Handbrake handbrake self release (inc recall letter)

[Dimplyred]

What a nightmare.

There are a couple of people that have successfully got Honda to foot the bill to have their cars repaired. TruckerEm in the post above yours is one of them.

Did you have a letter from Honda explaining the handbrake fault to you

[TruckerEm]

Originally Posted by Hollingsabre

Its just happened this eveing! to my Type-R AGH!!!
I came home and parked the car on the front drive as normal and 100% applied the hand brake, i went inside then about 10mins later my girlfriend said why is your car in the bush! Great I thought!

It rolled about 5mins down a 10-20% gradient. Its damaged the rear bumper where it joins the wheel arch put scratches on the back of the car and scuffed my alloys! I dont know how bad the paint has been scratched as i dont want to rub it off i just want to take it to the dealer as i found it as it happend an 17:55 5mins before the dealer shuts on a saturday so i couldnt ring them! (typical)

If anyone has any legal background or advice on how i should approach the situation with the dealer in the morning it would be very helpfull.

Here are some pics of the damage and where is ended up

Sorry to hear that.
Dis you apply handbrake with the button pressed?
Have you received a letter from Honda UK i the last 4/5 months about the handbrake?

I very much doubt your dealer will be of any help at all, you are better of contacting Honda UK direct but again poss that if you have had the letter that was your warning and Honda UK will prob wangle out of any claim. Hamdog is in same postion as you and Honda UK are refusing to give any money over as he recived the letter. Honda UK seem to think that once we get a letter warning us they do not have to accept liabilty.

[Dimplyred]

Originally Posted by TruckerEm

Sorry to hear that.
Dis you apply handbrake with the button pressed?
Have you received a letter from Honda UK i the last 4/5 months about the handbrake?

I very much doubt your dealer will be of any help at all, you are better of contacting Honda UK direct but again poss that if you have had the letter that was your warning and Honda UK will prob wangle out of any claim.

Those were my thoughts exactly. If you have received the letter, you will have signed to say you received it, and they will probably ask why it wasn't left in gear.

[Hollingsabre]

Im 100% i put on the handbrake properly and when i left the car it didn't move at all, it was only 10mins later when we discovered it had gone for a walk down the drive!
Im going to be very pissed off when i go and see the dealer in the morning and they fob me off with some ***** story.
I will update you all on what the dealer says in the morning, thats Stratsone Honda Mansfield btw!

[TruckerEm]

Originally Posted by Hollingsabre

Im 100% i put on the handbrake properly and when i left the car it didn't move at all, it was only 10mins later when we discovered it had gone for a walk down the drive!
Im going to be very pissed off when i go and see the dealer in the morning and they fob me off with some ***** story.
I will update you all on what the dealer says in the morning, thats Stratsone Honda Mansfield btw!

I really cant see the dealer will do very much. Did you get a letter from Honda UK? As even if you put the handrake on as stated you should of left it in gear.
I wish you luck, mine rolled in November causing £3000 worth of damage I was only closing the gate behind me so had left the engine running so obviously was'nt in gear. My dealer would do nothing and Honda UK in the end agreed to fix it. But I had not recieved a letter before this happened.

[Dimplyred]

Good luck, I hope you get it sorted.

[TTDegs]

might be an obvious question, but what position was the handbrake in when you got back to it?

sorry to hear your news

[Doubtingthomas]

Originally Posted by Hollingsabre

Its just happened this eveing! to my Type-R AGH!!!
I came home and parked the car on the front drive as normal and 100% applied the hand brake, i went inside then about 10mins later my girlfriend said why is your car in the bush! Great I thought!

It rolled about 5mins down a 10-20% gradient. Its damaged the rear bumper where it joins the wheel arch put scratches on the back of the car and scuffed my alloys! I dont know how bad the paint has been scratched as i dont want to rub it off i just want to take it to the dealer as i found it as it happend an 17:55 5mins before the dealer shuts on a saturday so i couldnt ring them! (typical)

If anyone has any legal background or advice on how i should approach the situation with the dealer in the morning it would be very helpfull.

Here are some pics of the damage and where is ended up

Ouch! Sorry to hear of your experience. If you have received "the letter" from Honda UK, and I think you probably have, then you appear to be in the same position as Hamhog. I am afraid it is looking like you, and Hamhog, are in a different scenario than the three or four forum members who sustained damage to their Civics due to handbrake failure prior to "the letter" being published, and whose cars have been repaired at Honda UK's expense.

It appears that Honda UK is not now entertaining claims for handbrake failure, even more so if one did not leave the car in gear whilst on a slope.

If you care to go back in this thread you will find postings covering your question.

I am sure we all sympathise with you but my gut feeling is that you may have an uphill struggle now to convince Honda UK it should pay for the damage. But good luck, until Honda UK say 'No', you never know.

Please let us know how you go on.

PS. Oops, I have just read additional postings, which I missed prior to publishing my response. So I have mainly repeated what others have already said. Sorry.

[hamhog]

Hi everyone, an update on my situation might be of some interest. On Friday next I have an appointment with my solicitor regarding small claims court proceedings against Honda cars. Do not know which tack they will take. Can't be to specific in case the wrong people take an interest. The key issue is that they have definitely paid out to people AFTER receipt of the letter. This I believe sets a precedent in law. Will let you know how I get on.

Hamhog

[Jack The Lad.]

I am a great fan of the small claims courts.(very informal and only the one guy along with the two opposing sides, in a small room.
Used it on many occasions and always dosh out for my barister to appear with me, even though he is far more expensive than my litigation solicitor.
Well worth it, for the initial court costs of £75 ?, which I believe it is now.
Many a time, I have received a phone call,just prior to the hearing, informing me that they wish to settle in full without going to court.

[Doubtingthomas]

Originally Posted by hamhog

Hi everyone, an update on my situation might be of some interest. On Friday next I have an appointment with my solicitor regarding small claims court proceedings against Honda cars. Do not know which tack they will take. Can't be to specific in case the wrong people take an interest. The key issue is that they have definitely paid out to people AFTER receipt of the letter. This I believe sets a precedent in law. Will let you know how I get on.

Hamhog

Thanks Hamhog. I have no to wish to dampen your enthusiam and I wish you the best of luck, like all forum members. Please correct me if I am wrong, although Honda UK may have paid out after receipt of the letter is it not the case the incidents occurred before the letter was published? For your case I hope I am wrong.

I hope Hollingsabre is still following this thread.

[TruckerEm]

Originally Posted by Doubtingthomas

Thanks Hamhog. I have no to wish to dampen your enthusiam and I wish you the best of luck, like all forum members. Please correct me if I am wrong, although Honda UK may have paid out after receipt of the letter is it not the case the incidents occurred before the letter was published? For your case I hope I am wrong.

I hope Hollingsabre is still following this thread.

Those were my thoughts Honda have yes paid out since the letter was sent out but I think those of us who have had sucess had our handbrakes fail weeks even months before Honda UK recognised they had such a huge problem with the Civic handbrake.

[hamhog]

Hi all,
Obviously I would agree with your above sentiments if the incident occurred before it was possible to read the letter. I am talking about a case which occurred as late as 13th March after letter had been received and read.

[TruckerEm]

Originally Posted by hamhog

Hi all,
Obviously I would agree with your above sentiments if the incident occurred before it was possible to read the letter. I am talking about a case which occurred as late as 13th March after letter had been received and read.

oh not heard of that one is that someone on here?

[Hollingsabre]

Hi all, i've got to see the dealer tomorrow as there were no service people in, only sales, so i'll see what they say. I dont think ive caused as much as £3000 worth of damage, but it has left scratches all over the rear and rear quarter, scuffed my alloys on the off-side rear, and the bumber has become detached from the wheel arches.

I did receive the letter about the brake problems, and i only left it out of gear as i have done on many occasions! (DAMN!)

Just wondering how hamhog and TruckerEm started the ball rolling with this, did you see the dealer first then put a complaint in with Honda.

[TruckerEm]

Originally Posted by Hollingsabre

Hi all, i've got to see the dealer tomorrow as there were no service people in, only sales, so i'll see what they say. I dont think ive caused as much as £3000 worth of damage, but it has left scratches all over the rear and rear quarter, scuffed my alloys on the off-side rear, and the bumber has become detached from the wheel arches.

I did receive the letter about the brake problems, and i only left it out of gear as i have done on many occasions! (DAMN!)

Just wondering how hamhog and TruckerEm started the ball rolling with this, did you see the dealer first then put a complaint in with Honda.

My car rolled on the 22nd of November last year. As soon as I could I rang my dealer and complained that my handbrake had failed. I had only bought the car on the 6th September. (£14.500 for a 06 sport) So like you I was spitting feathers!! I took the car into the dealer on the 23rd where they checked the car I was told the handbrake was fine, I asked if they knew of any faults and they said NO. Well the car was there they did a quote for the damage £3000 as the boot had been twisted the bumper had a chunk removed and the middle panel with the H in had all been smashed. (It had rolled into my parent Toyota Hi-lux Surf's bull bar of course not a mark on that one!) I was then thinking I would have to go through my insurance and risk loosing my no claims. Then a few days later a friend of mine found this site. I wasnt the only one with a problem. Afew days after that I received my letter from Honda UK i rang straight away and logged my complaint. After many many many calls I contacted Consumer Direct who advised me to wright a letter to both my dealer and Honda UK uder the sale of goods act. My dealer was having none of that!! But Honda UK after several more calls and faxing paper work to do with the quote to headoffice. It was confirmed that they would pay for the damage, I had to book it in with my dealer for them to fix it and they had already been brieft that I would be calling. The car was fixed at the begining of January.

[Hollingsabre]

Cheers for that i'll start the ball rolling tomorrow!

[hamhog]

Originally Posted by Hollingsabre

Hi all, i've got to see the dealer tomorrow as there were no service people in, only sales, so i'll see what they say. I dont think ive caused as much as £3000 worth of damage, but it has left scratches all over the rear and rear quarter, scuffed my alloys on the off-side rear, and the bumber has become detached from the wheel arches.

I did receive the letter about the brake problems, and i only left it out of gear as i have done on many occasions! (DAMN!)

Just wondering how hamhog and TruckerEm started the ball rolling with this, did you see the dealer first then put a complaint in with Honda.

Hamhog here, had to go to the dealer to get an estimate for damage, they just spout the script given to them by Honda customer relations. best to give cust. relations a ring, try a lady by the name of Dione. Ask the dealer for tel. no. of customer relations (cars)

[dragonglance]

Well i have just gone into Honda today due to the scratches on my dashboard that i am just plain not accepting from a car i have just bought, and they have looked my car up and said, "oh your car needs its handbrake doing as it is part of the recall" no body at honda bothered to contact me regarding this lol

[Doubtingthomas]

Anyone received a letter/telephone call to have the replacement handbrake fitted as per "the letter" received per recorded Delivery from Honda UK late last year?