumers that may get into this ordeal.
Its nice to know the Consumer does have rights!
TECK! |
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| ghm2112 |
... I'll nominate you for the, 'Most Impressive Maintenance of Humor and Even Keel' award.
Maybe off-line you are spitting nails and yelling at these guys, but your posts appear to reflect a pretty rational and zen-like perserverance. Very impressive! :cool:
And the Canadian dig! You've been paying attention!!!:D :D :D
Stick with it. have a great weekend.
Happy Trails. |
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| AtlantaMDX |
| I concur with ghm! You've definately kept your head level and your humor intact. Can't wait to hear Acura's responses to all of this. |
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| BellTeck |
Bad news guys..
My service manager just called me and told me my truck is ready for pickup at the dealer. I asked " did you repair all the issues that were wrong? " and he said yes. I asked about the chips in the paint and the gouge in the front plastic and all the scratches everywhere. He said " We didnt do that "
He then told me I have until 10 am tomorrow morning to bring back the rental and pick the truck up or I will be charged for the rental charge.
I told them they are forcing a lawsuit and he jsut said " whatever and to come pick the truck up !"
Wow like a kick in the groin.
Anyone know a good attourney in the South Florida Area? Ok now im starting to warm up a bit ... When I get home tonight I will post all the pictures of the wonderful work that Acura did to my truck.
This sux :( :mad: :( :mad: :( |
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| BellTeck |
I spoke with Acura's customer servie department again and the district rep or whoever it was .. I want to call him a customer support associate ( useless ) and asked him why all of the sudden they are not going to repair the scratches and everything else they did. He said the dealer replaced the engine lid ( part that says VTEC). ( At first he played stupid like he did not know anything. I told him that Acura's main concern was to get me back in my truck fixed or not. I said thats some customer service to rebuild a customers engine and scratch the truck and say that it was already there, run miles on it and say that they were there.
We talked for about a 1/2 hour and I started to raise my voice for the first time in the whole situation ( besides the dealer telling me to come back the next day ). He kept on telling me that he wants to have his parts guy inspect the truck and I said I thought you were going to do that this morning at 10am when I called you. He said no and that he can not just make the guy show up at any time. ( real snooty ) and I asked him.. I said Bob .. " Who is your boss.. who can I escalate this to? " He said no one.. I said your CEO of the Honda Motor Company of America? He said I and the parts guy have the power to make the decisions necessary. I said then do the right thing bob ( strong and loud! ) He said " WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO? " ( Screaming ) I screamed back " REPLACE MY TRUCK FOR A NEW ONE ". He said I CANT DO THAT ON A FRADAY AFTERNOON AT 4PM!!
I took a breath and said fine .. do it Monday Morning. He said he would not do anything until his parts guy looked at it.( He wants me to go get my truck on saturday and then bring it back at whatever time this " Parts GUY/ GOD" will be there - not hey is it convienient for you to meet this guy or when is it ok for you , you tell us a time ) I said then why do i have to pick it up saturday. I have been thretened to get to the dealer by 10am OR I WILL BE RESPONSABLE FOR THE RENTAL CAR. I asked why will they not keep it until monday? he said because there may not be anything wrong with it. I said bob I have pictures of whats wrong with it...
Anyway .. we went on and on and his bottom line was that he wants his parts guy to look at it which is a bunch of BS. I told him I would NOT sign anything at the dealer and if they would not give me my truck that I would call the police at that time. AND also that if there is still damage to my vehicle I would call the police to get a report that shows the dealer vandalized my automobile.
Bob said Do what you have to do ..
So here I am .. all alone with NO support forced to pick my truck up and I KNOW it has damage ( although it may be minor to some people ) No gas in it , dirty as hell , and worse off than when I took it in, and scratched in places.
I have a lawyers number that deals direct with lemon law cases but I have to do the BBB auto line route first.
I dont know what im going to do if it is still leaking oil .. geez im really screwed now.
thanks for listening guys
teck |
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| BellTeck |
Ready for some pictures? Heres a couple things that saw when they brought my truck back again. tell me if you would have been concerned with any of these issues.
Pic 1 - The oil pan .. It really does look like it was drug across the floor. The dealer claims it was cast this way. |
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| BellTeck |
| #2 - for some reason I dont think Acura planned on having this wire sitting on that hot bolt .. Ya know im not a mechanic myself but logic tells me this is a future problem. agree? |
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| BellTeck |
| #3 - I told the Acura Client Care rep about this air dam not having either bolt in it and if I were on the highway and it flew off and landed on some poor womans winshield and she lost control of her car and it killer her and her child - does he want that on his shoulders? I got NO response !! |
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| BellTeck |
| #4 - Its hard to take a picture of a chip in your paint on a cloudy day .. and on a brand new truck Its enough to irritate a guy. would you mind this on yours? |
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| BellTeck |
| #5 - My new air intake .. love from Acura. |
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| BellTeck |
| #6 - Nothing like getting your truck back with a clean interior ! |
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| BellTeck |
| #7 - Hmm .. looks like another trip. :( |
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| BellTeck |
| #8 - This is the only thing that they replaced when it went back. This is what it looked like before. |
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| BellTeck |
| #10 - Custom Air filter cover. |
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| BellTeck |
| #12 - The oil started outside .. now look at it. |
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| BellTeck |
| #13 - New Feature. |
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| BellTeck |
| #14- Its a Match !! |
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| BellTeck |
I know some of this is cosmetic and I will have to clean my truck myself when I get it back tomorrow. But I have about 50 picures of enough minor things to really be upset. feedback anyone?
and sorry .. I was only going to put in 10 but I was on a roll.
TECK! |
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| Rapture |
Tough luck Bellteck. All this seems way out of line, keep moving forward -- don't let them get away with this. I wish I knew a good lawyer I could recommend to you.
By the way, what kind of mats do you have? The picture looked different than the mats I have in my GG MDX... |
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| BellTeck |
Rapture,
Thanks .. and the mats are the only aftermarket product on the truck. ( the small mat is used in case its raining .. we get a LOT here in Florida this time of year )
I have to go to the dealer and pick my truck up this moring .. this is not going to be fun at all im sure. |
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| BellTeck |
I got my truck back from the dealer. I went down this morning by 10 am ( As threatened ) and returned the rental. The only question I asked the guy was if they put the bolts/fasteners back on the lower air dam? and he said yes. I turned away from him and he said I would have to go into the service office to sign and get my keys. I refused to sign and they gave me a copy and my keys.
They did wash the ouside of the truck and wipe off my floormat. as far as repairs - they put a different engine cover on as it was dirty and had a scratch in it. It did not look new. They either sanded or filed the oil pan scrapes as they did not look as bad, and of course left me with less than 1/8th tank of gas.
I drove it to a gas station and filled it up. I did notice the black plastic part on the bumper still had a good sizs nick in it and that there was STILL oil on the front side of the motor.
I started setting the MDX back to the way it was IE: radio station, garage door opener program, and the power seat settings. Well guess what - the memory seats do not work now. There is not even a light on the 1 and 2 button where it usually is.
I called Rick Case Acura and explained part of what I went through and that I had no faith left in Esserman .. and he told me that he did not blame me as they have had many customers say the same. I told him I wished someone would have told me prior to the sale and service. I told him I have a couple issues - Memory seats, oil still showing on the outside of the engine, and the back seat bubble problem. I asked him what would happen now if they had to keep it and they told me that I would get alternate transportation of course. Im to go monday morning.
right now its better than nothing.
TECK! |
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| BellTeck |
Sorry for all the negative posts ..im usually not that negative.
For the Positive..
Can I say how much I missed my truck...
After getting it back from the dealer I took the truck to get detailed ... yes it cost a bit but there was black dust all over the inside of the truck.
Anyway ... climbing back into the captains chair and getting out on the highway .. you know the feeling ... putting in my self made Santana CD and kicking the air down to 74, throwing my arm over the wheel as you sit back with a slight lean into the center armrest .. cruise set at 75. God I missed my Bose system !!! Suddenly the sunroof cover slides open and sunlight comes in as you slip your shades on ... the smell of leather gets stronger as the cool fresh air from the vents blows by. You look around at other drivers checking out your ride and when you see another MDX on the road its like your family and give an automatic wave or a thumbs up. Suddenly the traffic starts to thicken up so you take her off auto pilot and sit up in the chair .. you take control of the helm and start moving through the crowd like you are plowing your way through snow. you finally get to your destination and think .. damn ... thats a hell of a truck !
This special MDX moment brought to you by Bellteck.
We recommend you have one daily.
TECK! |
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| ghm2112 |
Teck!
Are you making this s4!t up?!?!?
You've GOT to be kidding me. PLEASE tell me this will end soon. Every experience you post (until your last) seems worse and more insulting than the last. Is there a lemon law for dealerships? Acura should send this one back to the hellhole from whence it was spawned...
Thanks for sharing your moment of X-speration. Had a great MDX experience myself today, incl. sun and music and a cool bay breeze, only mine included the 'singing' of our 3 month-old who was none to happy that she was in the car seat instead of in mommy's lap.:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :cool:
Happy Trails. |
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| BellTeck |
GHM ,
Unfortunatly im not making it up .. I took it to Rick Case Acura this morning and they were super nice .. had coffee and muffins/bagles/etc waiting for thier customers. They gave me a ride to my office and I gave them my truck and a list of things ( some caused by the other dealer and some new )
Will update as I find out.
that was cute ghm with your different music .. and of course they would rather be in moms lap than tied up in that seat.
Hope everyone has a great Monday !!
TECK! |
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| BellTeck |
I got my truck back today, Rick Case had to order parts for it and they wont be in until next Wednesday. Only problem I had was when I left the dealer I heard ticking all the way back to my office and could not figure out what it was. I got to my office and got out and looked around and when I looked at the right rear tire there was a major bolt sticking out of it. I called Rick Case back and told them what happened,they said bring it right back. They pulled the bolt out and tried to patch it... no go so they put a brand new tire on. Thanks Rick Case for doing the right thing and for also destroying my Esserman Acura Keychains. I love it when one dealer destroy's the others merchandise.
TECK! |
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| AtlantaMDX |
Teck,
Are they doing this work as "warranty"? or are you out of pocket? |
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| BellTeck |
Strictly Warranty ATL... I would NOT pay for any of this. The good thing is they are replacing the front Nose section because there is a bad spot by the left headlight which is fine because this will repair what the other crappy dealer screwed up. Along with this Im getting a new back seat because of the bubble issue. Oh and they are putting in the left hood rubber bumper. ( All on order )
The tire they replaced was free also because they did it when they drove it into the open field in the back of the dealership.
I can only imagine how much money Acura has put into this truck already and im only at 5000 miles. I WILL take this truck back everytime I find a problem that is from poor workmanship or production. Also my BBB complaint is just now getting underway. I have to go this route 1st.
TECK! |
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| ghm2112 |
Teck! (Dude!)
I've figured it out!
Your MDX is NOT a L-E-M-O-N, it is P-O-S-S-E-S-S-E-D!
Forget the mornic service managers and district managers, get that rig to your local witch, warlock or voodoo priestess.
I bet you ten virtual dollars your problems will vanish!
Happy Trails |
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| BellTeck |
[QUOTE]Originally posted by ghm2112
Your MDX is NOT a L-E-M-O-N, it is P-O-S-S-E-S-S-E-D!
Forget the mornic service managers and district managers, get that rig to your local witch, warlock or voodoo priestess.
Now THAT is funny !!!!!
I told everyone at my office that next time im going to buy one of those Hyundi SUV's and not have a problem with it for over 100K
TECK! |
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| ghm2112 |
From what I understand, you'd have to be on a wait list for that Hyundai thing as well. Ugly as s4!t, but I guess they can't make them fast enough...
BTW, wrt my last post, I'm not sure what a mornic service manager is, but I'm pretty sure I meant moronic...
Happy Trails. |
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| JNanas |
You can joke about that now, Teck, but remember - once upon a time, people used to say the same things about the Japanese manufacturers as they do about the Korean manufacturers today.
Hyundai is doing all the right things right now - as a matter of fact, if it wasn't for some questionable safety ratings on their passenger cars, I'd probably own one as a second car. A neighbor of mine swears by them, having owned an Elantra for almost 8 years now. |
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| BellTeck |
quote:
Originally posted by JNanas
You can joke about that now, Teck, but remember - once upon a time, people used to say the same things about the Japanese manufacturers as they do about the Korean manufacturers today.
Hyundai is doing all the right things right now - as a matter of fact, if it wasn't for some questionable safety ratings on their passenger cars, I'd probably own one as a second car. A neighbor of mine swears by them, having owned an Elantra for almost 8 years now.
Im not downing hyundi John, The only difference here is about $20000.00 and that I would expect at least if not better quality / service / and reliability. AKA - With my luck I could buy a car for 1/2 as much and never have a problem.
TECK! |
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| BellTeck |
Also .. I love the commercials. I used to come home everyday with my MDX and ask the wife " Honey , Who's car is that in the garage? "
IT IS ISNT IT !! :D |
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| jliveMDX |
teck u definitely made a good move by dealing with rick case.... i got my car from them and they've been great.... something about esserman just seemed sleazy to me when i called up(guy refused to send me a paper quote, "i know you'll shop it around" duh!!!!)so i didnt even visit their dealership and your experience reinforces my instinct....
best of luck with the X the rest of the way and if you see another GG MDX in Miami with the acuramdx.org logo on the back and pinstripes give me a honk!!!
PS i got the pinstriping free from rick case so see if they'll throw it in for you |
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| BellTeck |
JLive .. I may have seen your MDX .. GG with pinstripes? A woman was driving it and if I remember correctly it was by I75 and Sheridan... I gave her a thumbs up and she gave me one back.
Rick Case is taking care of other problems I was going to tell esserman to do. Im glad I didnt ask them to replace my back seat knowing that dealership I would have had the 1st MDX with cloth seats.
I wonder if I can get the Roadrunner to make me an Avatar with an MDX and the wheels fall off. LOL!!
TECK! |
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