I have a friend that bought a car from a Honda Dealer and a year later went to a different dealer to trade it in. They told her the car was in a major accident. Honda dealer said it was never in an accident when she bought the car. She wants to file a complaint and needs the 800 number to HoA.

Anyone have it handy?

 

Call the dealer and have them give you the tel# to Honda Consumer Affairs. They have to give it to you!!!!!

 

After a little searching and registering as a fake owner, here is the number for H of A (800) 999-1009...Good Luck!

 

That's funny!!

Thanks!!

 

That would not help anything if nothing was written on paper.

Did you realize that when you trade in a vehicle, the dealer usually do not ask the accident history of the car? They do that because when someone buys it and asks if it was in an accident, the dealer could say "NO, to the best of my knowledge."

Technically he didn't lie and you can't blame him for that. I don't know how legal it is, but that's what they do to keep the potential buyer happy.

 

Up here in Canada, it doesn't matter if the original dealer knew or not(I am assuming the car was bought used). That is not an excuse for the dealer. The buyer could get them to take the car back or at least come to an agreement of some kind. There are some buyers rights that you should ask a laywer about as I'm sure the laws are different down there.

 

Eef... Keep us posted on this. I'd be interested in knowing who gets screwed in the end. I hope Honda at least compensates a LITTLE :X

 

Hey Trey, How did you put the Si cd player in your car? Splice in 99-00 plug? thanks.

 

ICBW, but I don't think this is a concern of American Honda's corporate offices. Each dealer is an independent business. American Honda is involved in selling new cars to the dealer, and in providing warranty coverage on the new cars through the service department, and in selling Honda parts to the dealer. But when a dealer is selling you a used car, I don't think that has anything to do with American Honda. Although it won't hurt to try.

Have you tried discussing this with the general manager of the dealership, to see if you can figure out a satisfactory solution? If that doesn't work, aside from trying AH, one option is to contact your local Better Business Bureau. Many BBB's have arbitration services (often free) which you can use to settle consumer-vendor disputes. Another option is to sue them, either by yourself in pro se ("small claims") court (usually there is a maximum dollar limit) or using a lawyer in civil court.

Whichever route you choose, you can expect to be asked what you are seeking, and to be able to prove that this is a proper settlement. So, for example, if you think that a car that has been damaged and properly repaired is worth $X,000 less than a car that has never been damaged, then you will need to prove that, either through the testimony of professional appraisers or through evidence in want ads. However, the fact of the matter is that most experts will tell you that there is NO difference in market value between a car that has been damaged and properly repaired, and one that has never been damaged, so it may be impossible to provide any evidence to justify your claim. So you might be going to a lot of trouble and expense for nothing.

The good news is, even though you're pissed off that the car has been in an accident, it doesn't mean that it is necessarily worth any less than you paid for it as a result (and you should be able to sell it for about what you paid for it, less depreciation for the year and the additional miles you put on it).

Maybe all she wants to do is to sell the car, and if you negotiate with the dealer, they may be willing to buy it back at a fair price.



[Modified by nsxtcjr, 1:48 AM 3/27/2002]