I bought a 2004 Honda Accord EXL V6 from Southtown Motors in April. The car had only around 7000 miles on it and I loved the car so I bought it for 25K (before financing). It still had a good portion of the original warranty and I purchased and extended warranty for about a grand more. The salesman said what a WONDERFUL car it was and blah, blah, blah... And since Hondas usually are good cars, I thought I had bought a great car that would last to 300,000 miles. All I'd have to do is keep the oil changed and general maintenance up and I'd have a car for the next 10 years. Wrong!
Within the first month, the check engine light came on. I took it to the Honda dealer and was informed that there was a faulty sensor inside the gas tank that needed to be replaced and there had been a recall on it. So they fixed it. A month after that, the whole display panel with my cd player, air controls, time, etc... Went out and I, once again, took it to a Honda dealer and, once again, was informed that it was a defect and there was also a recall on that. 5 months later, I had to have a new battery and a wire repaired to the battery.
In the summer of the automatic lock on the driver's side stopped working. Now I have to open it manually. I had to have ANOTHER new battery in October.
Then in December the transmission went That's when I found out that the extended warranty that Southtown sold me was no good because the warranty company was in bankruptcy and no longer in business. After many negotations with Southtown, they agreed to cover the cost of the new transmission since the warranty was no good. However, they had me take the car to a regular mechanic instead of leaving it at the Honda dealership where I had it towed. A remanufactured transmission was put in the car and I got it back on December 21st. That very night, the car began leaking power steering fluid and the mechanic was closed over the weekend and the Christmas holidays. I took it back to him the day after Christmas and I had to have the power steering pump replaced. There had been NOTHING wrong with it prior to getting the new transmisson. And Southtown DID NOT cover that. They also did not cover a rental car for the 15 days it was with the mechanic having the transmission replaced. The only thing they agreed to pay for was the transmission. Keep in mind that it was still in the warranty period for the extended warranty I bought. Then in February I had to put a new starter on it. It was still in the warranty phase of the extended warranty period, which was no good. I had to have new studs for the wheel and lug nuts replaced in May. Then in Ocotber the check engine light came on again. I took it back to the mechanic that did the transmission and he said it was some sensors on the transmission that weren't put on when the transmission was put in, so he put them on. Then the day before Thanksgiving, on my way to Florida, the transmission started slipping. So, I turn around and take it back to him where the 3rd transmisson was put in it. It was covered under the warranty from the first remanned one put in so I wasn't out of any money, just time and money for the rental that I had to get for the 2 weeks it took to have it fixed. I also had to have 2 motor mounts replaced (HOW DID THOSE GET BROKEN???) and a new timing belt. Now, I understand that a timing belt is general maintenance thing but WHY does it cost $700???
Two days after I got the car back after the second remanned transmission was put in, another malfunction light began to flash. So back to the mechanic it goes to have a faulty switch replaced.
After doing some research online, I found that there were recalls on the transmission too and that the newer Accords (2002 and up) were having a lot of transmission problems. This car has been in the shop for over 30 days getting repairs. I have spent over $1000 in rental cars, $2000 in repairs, $3000 in general maintenance (oil changes, timing belt, tires, etc...).
I have lost my a* with this car. Never once did the seller mention the recalls, the transmission problems the cars were known for and in addition, they sold me an extended warranty that hasn't covered the first thing and I lost over $1000 buying it for nothing.
And the bad part about it is, I have only had the car 3 and half years and still owe 12K on it. I bet I have to bury it before I have it paid off. And I am also willing to bet that Southtown wouldn't give me Jack on a trade in so that I could get out of it! My advice, don't buy a car from this company without making them have a complete diagnostic screening on it and researching any defects and recalls. I would also highly recommend NOT buying a Honda Accord V6 unless you are ready to go broke maintaining it! I am presently speaking with an attorney about this whole situation (there are lemon laws and though the car has expired their timelines, new laws are made everyday), and I am blogging this all over the place online. I am also printing it and sending to every newspaper, tv station and radio station in the state hoping someone will pick it up. I feel that us women are screwed over way too often when it comes to vehicles and repairs and SOMEONE has to get the ball rolling on having it stopped.
Michelle
Cottondale, Alabama
U.S.A.
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