- Report: #1492524
Complaint Review: American Honda - Torrance CA
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American Honda
1919 Torrance Blvd Torrance, 90501 CA, United States
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honda.com
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American Honda Won't cover rental or loaner on extensive paint warranty Torrance CA
I bought my 2017 Honda Fit from Venice Honda in August of 2019. The car was in great shape, with less than 17,000 miles on it. I bought a Japanese car with the idea that it would be easy to budget for, as they're known for longevity and are expected to need minimal repairs. I'm a veterinarian with almost $300,000 in student loan debt and I work for a nonprofit ASPCA shelter, so budgeting is important to me.
Well, 5 months into owning the car and the paint started peeling off the roof in sheets. It then began to peel around the hood of the car and trunk. I took the car in to my local Honda dealership (Gerald Jones Honda in Augusta, GA) and they told me that the paint repair would be covered under an extended warranty. However, I came to later find out that a rental or loaner vehicle would not be provided, and that the repair was expected to take at least 10 days to repair.
The contracted paint shop informed me that it could take over two weeks. That is a long time to go without a car, especially for someone who commutes to work every day. In Augusta, a rental car will run you at least $250/week, and as aforementioned I have to tightly budget because of my student loan burden and income.
I already budget $330/month for the car payment, and now come to find out that this car that I thought would be super reliable is going to cost me hundreds of extra dollars for a repair that is 100% Honda's fault. What's more, when I called American Honda to discuss getting a rental or loaner car approved, I was met with condescension from three different parties I spoke to.
One woman encouraged me to take vacation in order to be able to go without a car, told me that paint repairs are a "cosmetic" defect and so that's why rental cars aren't covered under warranty (despite the fact that paint defects lead to rust and structural damage), and another audibly snickered at me when I expressed my frustration at this situation.
I would never ever have purchased a car from a manufacturer with this terrible level of customer service if I had known, nor will I ever buy a Honda again.
