Map

Hi everyone, as far as I know I am correct by starting a new thread? It's a first time for me here. We just picked up a new 08 civic less than 50 KM on it from a Honda dealer. The reason we bought this leftover 08 (4dr) is because in Canada we get a $1,000 eco rebait and I talked the dealer down 3% off asking price. So we thought we got a good deal. Until I drove the car. It's my wifes car, and we took a 200 km drive on a Sunday a few weeks ago when it had about 1000 kms on it. It consistantly pulls to the right. It's to say the least annoying a new HONDA. So we called and took it back 2X alraedy. They have had it for a total of 4 full days!!! Fist they said it was the tires NO. Then they said it was the alighment NO. Then the installed a front camber kit NO. My wife picks up the car and they tell her Honda says it's the rear camber and they have ordered a kit for it??? I'm ready to flipout. The car now has 4800 km and still hasn't been fixed. We are waiting on the parts to arrive. Has anyone heard of such a problem. If they can't get it fixed should I demand another new 2008.

thanks in advance Map

plastics

The problem as you discribe sounds like a tire or alignment issue.

Most of the dealer don't have the latest and best tire balancers and electronic alignment equipment, so they can't do a good job.

It's probaly time to get a second opionion, and to take it to a good alignment shop that 's got the best equipment. You should be able to pin point the problem then.

I had a similar problem and after twice to the dealer, I got it fix at a Goodyear store with the best equipment. I went back to the dealer and show them the bill and they covered the bill and gave me a refund.

Plastics

gearbox

iTrader: (95)

sounds like they finally got it right. its the rear camber kit but im not sure a new one will fix the problem. its a design flaw and may not be able to keep the adjustment. as a result, alignment is not possible and the tires wear out faster aside from car pulling to one side. you may have to go aftermarket to fix it. and agreed, dealers arent the greatest at doing alignment and tire work.

Map

Thanks Plastics and Gearbox. A second opinion is what I'll have to get if they don't agree to replace it with another new 08. That is if they can't fix it? Which is what I can't beleive. This particular Honda dealer also owns a Toyota, and Chrysler dealership in the town. The Chrysler dealership had the car on their alighment machine and said it was almost right on spec? Who knows to believe who? Anyway, I'm calling them today to get the exact plan. What is the design flaw? I also heard the service manager talking about adusting the subframe. That dosn't sound good to me.

Map

OK an update I was wrong about the front camber kit being done already. I was missinformed by my wife. Honda installed updated controll arms on the rear? acording to Honda to ensure that it had no influence on the pulling? They have now ordered front camber bolts to adjust the front I was assured today by the service manager that this will solve the problem. The bolts are on back order from honda. Any comments are appreciated.

gearbox

iTrader: (95)

hopefully that will fix it. getting a new 08 will most likely not fix the issue.

Map

OK just an update. Any comments please. So I dropped off the car last night expecting to pick it up today fixed. They installed new camber bolts and had the same results (pulling to the right). I phoned tonight and it wasn't ready yet. They installed the bolts on spec still pulls. They even tried to compensate by over adjusting so the opposite tire pulls left and it still pulls to the right. Needless to say I didn't pick up the car. According to tech support the only thing left to do is change the right axle? They figure some reason for friction causing the pull. I can understand that theory, but with the quality control standards I can't see anything going together that tight to cause that much friction. I asked them if that doesn’t work then what? The service manager says they will talk to Honda Canada about replacing the car. I'm ready for that to happen this is getting ridiculous.
Map

gearbox

iTrader: (95)

just get a different car. if they cant fix the same problem after 3 times, its a lemon. it shouldnt be that hard, its a simple alignment problem. maybe they just dont know how to align a car?

twitchit

It sounds like they might have it by replacing the axle. If it just has a faulty axle then replacing the right axle should solve the problem. The diff maybe have a part in it as well considering if the left wheel is pulling harder than the right wheel then it would veer right quite a bit.

If that doesn't work i'd say just get rid of it. It's definately a lemon and not worth the hassle anymore. It sounds like you've already been through a lot with the car so you might as well just get rid of it.

Map

Yes. Thanks guy's. I'll keep you posted. Today I am going to look into Canada's lemon law and find out what rights I have just in case they try dragging this on and can't fix it today.
Map

Map

UPDATE. Well after 10 full days of service I pick up the car. To say the least this Honda service is something I've never came across at any auto service before. After all the multiple wheel alignments, camber kit, rear control arms, moving tires around .... the list goes on...
They take the exact same car put it on the alignment machine and verify the specs. Then take the new snow and rims (purchased at that dealer) and put them on that car-take it for a drive and it pulls to the right. So that's the story I got. From that fact they assume all along that my car originally was out of alignment from the factory. The first alignment showed the car in spec. The waited for a response from Honda - and installed the new rims and snows - from that point on it was impossible to get the car to stop pulling.
They told me that they balanced 2 tires & reset the bead seal on one tire then the car stopped pulling. I sort of dought that's the whole story.
I have been very calm and patient thru this process. The dealer service had seemed frustrated and lost most of the time. Needless to say I will never buy another Honda from them.
As for he car, it is much better - with a very slight pull to the right. I will live with that if it remains slight. But in the spring when the alloy rims and summer tires go on it better not pull. The service tech says he is going to mail me copies of the service records 60 pages
.

gearbox

iTrader: (95)

lol thats crazy i think they just dont know how to balance/align a car properly.

Map

I'm posting an update after some time now. The Honda service got around to sending a nice little service report for all the issues. So it says they had to adjust the subframe to fix the problem. Nothing like or including what the service manager said. If I ever receive that call from Honda Canada inquiring about the service they will get an earfull! It is a nice document to have if this car starts eating tires or something. Anyway after a few more thousand km's the car seems perect and no other complains - except for a slight design flaw. lots of ice build up at the top of the trunk lid due to heat escaping and melting snow. I will buy another Honda, but maybe one not assembled in Canada.

Map

this is an update to say that my 2008 civic still has a pulling to the right issue. It became noticable when the weather warmed upand was even worse when the alloy rims and stock tires were replaced. (read previous posts). They now hav had this car a total of 25 full days this time it's still in after 2 weks! the dealers service manager agrees there is something wrong but dosn't know what to do. It's all in Hondas hands now he says. they have changed axles, investigated the poer streeing sytem changed varouis tires, done several alignments, taken the car to an auto body alignment specialist. put it on a 4 wheel dyno.
I have a loaner Fit that they want back and Honda Canada is to rent me a car while they swap the subframe with another civic. Comments please. any experience with dealing directly with honda. the service manager says he may have arbitrate with honda to buy back this car so they can get me a replacement....help what should I do?
Map

gearbox

iTrader: (95)

buy an aftermarket camber kit SPC or ingalls for around $150 and have a specialty suspension/tire shop install it and align the car. its not something the dealer will be able to fix because the oem part is faulty. ive seen the problem on hundreds of 06+ civics on the road and hybrids too. you can see the rear tires look like this \ instead of | when theyre driving which is very dangerous.

Ckutch02EX

I hate Honda dealers. I had a 2002 ex coupe, got rear ended in 2003. The car was smashed all the way up to the back windshield and the car hit me so hard I hit the car ahead of me and my front bumper fell off. My passenger side wheel was bent and poped the tire. THe car had like 25k on it when it happened and I told my insurance and the Honda dealer that I didn't want it back if the car was going to give me problems for the rest of its life or if it would affect the title. They told me not to worry it would be fine and no problems. For the next 6 years, I had to change the breaks every year and went through two sets of tires a year as well as the clear coat chipping off the trunk. When I traded it in this march for a 2005 ex the dealer showed me the Carfax for my 2002 which said extensive frame damage. I only got 2k for trade in because of it. Wish I could sue them now. Then two weeks after I bought the 05 both front tires bubbled for no reason. I took it in and told them I wanted new tires and they gave me a run around about potholes. I told them "I have had this car for less then a month. I spent 11k of my money on it. It only has 46k on it and it's under waranty from you guys for 2 more months. I didn't hit a damn pothole the bubbles are in different parts of the sidewalls and on BOTH tires. That's a big f'ing pothole. Now fix the car!!!!" They still gave me a run around for 2 more hours before I really lost my temper and told them if it was not fixed before the end of the business day I would take legal action. They finally fixed it. It sucks that you spend so much on a car and get **** on by the service center.