My wife and a passenger were traveling at 55 mph on a country highway in Northern Cal. (Highway 49) in our 2003 Honda Accord EX. For no apparent reason, two of the passenger side airbags deployed. Fortunately they were not hurt but the results could have been fatal.
I called Honda Corp for advice. They referred me to my local Honda Dealer. They asked if I had the roadside service policy to cover towing. We do (plus we purchased the extended warranty - up to 100K). Unfortunately it is only good for up to a $100 tow which wouldn't cover us. Honda Care, Honda Corp and the Honda dealer (Auto West Roseville) refused to pay for the tow even though the car is obviously still under warranty.
They told us this had never happened to a Honda Accord before and therefore my wife MUST have hit something. (Both my wife and the passenger were watching the road at the time of deployment and nothing was hit.) This would make it a collision and therefore it would be up to my insurance company to cover repairs.
When my wife got out of the vehicle there were no signs of damage. The air bags that deployed were seat and side only (not dash) and should have only deployed in a side-impact. They were on a two-lane highway... nothing could have hit them without them knowing.
My wife elected to drive the car in to the dealer rather than pay for a tow (even though Honda wouldn't pay for it, they recommended a tow). They graciously consented to a one-day only rental in a cheesy Ford compact.
We bought top-of-the-line Honda... all the extras (leather, chrome wheels, etc.) and I really feel like Honda is treating us terribly. My wife and passenger were left sitting on a country road traumatized by what could have been a drastic accident caused by an obvious factory defect. The best I could get out of them was, "I'm sorry that we weren't able to help you."
This is our first Honda. I was lured over by the redesigned Accord. IS THIS HOW HONDA TREATS GOOD CUSTOMERS? I would be interested in hearing feedback from others as to how to get their attention. Honestly, my wife is reluctant to get back in the car.
My wife and a passenger were traveling at 55 mph on a country highway in Northern Cal. (Highway 49) in our 2003 Honda Accord EX. For no apparent reason, two of the passenger side airbags deployed. Fortunately they were not hurt but the results could have been fatal. I called Honda Corp for advice. They referred me to my local Honda Dealer. They asked if I had the roadside service policy to cover towing. We do (plus we purchased the extended warranty - up to 100K). Unfortunately it is only good for up to a $100 tow which wouldn't cover us. Honda Care, Honda Corp and the Honda dealer (Auto West Roseville) refused to pay for the tow even though the car is obviously still under warranty. They told us this had never happened to a Honda Accord before and therefore my wife MUST have hit something. (Both my wife and the passenger were watching the road at the time of deployment and nothing was hit.) This would make it a collision and therefore it would be up to my insurance company to cover repairs.
When my wife got out of the vehicle there were no signs of damage. The air bags that deployed were seat and side only (not dash) and should have only deployed in a side-impact. They were on a two-lane highway... nothing could have hit them without them knowing. My wife elected to drive the car in to the dealer rather than pay for a tow (even though Honda wouldn't pay for it, they recommended a tow). They graciously consented to a one-day only rental in a cheesy Ford compact. We bought top-of-the-line Honda... all the extras (leather, chrome wheels, etc.) and I really feel like Honda is treating us terribly. My wife and passenger were left sitting on a country road traumatized by what could have been a drastic accident caused by an obvious factory defect. The best I could get out of them was, "I'm sorry that we weren't able to help you." This is our first Honda. I was lured over by the redesigned Accord. IS THIS HOW HONDA TREATS GOOD CUSTOMERS? I would be interested in hearing feedback from others as to how to get their attention. Honestly, my wife is reluctant to get back in the car.
- Peter C., Sacramento, CA, US