I'm on Honda number 16 -
I'm on Honda number 16 - first being a '75 Civic hatch that my parents gave me in '78 when I got my license. I've loved every one of them, and from an aesthetic design standpoint my current '18 Civic Sport hatchback may be my favorite, however, the way this situation has been handled has me looking at other makers for the first time ever. I did a one time pay lease on the '18 in June of '18 and it was great for the first few months, but when winter set in, it started missing and coughing out clouds of white smoke when I'd shut it down. My initial excellent mileage dropped precipitously as well. In about March or April of '19 I received the recall for an "electrical update" on the AC unit. The way it was worded in the letter made me think it may have something to do with what I was experiencing. When I went in, I was asked if I needed my oil changed. I was only at 40% oil life on the initial oil as I only drive about 6500 miles a year. They then told me my oil HAD to be changed as part of the process. I used to work at a dealership and know the first oil has additives that help seal engine parts - when I asked them about this and WHY the oil needed to be changed on an electrical update, the answer I got from 3 people at the dealership was "it's part of the process". As warm weather came (I'm in Michigan) after the recall work the car ran pretty well again, and my mileage came back up some. However, this past February, it started acting up again, and almost left me stranded one Sunday morning (car wouldn't go more than 15 mph) I put some STP in it and it returned to semi-normal. It was about this time that I received info from the law firm in Minnesota that many of us likely did, and connected the dots on this "cover-up" It prompted me to write a lengthy letter to the owner of the dealership and American Honda. I got two "generic" replies from the company, and no reply back from the owner. I have a year left on my lease which I paid up front for, and I'm still deciding what I'm going to do about it. This coronavirus pandemic has given me some extra time as my business is shut down. I'm in the midst of formulating a plan going forward. It may well come to pass (if this isn't handled in a fair way) that this is my last Honda after driving them for 42 years exclusively.