I’m adding a new category to this blog: Consumer Complaints. When I have a problem with a company or product, I will describe the experience here. This will serve two purposes: first, it will spread information about companies that are not treating their customers properly. Second, it will allow me to track the problem for future reference. I am also starting a category for general consumer information.
So, on to Consumer Complaint #1: Brakes on the 2008 Honda Accord.
I drive a 2008 Honda Accord EX-L Coupe. It was making a squeaking noise, so I took it to the dealer. It turns out I needed new rear brakes, after a mere 17,000 miles. I talked to the service manager, and apparently all the 08 and 09 Accords are coming in for new brakes between 12k and 17k miles. I also looked online and found several links that document the issue:
Accord Brakes Complaint Link #1
Accord Brakes Complaint Link #2
Accord Brakes Complaint Link #3
Accord Brakes Complaint Link #4
However, the service manager also told me that Honda has not authorized the dealers to do anything about the brakes issue, and Honda has not issued a recall despite the fact that they are aware of the problem.
I called Honda Customer Care, and they sent my complaint to their regional representative, who will review it to determine if I am entitled to reimbursement. I will update this post when I get an answer. If you have had a similar problem with your brakes, I suggest taking the same course of action. Make sure Honda (the company- not your local dealer) is aware of the problem. Sooner or later, it may force them to take action.
For the record, this is the 4th Honda that I’ve owned. I love the car and I’ve never had any problems. But it’s inexcusable to put a defective part in a car and simply choose to ignore it.
UPDATE: 9/21/2009
I called Honda Customer Care, and they reimbursed me for half the cost of the brakes. While that is a nice gesture, it certainly won’t cover the cost and hassle of replacing rear brakes every 15k miles. Motor Trend recently reported the same problem on their long-term test vehicle, so maybe this will force Honda to finally do something about it.
June 26, 2009 at 4:06 pm |
I noticed that when I’m driving the DC’s expressways that most of the real aggressive drivers are in Japanese autos, most notable are Honda Accords. I wonder, is there a connection?
On the other hand, I just had my Hyundai Santa Fe serviced at 50k and the front brakes are at 50% while the rear are at 60%.Hmm.
June 26, 2009 at 4:53 pm |
That’s how long brakes should last. Like I said, Honda’s parts are defective. But since brake pads are a “wear and tear” part, they’re trying to get away with saying it’s normal wear and tear when it isn’t. These things are only lasting 1/3 of the miles that they should.
September 12, 2009 at 8:38 pm |
I have a 2003 Honda Element I just now replace my breaks at 100k. Sounds to me there are a real problem with the newer breaks on the Accords.
September 21, 2009 at 12:39 am |
I have an 98 accoird with 22k miles and the brakes are bad also, see legal site and join the suite.
GIRARD GIBBS LLP
601 California Street, Suite 1400
San Francisco, CA 94108
Phone: (415) 981-4800
Fax: (415) 981-4846
mail@girardgibbs.com
http://www.girardgibbs.com
September 21, 2009 at 1:01 am |
join the law suite
GIRARD GIBBS LLP
601 California Street, Suite 1400
San Francisco, CA 94108
Phone: (415) 981-4800
Fax: (415) 981-4846
mail@girardgibbs.com
http://www.girardgibbs.com
September 21, 2009 at 1:05 am |
my 08naccord has only 22k miles on it and already needs brakes. Honda needs to step up to the plate and recall the defective brakes and correct the problem. $180.00 minimum at the dealer each year for new back brakes due to the inside pads are worm down is a JOKE!
this is my 3rd Honda and I am very disappointed in this issue and really disappointed at So Tacoma Honda’s response and unwillingness to fix the issue at their cost. My car is under warranty but not just that THEY NEED TO RECALL AND CORRECT THE ISSUE!
September 28, 2009 at 2:08 pm |
i work in the service department at a honda dealership and we see this happening a lot. we have successfully repaired one of the accords and are monitoring to see that it will continue to withold the wearing of the rear brake pads. it is an issue with the parking brake – the cord needs to be changed because even though the parking brake is “off”, there is still pressure being applied to the pads on the rear of the vehicle. we are hoping something will happen because honda doesn’t need a bad rap sheet
September 29, 2009 at 2:03 am |
Thanks for the info. I heard it was a pin or something behind the rear brakes that isn’t lubed properly, but I’m not very knowledgeable about automotive parts so I may be mistaken.
If it is the parking brake, wouldn’t having pressure applied to the rear pads also hurt the performance of the vehicle?
September 29, 2009 at 4:54 pm |
it does not seem to be affecting other parts of the car, simply the brake pads. and i believe it’s only the inner pads. just for your knowledge, when you get your car checked out, ask for the measurements of both inner and outer pads. but other than the brake problem, the cars seem great
September 29, 2009 at 5:51 pm |
post #2
I just had my brakes replaced at the Dealer, Dealer very understanding and getting lots of complaints from customers but I still had to cover the cost myself. Called Honda Corp. and was told that this is normal wear and tear – I let them know this is my 3rd Honda and this has never been NORMAL wear and tear at this low mileage with my other Honda vehicles, they made the comment that MAYBE IS IT MY DRIVER HABITS THAT HAS CAUSED THE BRAKES TO GO BAD WITH SO MANY LOW MILES- I inofrmed them that my driving habits have not changed but CLEARLY the Honda quality and workman ship has. I also suggested that HONDA step up to the plate and find a solution to this problem.M.
September 29, 2009 at 6:31 pm |
The same thing happened to me- as described in my initial post- but I called Honda Customer Care and told them it was unreasonable for rear brakes to wear out so quickly, regardless of driving habits- and that the problem is well documented on the Internet.
Basically, they have a defective part and they are trying to say that it’s impossible for any part they label as “normal wear and tear” to be defective, which is absolutely absurd (and yes, I actually said this to the Customer Care representative on the phone).
They reimbursed me for half the cost of the brakes, which is better than nothing. Keep calling and be persistent. And make sure you tell them that you’re on your 3rd Honda but there won’t be a 4th if they don’t fix the problem.
December 8, 2009 at 8:26 pm |
I have an 08 accord and need new brakes at 17K miles. my dealer said the braking and VSC system is flawed and is causing the rear brakes to wear down because everytime you take a turn even at low speeds the brakes are normally applied. I sounds like there maybe multiple issues here.
December 8, 2009 at 8:40 pm |
Jay,
As I suggested before, call Honda Customer Care and complain. They reimbursed me for half the cost, which isn’t an ideal solution, but at least it’s something. Plus, if more people complain, perhaps they will be forced to take action.
It’s a little disconcerting that the dealership told you it was due to the VSC system, because that’s at least the 3rd different explanation I’ve heard for the cause of the problem. It sounds like Honda and their mechanics don’t even have a good handle on what the issue is. The VSC can be manually disabled by simply pressing the button to the left of the steering wheel, but this is a safety system and I don’t recommend disabling it, particularly if you live in an area that frequently has wet or snowy roads (ie, Philly…)
I need to do a little more research on this to see if there is any progress from Honda on this. I’m at 25k miles already, which means I’m halfway to my second set of rear brakes.
Thanks for reading and replying, everyone.
December 17, 2009 at 8:01 pm |
Just confirmed the “VSC” impact to the rear brake wear issue– drove my TSX with VST ON for 5 miles without applying brakes, and the rear ones get very hot. after cooling off, drive again the same 5 miles with VSC OFF– and the rear brakes are not hot at all. seems constant presure on the rear brakes is causing this.
Before reading this post, just this week I spent half the day at honda dealership in Germany replacing the rear pads(they also found out that the sliding pins were not lubricated either- from the factory). nice thing- the pads and labor cost me nothing since the car was still under warranty (2007 Accord Diesel) 3 years or 100k km. I have only 25k km on my car.
December 17, 2009 at 8:11 pm |
How does the TSX in Europe compare to the Accord in the US? Is it the same basic car?
I’ve heard the sliding pins lacking lubrication before- I’ve also heard the parking brake and VSC (they call it VSA here) as potential sources of the problem.
At least now I have some ammunition for the next time the brakes need to be replaced, but it would be nice if Honda would man up and take responsibility for it.
December 28, 2009 at 5:37 pm |
Honda Accord 2004-2008 in Germany is the same body as Acura TSX 2004-2008. However, the dash and the interior of German Accord is the same as US Accord. Acura TSX dash is different.
The rear stabilizer bar is 14 mm as opposed to 15 mm in USA TSX.
German petrol accord has only 2.0L engine (150 HP), not like 2.4 in TSX or US Accord.
Today I returned from the same Honda dealer in Dusseldorf with rear calipers replaced. Since my last post, I noticed that heating of the rear discs has shown again, so I called the dealer and they agreed to exchange the calipers, free of charge. Have tested the heat issue with VST or without it.. rear discs are cool driving for 10 miles with no brakes applied(means that brakes are not pressing against the discs during the free run or with VST), however, they get very hot after several brake applications, city driving.
Also, since my Accord is diesel version, I noticed that the brakes(discs, calipers, etc) are not the same as in benzin(petrol) version of the same Accord. However, petrol euro accords have the same brakes (front and rear, and all discs) as Acura TSX or US Honda Accord. that means that I cannot get those nice Dura Gold ceramic pads from Autozone, and have to buy (in the future) brake pads from Honda only. front ones cost 98 eu plus 19% sales tax( totaling about 150 $ with today exchange rate to USD), rear ones are 78 eu..
Anyway, the dealer could not give me explanation about heating up, they tend to blame the bad calipers. I do not believe that they will take the calipers apart, I only hope those parts are sent back to Honda for investigation, since those were exchanged under warranty.