Odo Uh-Oh: Honda extending warranties on 6 million cars
Honda has decided to settle a class-action lawsuit that alleges its odometers were racking up miles too fast. The automaker says odometers on some 6 million Hondas affected by the suit were accurate to within 3.75% on the high side. The NHTSA doesn't regulate odometer accuracy, and the only industry standard is a voluntary one set by the Society of Automotive Engineers that says odos should be within +/-4%. While the car's affected by the suit fall within that range, Honda recognized that its customers expected their odometers "would be based on zero," and they weren't. The settlement will lengthen the warranty mileage of affected vehicles by 5% and Honda will pay lease-mileage penalties incurred by owners, which is expected to cost the automaker around $6 million. If you own a 2002 to 2006 Honda or Acura bought between April 12, 2002 and November 7, 2006, then you're eligible for the benefits of the settlement.
The lawsuit also prompted lawyers to test the odometer accuracy of other vehicles. It was found that on average domestic vehicles were nearly perfect in their odo accuracy, while Toyotas actually racked up fewer miles on the clock than they did in reality. Nissans, however, didn't fare as well, and a new class-action suit has been filed on behalf of Altima owners who say their odometers are counting the miles 2.5% to 3% faster than they should.
[Source: USA Today]
Thanks for the tip, John!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
G 12:46PM (2/19/2007)
This proves American cars are better than Japanese right?
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Tim UF 12:56PM (2/19/2007)
so THATS how hondas get better mileage... HA!
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far jr 12:57PM (2/19/2007)
Rather trivial but I do see the point of lease holders who have paid for excessive miles over the alotted amount while never actually driving some of them.
Maybe a bit to the excess on service costs. Having that extra oil change added in every 80,000 miles or so.
Wait... maybe it's a conspiracy to make Hondas look like they are good for more miles than they actually are...(sarcasm).
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DriftPunch 1:21PM (2/19/2007)
"This proves American cars are better than Japanese right?"
Nope, but it does prove that no manufacturer is immune to component problems. If this were GM, you'd see at least 5 known autobloggers firing off comments about how GM can do nothing right, is screwing the public, and deserves to die.
It's odd that a company like Honda, who can mass produce engines with some of the finest tolerances in the world, would not check on or have a higher standard for something as easy as an odometer.
If the customer changes the rolling gear that's one thing, but from the factory is another.
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mj 1:21PM (2/19/2007)
Yet Californians still believe the Japanese are America-loving environmental angels instead of businessmen with a huge advantage from their corrupt and xenophobic home market.
Tell me again: why were diesel passenger cars outlawed by California and not diesel trucks? Perhaps because Toyota and Honda don't sell semis and heavy diesel trucks? Just a thought.
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DriftPunch 1:23PM (2/19/2007)
"This proves American cars are better than Japanese right?"
Nope, but it does prove that no manufacturer is immune to component problems. If this were GM, you'd see at least 5 known autobloggers firing off comments about how GM can do nothing right, is screwing the public, and deserves to die.
It's odd that a company like Honda, who can mass produce engines with some of the finest tolerances in the world, would not check on or have a higher standard for something as easy as an odometer.
If the customer changes the rolling gear that's one thing, but from the factory is another.
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MJS 1:46PM (2/19/2007)
WELL, THE HONDA BASHERS COME OUT AGAIN. THESE LAWYERS ARE GONE TO GO AFTER OTHER MANUFS. THE REASON HONDA AND TOYOTA GET RESPECT IS BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIPS/SERVICE DEPARTMENTS ACTUALLY SEE THEIR CUSTOMERS AS ASSESTS, NOT ASSES AS THE DOMESTICS DO. LIGHTEN UP
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bernie 1:46PM (2/19/2007)
"This proves American cars are better than Japanese right?"
I remember when Cadillac sold the dreaded diesels in the early 80s. I worked in a BMW dealership and we'd see at least 3 GM diesels a week come rolling in a big cloud of smoke up our driveway. It was a real test of my sales ability - knowing I was going to have to tell them their 3-4 year old trade in was worth $750 now. I don't recall (pun intended) GM rushing to the aid of those poor folks, either.
At least the Japanese own up to mistakes.
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Mulad 2:28PM (2/19/2007)
Heh, this reminds me of a problem people are having with their Volkswagens these days. The odometers are normally fairly accurate, but the speedometer reads high. There's a fix that can be performed by hooking up a computer and changing a variable in the car's system, but then the speedometer is accurate and the odometer is off. I don't get why they can't get both of them to read right since it's all electronic anyway... Oddly, it sounds like the best approach these days is to physically twist the speedometer needle on the instrument panel (though that makes it read below zero when you're stopped, and it's only a partial fix). WTF!?
I've heard that American cars have been found to have the most accurate speedos, with European cars less accurate, and Japanese being the worst. I haven't heard much about odometers, though...
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shimman 3:24PM (2/19/2007)
#8 MJS,
begged to disagree; toyota & honda dealers are one of the worst dealers in us; they just don't like to fix minor problems & ignores customers concerns as they don't have any problems with selling honda or toyota cars & even trucks.
dealers are not only ones arrogant; honda themselves are very arrogant. in this case, they blamed that drivers expected far more accurate odometers than they should. honda settled it without admitting or recognizing even a problem.
i don't think this isn't limited to honda branded cars & trucks but also includes acrua branded cars & trucks. i noticed this on my 2006 rl as the trip meter reported differently from my previous car. the driver observed milage was also affected by this problem.
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Richard Warren 3:52PM (2/19/2007)
The interesting thing? Honda odometer readings have always been off. Replaced gears in the late 70's and early 80's under a "Service Update" Uh Huh
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Howard Kerr 3:54PM (2/19/2007)
Let's see, most of the Japan bashers here failed to read the part of the story that said Honda's odometer accuracy falls WITHIN LEGAL LIMITS. So, even though they don't/didn't really have to, they are admitting a part of their car may have caused some owners an extra cost. This makes Honda a terrible car company, HOW?
There was an article on AutoBlog a few months ago that said GM is the subject of a class action lawsuit for it's faulty intake gasket design. A design that causes engine coolant to eventually enter the car's crankcase...yet HONDA is a bad car company.
By the way, my (limited) experience is that Honda dealers will go out of their way to correct any problem caused by their cars and or the mechanics working in their dealerships. Toyota dealerships? The worst for ripping off unsuspecting suckers, be it service or sales. Ford? Sales ANS service...lackaluster.
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RamSport47 4:12PM (2/19/2007)
"At least the Japanese own up to mistakes.
Posted at 1:46PM on Feb 19th 2007 by bernie"
Only after a CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT was filed, and they owned up to it to avoid losing
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cFoo 4:26PM (2/19/2007)
>> 1. This proves American cars are better than Japanese right?
Nope. There's a simple answer. Honda is using American parts for the US market. Metric versus Imperial. That'll teach them for trusting American technologies.
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KT 4:26PM (2/19/2007)
Yep, you really are getting 35mpg...NOT. And how much interst have they accumulated over those years from over charging their lease customers. I have a feeling it's much more than the $6mil penalty.
First they over state their HP ratings and now they clock more miles than actual.
You unsuspecting kool-aid drinkers beware!
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whofan 4:49PM (2/19/2007)
200,000 trouble free miles, 35MPG Honda = 130,000 trouble free miles 24MPG domestic makes.
Truth be told, Don`t believe perception, or deception.
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mark 5:44PM (2/19/2007)
Honda was also caught in 96-98 when they didn't have their computer up to the OBD-II standard. The EPA then sued Honda. So it's not just some "Honda Bashers" who go after them.
What they did here was two things..
1- Got lessees to pay more for excessive mileage (made them money, since Honda Finance owns the lease cars)
2- Got regular customers out of warranty quicker so that their dealers could make more money, honda could make money on parts.
So the conclusion? Don't tell me for ONE MINUTE that Honda engineers just happened to "miss this" since the algorithm is in the SOFTWARE of the ECU! It was WRITTEN INTO THE COMPUTER! Deceptive and yes it should be criminal.
But I'll probably have 10 million defending Honda and bashing the American Companies. Even though Honda has been sued more than once over deceptive practices. Fact is, they're not so "perfect" after all!
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Ral 7:39PM (2/19/2007)
Hum... but what if my warranty is already over? I own an 04 bought same-year.
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wes v 9:50PM (2/19/2007)
"At least the Japanese own up to mistakes.
Posted at 1:46PM on Feb 19th 2007 by bernie"
Only after a CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT was filed, and they owned up to it to avoid losing.
Just a reminder about the Pinto. Spend $20 to fix a
fuel tank that might kill people after an accident.
Or just keep the money.
Ford said let them burn.
American corporations are exactly white knights either.
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Mazin 1:31AM (2/20/2007)
Honda sucks, i currently own a 2004 accord, i got it brand new for a lease. I drove it for 3k miles and found my paint starting to chip all over the front two fenders and the hood. I ended up letting a local body shop take a look at it only to be informed my new car wasn't so new, and in fact had been in a collision before. When i went back to the dealer they tried to play stupid until i threatened getting a lawyer involved. They claimed that the car was a dealer trade and had no idea what happened, in the end all i get is repainted front end that chips still.
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