My expectations haven't lowered.I took my first new Honda back for a broken slider button, clock & something else that I don't remember now. 3 things wrong on an '82 was very lemony!! Once those were dealt with there wasn't another problem.Honda has had tons of updates & campaigns plus several recalls since the beginning.... paint was an issue back in the 80's, distributors, wire looms, brakes, wheels, lttle pieces, big pieces.... LOTS! Many have been years later & THATS the difference. People that had their 94-97 balancer shaft seal done got reimbursed their money. They saw in 2001 or so that it was much too common & put out a "recall" & paid people back that had it done before that.Unfortunately, we are an instant gratification bunch. So if Honda decides in 4 years that the head units in the '03s were above & beyond faulty then they could do it again. We want it done NOW...they need to research & see WHY this happens. When they do they generally do something.I certainly don't come anywhere close to "worshipping" the company. I see a side many don't. I'm brand loyal to many companies: I've bought Tide for 30+ years. Because it's the best? I have no idea. But it's works better than the others I've tried for the stuff I clean & I like the smell better. All my appliances are GE. I had wonderful luck with them & their company one the ONE repair I needed. I only buy Bounty paper towels. I could list a bunch. Each thing I have a reason for sticking to. So I'll buy it whether or not it's on sale.When it comes to cars, I've owned other brands & have had the least amount of problems with Hondas. I couldn't get Chevy to replace a seat belt that was still under warranty. I couldn't get Toyota to do squat. My dad couldn't get Ford to do a recall on his truck for the master brake cylinder. (it went out every 3 months, they'd only do it the first time)So we're all products of our experiences with whatever we buy. I WISH ALL COMPANIES just believed us & OUR info & said "yep, you're right...there's been a few more of these this go wrong....we'll cover it for free. No matter what." That's not reality. We think we know there's been tons of head units go out. They saw a problem & issued a bulletin which is now working agaist them since people use that to "prove" theirs should be replaced too. What if the problem was consistantly going out at 12K for 90% of the cars it went out on. Then the other 10% waited until AFTER 36K & those are actually a completely different reason. So they put in head units to make us happy...but the actual problem is still there & will go out again. Since some drive lots of miles...that could be a 2 year old unit going out again! Wouldn't it be better to do their research & find the actual cause? Then later have a permanent fix. There isn't any extended warranty on these units as of now. Some dealers have replaced them after warranty & not charged the customer & ate the cost themselves or HOPED Honda reimbursed them.Maybe Honda needs to improve Aisimo & make enough to be all the Service managers...then they'd all follow the rules.... but as it is now we're all dealing with people. Which means some get off on the power play of their position. So you'll get some that are better at customer relations & some that are in the wrong line of work.The point is that I try to make time after time is that we're blaming the company for the individuals that were dealing with. A problem with any company. Honda isn't in control of how each dealer handles things. I know of a Honda dealer that had so many complaints that they lost their ability to buy their parts directly from Honda, they lost their standing with them. They could sell Hondas, but they weren't allowed to do warranty work on them. The public wasn't aware of it. It's still looked the same. They just started making people pay for stuff that SHOULD have been warranty. The owner died. They are now working on getting back in Honda's good graces. The public is still unaware there was any problem.Honda did what they could legally. But just because a place carries your name doesn't make you their dictator. That's why so many of us say "try another dealer"! Sorry this is so long.....
