Repeated Water Problems and the MMWA
#1
07-26-2011, 11:54 AM
Repeated Water Problems and the MMWA
[Edit: this discussion removed for privacy reasons]
Last edited by amusiccale; 07-28-2011 at 11:42 AM.
#2
07-26-2011, 12:12 PM
Issue Summary
We purchased a certified used GD3 Honda Fit in June 2011 but have had repeated problems with water leakage in the right rear foot well and in the trunk (spare tire well). The car has been 'repaired' and returned to us by the dealership twice, and we will be taking it to the dealership a third time (all under the manufacturer's certified used warranty) tomorrow morning, as we have had substantial water leakage yet again. The car already has a musty smell, as the dealership has not replaced the carpets, and we are exploring our legal options as we're deeply disappointed with the vehicle and are concerned about the car's air quality and the rust and structural/safety consequences that would follow repeated, unsolved water leakage.
We sort of like the Fit, but it's hard to feel good about the car under these conditions. Having talked to an attorney, it sounds like we'll be eligible to make a claim under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act after we've had the problem repaired a third time.
Questions
-Has anyone here successfully made a claim through the MMWA? What kind of settlement/timeframe should we expect?
-Another Fit? I'm now quite skeptical about what seems like a drop in quality since our family's 95-99 Hondas, and am thinking about the Elantra Touring or Matrix. Further caveat that manual/sport Fits are hard to come by around here, and after this, we're sticking with certified used to make sure we have some consumer protections in place.
We purchased a certified used GD3 Honda Fit in June 2011 but have had repeated problems with water leakage in the right rear foot well and in the trunk (spare tire well). The car has been 'repaired' and returned to us by the dealership twice, and we will be taking it to the dealership a third time (all under the manufacturer's certified used warranty) tomorrow morning, as we have had substantial water leakage yet again. The car already has a musty smell, as the dealership has not replaced the carpets, and we are exploring our legal options as we're deeply disappointed with the vehicle and are concerned about the car's air quality and the rust and structural/safety consequences that would follow repeated, unsolved water leakage.
We sort of like the Fit, but it's hard to feel good about the car under these conditions. Having talked to an attorney, it sounds like we'll be eligible to make a claim under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act after we've had the problem repaired a third time.
Questions
-Has anyone here successfully made a claim through the MMWA? What kind of settlement/timeframe should we expect?
-Another Fit? I'm now quite skeptical about what seems like a drop in quality since our family's 95-99 Hondas, and am thinking about the Elantra Touring or Matrix. Further caveat that manual/sport Fits are hard to come by around here, and after this, we're sticking with certified used to make sure we have some consumer protections in place.
Since you bought it used, it may not be Honda quality issue. See if you can find evidence of repair or of previous complaint/notices thru Honda, CarFax, or accident publications.
A dealer must disclose such if he knows so you may have to trace the Fit back thru auctions. It may be helpful to ,locate where water is entering by using paper towels taped in various places and hammering the car with water from a hose. or driving across puddles at various speeds.And don't fail to check water coming in thruogh window areas. Drown the window at the sill and slides. And top of doors too.
And you might want to talk to a good body shop that repairs Hondas as well for their input.
good luck..
Last edited by mahout; 07-26-2011 at 12:18 PM.
#3
07-26-2011, 04:17 PM
Thanks, Mahout. To clarify- we're the second owners and purchased it from the same dealer as the original owner, so the service/repair history for the car is unusually complete. The Carfax they provided didn't indicate any reported accidents. They have been attempting to find the water issue (first replaced door seals on the right side, then did some sealing in the rear quarter seam to no avail) while under the certified warranty period.
I guess we should have learned from the number of threads circulating for non-USDM Fits with persistent water issues, but I'd assumed most of the issues would have been fixed a few years into that generation when I went with the opening-year 2007.
I guess we should have learned from the number of threads circulating for non-USDM Fits with persistent water issues, but I'd assumed most of the issues would have been fixed a few years into that generation when I went with the opening-year 2007.
You need to investigate the window itself. One of my friends runs a body shop and is the one who suggested the window as being water leak source. Once in the door frame the water dribbles out of the frame at the bottom. He also suggested taping paper towels around the lower section of the door and inside seam areas to see where water comes in first when you blast the Fit with water from a hose. You could also tape the window at the frame, too, to see if thats the source.
And here is his newest - tape up the door edges so water doesn't get into the area around the door. He thought perhaps aero pressure lifts the door seal allowing water to pass. After taping, if leaking doesn't occur, you probably found at least one source but correction might be a trfle difficult. Again that hose is a good tool to blast the door edge gap before taping.
As you've no doubt realized CarFax is not infallible; nor are insurance records.
Have you asked the previous owner if he had leakage? Was that the reason he 'passed' the car on? In that case the problem may well have been Honda's problem.
Good luck again, especially with that hose..
PS he also suggested a car wash as a good source to test sources of leaks.
Last edited by mahout; 07-26-2011 at 04:25 PM.
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