Sometime on August 4, the “check engine light” came on in my Honda Odyssey ’00. I called Honda and spoke with Ms. Danielle Perron, and she gladly gave me an appointment, and I went early morning of Aug. 6 to have it inspected. I was told that same morning after about almost 2 hours of waiting that my car is having internal transmission failure. They gave me quote of over $2500, and a reassurance that if I have it fixed with a “rebuilt” unit, it will almost be like having a new engine with a 36,000 mile/36 mo. warranty.

After giving it much thought and consideration despite my husband’s suggestion of just buying a new car, I went back to Coggin Honda of Orlando on Aug. 15, 2007 to have it repaired. I came back that same day around 7 pm to pick up my car. The following morning, after driving less than 5 miles from my home, the check engine light came on again. I called Ms. D. Perron and was advised to bring back my car to the center. I brought back my car on the morning 8/17/07, and in less than an hour, Ms. Perron came back with a diagnosis that the catalytic converter has gone bad. No paperwork was generated on that day except the she wrote in a small piece of paper the parts that needed changing and the cost. She reassures me it was not emergent, but it should be replaced no longer than a year. They just “reset” the warning light indicator and also reset the code for the radio, because it didn’t work after I picked up the car on Aug. 15. After 2 days (Aug. 17), the check engine light came on again. I continued to drive my car with the check engine light on for about 3 weeks, but by this time, I was getting frustrated because the car doesn’t drive as smoothly as it did prior to the repair. I decided to bring back my car on Sept. 8 to have it reinspected. Ms. Perron was not working that day, so it was Mr. C. Sanchez who assisted me instead. He advised me that they can do another diagnostic test for which I have to pay another $89.95, but he decided to include a complimentary 19-point inspection. After about 2 hours, he came back with more problems identified, which would cost me $3200 more. The frustration and disappointment that my husband and I are both feeling is the fact that they didn’t catch these problems when they did the diagnostic test the first time. Or do these problems really exist?

When Mr. Carl Pfeiffer, the Service Dept. Manager left a message in our answering machine regarding customer satisfaction as “Honda’s primary goal,” my husband spoke to him and to Mr. Sanchez, and they gave “verbal” reassurance in providing us with customer satisfaction, and or promoting special “consideration” should we decide to buy a new car. (The special “consideration” was that the price of the reinstalled transmission of $2500 would be “applied” towards the purchase of the new vehicle). However, when we went to Coggin Honda to see about getting new car, we met with Mr. Alvin Sanchez, who after a long discussion, consulted the manager on duty that day 9/15/07, but offered no resolution to the complaint, nor provided any “consideration” if we had to buy a new car. He promised that he will let Mr. Pfeiffer know, and to expect a call on Monday, but no one did. (My husband in fact called on Monday to leave a message with Mr. Pfeiffer, who did not return the call). I am very reluctant to bring back my car for fear that they will do more harm than good.