Handbrake handbrake self release (inc recall letter)

[Munro]

An interesting comparison between the "Civic Satisfaction" survey and the "Handbrake Failure" survey shows inconsistent results:

From Civic Satisfaction Survey
18. [*] Handbrake
Faulty, dealer unable to fix....................11...........0.99%
Faulty, now fixed by dealer...................8............ 0.72%
Faulty, but not returned to dealer yet.....28...........2.51%
No faults............................................ ..1068.....95.78%
Total Answers - 1115


From Handbrake Failure Survey
5. [*] Has your handbrake ever failed?
It has never failed ......................................60.......75. 95%
The lever has sprung to the off position.......18...... 22.78%
The car has moved with the handbrake on.... 1......1.27%
Total Answers - 79


In the original survey only 4% of people reported a problem, now 24% of people report a problem ??

[FWH]

Originally Posted by Munro

An interesting comparison between the "Civic Satisfaction" survey and the "Handbrake Failure" survey shows inconsistent results:

From Civic Satisfaction Survey
18. [*] Handbrake
Faulty, dealer unable to fix....................11...........0.99%
Faulty, now fixed by dealer...................8............ 0.72%
Faulty, but not returned to dealer yet.....28...........2.51%
No faults............................................ ..1068.....95.78%
Total Answers - 1115


From Handbrake Failure Survey
5. [*] Has your handbrake ever failed?
It has never failed ......................................60.......75. 95%
The lever has sprung to the off position.......18...... 22.78%
The car has moved with the handbrake on.... 1......1.27%
Total Answers - 79


In the original survey only 4% of people reported a problem, now 24% of people report a problem ??

People with problems may be more motivated to vote in the second survey.

[pjr]

The handbrake failure survey (so far) has a much smaller number of responses, therefore the %ages aren't so statistically significant. Once more people have replied then the two sets of figures could be compared better.

[Topcat]

The other thing to point out is where is says;

"faulty, now fixed by dealer" the dealer hadnt actually fixed it after all as they didnt know what the problem was !!


Maybe new members are replying on the new survey that didnt reply on the previous one.

[FWH]

Originally Posted by Topcat

The other thing to point out is where is says;

"faulty, now fixed by dealer" the dealer hadnt actually fixed it after all as they didnt know what the problem was !!

Could have been other issue than self release.

[Topcat]

Originally Posted by FWH

Could have been other issue than self release.

Thats very true FWH and it wouldnt be a surprise if there were "other" problems too now would it

[TruckerEm]

UPDATE

Still waiting to be contacted by Honda have rung 4 times now. I was told it is taking rather longer than they had hoped to get back to me as they have received rather more calls on the handbrake than they expected!!
If they think i will just give up and forget they are mistaken!!

Other than that would like to say I love my Civic, I love just driving it for no reason what so ever and I am extremely proud of it.
its the 2nd Civic i have had in 15 months. I had a 04 1.6 Vetec Sport which was fab but for the miles I travel to and from work it was drinking to much for my pocket!! So went back to a deisel as had a Peagout 306 before.

[3rd Honda]

"An interesting comparison between the "Civic Satisfaction" survey and the "Handbrake Failure" survey shows inconsistent results"

One reason maybe that when I did the original satisfaction survey my handbrake had not shown any fault.

Since it has done it once (whilst in a queue on the motorway on the flat) - and I changed my handbrake survey result as a consequence.

[Doubtingthomas]

[quote=TruckerEm;127287]UPDATE

Still waiting to be contacted by Honda have rung 4 times now. I was told it is taking rather longer than they had hoped to get back to me as they have received rather more calls on the handbrake than they expected!!
If they think i will just give up and forget they are mistaken!!

I think I am right in saying all your contact with Honda UK has been verbally, by 'phone I believe. I trust you have kept a log going of time, date and name of person(s) you spoke with. If you have nothing in writing from Honda UK, if I were in your shoes, I would now be thinking of ways of how to preserve your offer from Honda UK. In that regard I would contact your local trading standards officer for additional free advice and as someone else reminded readers on another thread, check to see whether your household or motor car policy has Legal Advice cover.

I would be thinking of putting everything in writing including, of course, reminding them of Honda's offer of repairing your Civic due to the handbrake failure, send it by Recorded Delivery to Honda UK and invite Honda to confirm the offer and indicate when the job will be done. Failure to honour their undertaking within a reasonable time (two weeks?) will result in you having to take further action.

Not wishing to intrude, only trying to be helpful and I hope I have got my facts right on your current situation.

Good luck.

[TruckerEm]

[quote=Doubtingthomas;127300]

Originally Posted by TruckerEm

UPDATE

Still waiting to be contacted by Honda have rung 4 times now. I was told it is taking rather longer than they had hoped to get back to me as they have received rather more calls on the handbrake than they expected!!
If they think i will just give up and forget they are mistaken!!

I think I am right in saying all your contact with Honda UK has been verbally, by 'phone I believe. I trust you have kept a log going of time, date and name of person(s) you spoke with. If you have nothing in writing from Honda UK, if I were in your shoes, I would now be thinking of ways of how to preserve your offer from Honda UK. In that regard I would contact your local trading standards officer for additional free advice and as someone else reminded readers on another thread, check to see whether your household or motor car policy has Legal Advice cover.

I would be thinking of putting everything in writing including, of course, reminding them of Honda's offer of repairing your Civic due to the handbrake failure, send it by Recorded Delivery to Honda UK and invite Honda to confirm the offer and indicate when the job will be done. Failure to honour their undertaking within a reasonable time (two weeks?) will result in you having to take further action.

Not wishing to intrude, only trying to be helpful and I hope I have got my facts right on your current situation.

Good luck.

Yes Have got names, times, dates. Have already contacted Consumer Direct and have been giving some next step ideas, spoken to a lawyer and trading standards are next on list closely followed by Watchdog, my local bbc radio consumer programme and who ever else I can.
When i spoke on the phone yesterday I asked to have the conformation on the repair of the damage and was told the person I spoke to could not tell me it would be fixed so feel so back paddling is happening. I am now waiting for a manager to call me. I wont stop bugging until i get an answer and the answer I want looking at the survey looks like i am the only one who has had major damage caused by this fault. (Quoted by dealer at almost £3000) They will soon realise they dont mess me around as I will shout loudly and if need be on the forecourt of the garage I bought my car from!!!

[Doubtingthomas]

[quote=TruckerEm;127337]

Originally Posted by Doubtingthomas

Yes Have got names, times, dates. Have already contacted Consumer Direct and have been giving some next step ideas, spoken to a lawyer and trading standards are next on list closely followed by Watchdog, my local bbc radio consumer programme and who ever else I can.
When i spoke on the phone yesterday I asked to have the conformation on the repair of the damage and was told the person I spoke to could not tell me it would be fixed so feel so back paddling is happening. I am now waiting for a manager to call me. I wont stop bugging until i get an answer and the answer I want looking at the survey looks like i am the only one who has had major damage caused by this fault. (Quoted by dealer at almost £3000) They will soon realise they dont mess me around as I will shout loudly and if need be on the forecourt of the garage I bought my car from!!!

Thank you. You seem to have the matter well in hand. Good luck with your case. However, although I am not a lawyer etc, I still think getting things down in writing helps.

[TruckerEm]

[quote=Doubtingthomas;127342]

Originally Posted by TruckerEm

Thank you. You seem to have the matter well in hand. Good luck with your case. However, although I am not a lawyer etc, I still think getting things down in writing helps.

Will be trying hard for it in writing they have admitted its there fault by saying they will be changing the handbrake next year as if there is nothing wrong why change it??!! They need to do the right thing and pay for my car to be fixed. Or they will be getting a bad name for themselves as I will make sure EVERYONE knows how I have been treated.

[Dimplyred]

Originally Posted by TruckerEm

Yes Have got names, times, dates. Have already contacted Consumer Direct and have been giving some next step ideas, spoken to a lawyer and trading standards are next on list closely followed by Watchdog, my local bbc radio consumer programme and who ever else I can.
When i spoke on the phone yesterday I asked to have the conformation on the repair of the damage and was told the person I spoke to could not tell me it would be fixed so feel so back paddling is happening. I am now waiting for a manager to call me. I wont stop bugging until i get an answer and the answer I want looking at the survey looks like i am the only one who has had major damage caused by this fault. (Quoted by dealer at almost £3000) They will soon realise they dont mess me around as I will shout loudly and if need be on the forecourt of the garage I bought my car from!!!

TruckerEm. In my limited dealings with Honda customer services, all I can say is they don't seem to rush anything. Good luck anyway and I'm sure they'll come good in the end.

[Topcat]

[quote=TruckerEm;127353]

Originally Posted by Doubtingthomas

Will be trying hard for it in writing they have admitted its there fault by saying they will be changing the handbrake next year as if there is nothing wrong why change it??!! They need to do the right thing and pay for my car to be fixed. Or they will be getting a bad name for themselves as I will make sure EVERYONE knows how I have been treated.

Yes and in my experience they are very good at ignoring you. Honda have an extremely poor reputation now amongst my family, friends, neighbours and colleagues none of them would ever touch a honda, especially a civic, one guy at work found out his mum was buying one he told her about my car an she cancelled.

You seem like the sort of person that will keep on at them so thats good, I think Honda should be paying everyone that has had a similar experience as you it is just not acceptable that they can produce a car with,lets face it many many problems and then just refuse to admit any liability.

[Cad]

Originally Posted by Topcat

Yes and in my experience they are very good at ignoring you. Honda have an extremely poor reputation now amongst my family, friends, neighbours and colleagues none of them would ever touch a honda, especially a civic, one guy at work found out his mum was buying one he told her about my car an she cancelled.

Sadly, this is also the case with my circle of friends, family and colleagues. In fact, when I go into the office I have to endure ribbing along the lines of "You managed to get it started then?". The problems have put off two colleagues, who have plumped for an A3 and new Mondeo respectively rather than the Civic!

I'm sure that Honda's response to the Handbrake problem has been dictated by lawyers rather than engineers... that's just how it seems to be these days. Promised calls, that never materialise, are the number one, guaranteed to pee of the customer, action that any company can take though.

[gmp]

Hi. had very nice letter from huk ref. handbrake they just stated the obvious about the release button and was expecting a redesign/improvement for recall next march/april, at least they have done something!

[Topcat]

Well I had a dilemma this morning, first thick frost on the car this winter. Now I would normally leave the car running whilst de-icing the car (god how I miss my heated front screen on the Focus) anway as my young son was sitting in the car waiting to go to school I was reluctant to do this in case the handbrake popped off (my driveway is a very slight slope but enough to make the car move as I have tested it) and neither did I want to be run over by my own car whilst walking in front of it!!

So for the first time in 24 years of owning a car I had to de-ice the car with the engine off which was highly annoying as usually the rear screen would be melted by the time the other windows are done (and with my old car both screens would be melted) I am seriously regretting buying this car!!

[Pottsy]

TC - just bung a brick or similarly sized rock behind one the wheels.

[Doubtingthomas]

Originally Posted by Topcat

Well I had a dilemma this morning, first thick frost on the car this winter. Now I would normally leave the car running whilst de-icing the car (god how I miss my heated front screen on the Focus) anway as my young son was sitting in the car waiting to go to school I was reluctant to do this in case the handbrake popped off (my driveway is a very slight slope but enough to make the car move as I have tested it) and neither did I want to be run over by my own car whilst walking in front of it!!

So for the first time in 24 years of owning a car I had to de-ice the car with the engine off which was highly annoying as usually the rear screen would be melted by the time the other windows are done (and with my old car both screens would be melted) I am seriously regretting buying this car!!

TC, do you have a garage? If you do not, I can excuse your posting and can only suggest you follow Pottsy's suggestion, or maybe a cover......

[Dimplyred]

Originally Posted by Doubtingthomas

TC, do you have a garage? If you do not, I can excuse your posting and can only suggest you follow Pottsy's suggestion, or maybe a cover......

Or a reliable handbrake!!

If it was in a garage it must be cold in there if the windows iced up!!