Soft Top Tear
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 750
Likes: 4
Soft Top Tear
OK so here's the story.
9/2
I was lowering my top in the morning and heard a 'pop'. I raised the top back up and saw there was about a 3" long tear in the top. "Well F Me" I thought. Took it to Santan at around 5 just to see what they would say. I was informed it would be covered under the warranty. I was told to bring my car in Tuesday 9/6 since it was Labor day weekend. In the meantime I had a 2010 Civic rental (which I hated by the way) while they worked on it which they said would take about 2 days.
9/7
I get a call from the dealer saying that it actually isn't covered under the warranty since it wasn't technically a recall. In addition, they wanted to replace the whole top and the straps/rivets totaling $14000. I told them, "Well in that case can't it be repaired? I know there's a patch kit for like $20". They said yes, and that they'd have their upholsterers take a look at it the next day.
9/8
Didn't hear anything from them so I called in after work. I was then told that the upholsterers "wouldn't touch it". I also had to tell the "adviser" again that there's a patch kit for $20. This is what follows:
-Me
"The part number is 86321-S2A-003"
-Him
"huh, it looks like a Honda part number"
-Me
"Well no shit it is, I'm literally reading it out of the service manual"
I was then also told that he would be gone over the weekend.
9/9
I don't hear a single thing from Santan. So I drive in after work and at this point I'm pretty fed up. I've now had the rental for 4 days at $30 a day, so I told them, "Look, unless you're planning on fixing my car right now, I'm taking my car back and I'm not paying a dime for this stupid rental". The other adviser says, "Sure thing, sorry for the delay". He closes out the rental, and I get my car back. Now, for those of you who remembered, it rained on 9/9. I get my car and it's dirty as hell. I'm like, "Uh, did you guys leave this out in the rain?". Adviser says "Guess so". I'm about to explode at this point. "So it was raining, and you left my car out while there's a tear in my top? WTF is wrong with you people?" He gives me a free car wash and I just leave out of sheer anger at the situation.
9/12
I call in having read TSB 09-033 and I wanted to confirm that I and the adviser were reading the same information. No answer so I just left a message around noon.
9/13
I still hadn't heard anything all day so I drive in after work. I meet with the adviser who apparently had been spending his time catching up. I personally don't give a shit. How hard is it to answer your damn phone? Or return phone calls? Anyway, he tells me that since it isn't under the original, factory 3 Year 36,000 mile Warranty, it is NOT covered. I'm like, so what about the extended warranty? I didn't spend an extra $2,000 to have a colored piece of paper. He says that he'll beg with Honda Care to see if they'll cover it.
Today
Got a call back. Bad news. Honda Care refuses to cover it since it's a body part. Well you know what? F it. I'm eventually going to switch to a Spoon hardtop anyway so I'm not going to waste my money on a 3" tear that I will now be fixing myself. This whole situation is extremely frustrating, considering that I bought my car from Santan.
9/2
I was lowering my top in the morning and heard a 'pop'. I raised the top back up and saw there was about a 3" long tear in the top. "Well F Me" I thought. Took it to Santan at around 5 just to see what they would say. I was informed it would be covered under the warranty. I was told to bring my car in Tuesday 9/6 since it was Labor day weekend. In the meantime I had a 2010 Civic rental (which I hated by the way) while they worked on it which they said would take about 2 days.
9/7
I get a call from the dealer saying that it actually isn't covered under the warranty since it wasn't technically a recall. In addition, they wanted to replace the whole top and the straps/rivets totaling $14000. I told them, "Well in that case can't it be repaired? I know there's a patch kit for like $20". They said yes, and that they'd have their upholsterers take a look at it the next day.
9/8
Didn't hear anything from them so I called in after work. I was then told that the upholsterers "wouldn't touch it". I also had to tell the "adviser" again that there's a patch kit for $20. This is what follows:
-Me
"The part number is 86321-S2A-003"
-Him
"huh, it looks like a Honda part number"
-Me
"Well no shit it is, I'm literally reading it out of the service manual"
I was then also told that he would be gone over the weekend.
9/9
I don't hear a single thing from Santan. So I drive in after work and at this point I'm pretty fed up. I've now had the rental for 4 days at $30 a day, so I told them, "Look, unless you're planning on fixing my car right now, I'm taking my car back and I'm not paying a dime for this stupid rental". The other adviser says, "Sure thing, sorry for the delay". He closes out the rental, and I get my car back. Now, for those of you who remembered, it rained on 9/9. I get my car and it's dirty as hell. I'm like, "Uh, did you guys leave this out in the rain?". Adviser says "Guess so". I'm about to explode at this point. "So it was raining, and you left my car out while there's a tear in my top? WTF is wrong with you people?" He gives me a free car wash and I just leave out of sheer anger at the situation.
9/12
I call in having read TSB 09-033 and I wanted to confirm that I and the adviser were reading the same information. No answer so I just left a message around noon.
9/13
I still hadn't heard anything all day so I drive in after work. I meet with the adviser who apparently had been spending his time catching up. I personally don't give a shit. How hard is it to answer your damn phone? Or return phone calls? Anyway, he tells me that since it isn't under the original, factory 3 Year 36,000 mile Warranty, it is NOT covered. I'm like, so what about the extended warranty? I didn't spend an extra $2,000 to have a colored piece of paper. He says that he'll beg with Honda Care to see if they'll cover it.
Today
Got a call back. Bad news. Honda Care refuses to cover it since it's a body part. Well you know what? F it. I'm eventually going to switch to a Spoon hardtop anyway so I'm not going to waste my money on a 3" tear that I will now be fixing myself. This whole situation is extremely frustrating, considering that I bought my car from Santan.
Moderator
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 7,041
Likes: 355
From: Arizona
I'm not sure what sort of liability the dealership has in regards to your interior getting soaked in a downpour. It's reasonable to expect them to care for the car while it is in their possession, but I don't know if it's reasonable to expect them to move the car at a chance of rain. You can always go in and get rowdy about it, but you're success may vary.
Patching the top is easy, and I just so happen to have an entire soft top's worth of material sitting in my garage that can be used for this.
Did you call Honda Care? If not do it your self. If they say no you can try AHM, but I don't know how far you'll get. Realistically the soft top is a wear item just like brake rotors or brake pads. It should have never split like that, however there is nothing you can do about that at this point.
What year is your car? How many miles? How many times do you put the top up and down a day?
Patching the top is easy, and I just so happen to have an entire soft top's worth of material sitting in my garage that can be used for this.
Did you call Honda Care? If not do it your self. If they say no you can try AHM, but I don't know how far you'll get. Realistically the soft top is a wear item just like brake rotors or brake pads. It should have never split like that, however there is nothing you can do about that at this point.
What year is your car? How many miles? How many times do you put the top up and down a day?
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 750
Likes: 4
The interior didn't really get wet, so I wasn't as mad but it was more of the principle of the thing. It's a 2007 with 12k miles on it. I'm the second owner but it had 6k on it when I bought in October of 2010. I usually put the top down on the way to work and then back up when I get there, so one up/down per day. The thing that gets to me is that the TSB basically says "We know there is a design flaw that will tear the top. Not a matter of if. Matter of when." Do you have recommendations for fixing it? I have a DIY kit but ideally I'd like to have the same material to fix it.
I'm not sure what sort of liability the dealership has in regards to your interior getting soaked in a downpour. It's reasonable to expect them to care for the car while it is in their possession, but I don't know if it's reasonable to expect them to move the car at a chance of rain. You can always go in and get rowdy about it, but you're success may vary.
Patching the top is easy, and I just so happen to have an entire soft top's worth of material sitting in my garage that can be used for this.
Did you call Honda Care? If not do it your self. If they say no you can try AHM, but I don't know how far you'll get. Realistically the soft top is a wear item just like brake rotors or brake pads. It should have never split like that, however there is nothing you can do about that at this point.
What year is your car? How many miles? How many times do you put the top up and down a day?
Patching the top is easy, and I just so happen to have an entire soft top's worth of material sitting in my garage that can be used for this.
Did you call Honda Care? If not do it your self. If they say no you can try AHM, but I don't know how far you'll get. Realistically the soft top is a wear item just like brake rotors or brake pads. It should have never split like that, however there is nothing you can do about that at this point.
What year is your car? How many miles? How many times do you put the top up and down a day?
Moderator
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 7,041
Likes: 355
From: Arizona
Give me a bit to clean it up and get the top cut up. I'll give people scraps. It was given to use for free (Thanks Blake) for the side pieces, so I figure the least I can do is give it back out to the guys who need it. 
I'm saving a chunk for me, just in case, Madhav needs a slice, and now you two. I imagine I should have plenty for all.
I'm saving a chunk for me, just in case, Madhav needs a slice, and now you two. I imagine I should have plenty for all.
Moderator
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 7,041
Likes: 355
From: Arizona
The interior didn't really get wet, so I wasn't as mad but it was more of the principle of the thing. It's a 2007 with 12k miles on it. I'm the second owner but it had 6k on it when I bought in October of 2010. I usually put the top down on the way to work and then back up when I get there, so one up/down per day. The thing that gets to me is that the TSB basically says "We know there is a design flaw that will tear the top. Not a matter of if. Matter of when." Do you have recommendations for fixing it? I have a DIY kit but ideally I'd like to have the same material to fix it.
Originally Posted by Feezy' timestamp='1316036750' post='20973648
I'm not sure what sort of liability the dealership has in regards to your interior getting soaked in a downpour. It's reasonable to expect them to care for the car while it is in their possession, but I don't know if it's reasonable to expect them to move the car at a chance of rain. You can always go in and get rowdy about it, but you're success may vary.
Patching the top is easy, and I just so happen to have an entire soft top's worth of material sitting in my garage that can be used for this.
Did you call Honda Care? If not do it your self. If they say no you can try AHM, but I don't know how far you'll get. Realistically the soft top is a wear item just like brake rotors or brake pads. It should have never split like that, however there is nothing you can do about that at this point.
What year is your car? How many miles? How many times do you put the top up and down a day?
Patching the top is easy, and I just so happen to have an entire soft top's worth of material sitting in my garage that can be used for this.
Did you call Honda Care? If not do it your self. If they say no you can try AHM, but I don't know how far you'll get. Realistically the soft top is a wear item just like brake rotors or brake pads. It should have never split like that, however there is nothing you can do about that at this point.
What year is your car? How many miles? How many times do you put the top up and down a day?
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Registered User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,004
Likes: 0
From: Your mom's house, AZ
I've had a couple things goodwilled from American Honda and my experience has been good. They seem to respond well when approached in a polite, professional manner. I don't think you'll have much luck if you want to go the "attack the dealer" route. I understand your frustration but sometimes you have to suck it up to get what you want.
Good luck! I was "fortunate" enough that my top ripped in under three years and was replaced free.
Good luck! I was "fortunate" enough that my top ripped in under three years and was replaced free.
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 750
Likes: 4
Yeah, I'm more upset with my experience with the "service adviser" than anything else. There was just so much time wasted and his apparent lack of competence. The guy was cool enough and all, but I don't think he represented Santan as well as he should have. I'll probably call up the Honda Care folks myself and see how far begging goes. If not I'll definitely come out to the Wednesday meet next week to get some cloth and hopefully get it decently fixed.
