Germain Honda of Dublin
reviews and complaints

2 years ago I purchased an automobile from Germain Honda of Dublin. I have been unable to obtain a memorandum title for this vehicle. I have repeatedly tried to get Germain Honda to help me resolve this issue, with no success. I am 82 years old and am unable to get tags for this car. The VIN number for the car is ***.

I purchased a vehicle in 2020 and was conned into get HondaCare and which is an extended warranty and GAP insurance and was told I could cancel anytime and it's an easy process. 90 days after I filed to cancel, still don't have my refund. The man who helped me, Joseph F, has yet to return my dozens of emails and calls. Supposed to be a manager and if so, he's a *** one. No reason he shouldn't have contacted me back. They owe me almost $3k and he's avoiding me.

May 20 We purchased a Honda Accord 2019, which we like but when we did the salesman told us that the car has Apple Car play and also the business advertisement for the car shows that the car has keyless entry. The car had neither of these. I complained to the salesman and sent him an email but no response. I have the listing for the car that proves they listed it as Keyless entry equipped but I only have my and my daughter word to prove that he told us that the car had Apple car play. I think a good business would not list the car wrongly and would not misinform the buyer. Also they would respond and correct the issue if they did not intend to do it.

-Car purchased 7/6 -I noticed during the buying process that the car I was looking to purchase had a slight engine tick. I asked the sales person, Shawn, if we could get the noise checked out. He said that IF we purchased the car we would have several days to get the issue investigated/fixed. That included repair or exchange the car. -I was told that the tick sound was natural to any Jeep, which was a lie. -I noticed on the CarFax that the car was serviced by *** Jeep on *** road. I called the *** and they confirmed, unprompted, that they noticed the tick, but that the dealer was unwilling to fix the issue. (5/12) -Germain is now unwilling to let the car be fixed, or replaced -Therefore, Germain had previous knowledge that there was an issue -I took the car to *** Jeep of Delaware, and they confirmed it was a rocker arm issue and that the repairs would cost $1,786.87. Failure to fix could result in engine failure.

On 4/17 we gave Germain Honda a check for 14,246.58 for the purchase of a used 2013 Honda Pilot EX-L. On 4/18 upon starting the vehicle in the morning we noticed it had an issue and was taken to our mechanic who diagnosed it with needing timing belt service. On 4/19 Germain sends me a Carfax report that had falsified service records attached to it. They claimed they changed the oil and filter on 4/6 at 100,090 miles( I test drove it starting at this mileage) yet Sunday 4/18 when I scroll through the oil life on the dashboard of the truck the oil life index is only at 80% which means they did not change the oil and filter prior to selling me this vehicle. The CarFax also stated they performed a pre delivery inspection on 4/6, yet they missed a whole timing belt issue during that inspection. A huge mechanical component to miss looking over. Additionally, I go through my sales paperwork and I have no Buyer's Guide enclosed in my paperwork at all!

August 31 - Had 2016 Honda Pilot vehicle in for service at this dealership. In addition to the service provided, an additional recommendation was provided to me suggesting that the timing belt tensioner should be replaced because it was seeping fluid. I had been experiencing a jerking of the vehicle when changing gears during acceleration in speed and assumed this was the problem. September 3 - Had the dealership replace the timing belt tensioner and timing belt. The charge for the replacement was $1,201.03 plus sales tax. October 8 - Returned to the dealership because the vehicle was still jerking when changing gears during acceleration in speed. Was told that the problem was with the torque converter locking up due to deteriorated transmission fluid. To fix the problem the service personnel replaced the transmission fluid and updated the software controlling it, which was under warranty. I believe that the timing belt replacement was unnecessary.

In short, on July 21 we took our 2000 Honda Prelude for an oil change. Less than a month, car stalled and had to be towed. Come to find out engine knocked due to oil leak, an oil leak that Honda failed to bring to our attention. We have been asking for an estimate and/or detailed description of what they diagnosed when we brought it back to them per their request on August 19. As of today, September 10 and after leaving both *** messages, no response what so ever. They are clearly ignoring the situation and covering up their actions! This car was a gift to our son for his 16th bday. We know the value of this car, hence why we bought it and why we have put money in it during the short time we have had it. We demand some sort of acknowledgment on their part, an apology and a monetary sum for our loss, anger, frustration and our time. Had we not taken the car to Honda for an oil change, the Prelude would still be running!

I was in Honda of Dublin to purchase a vehicle for my daughter back in February this year. Kevin L was the sales man who helped with the sale. After only having the vehicle for seven months the transmission has failed and is currently at a Germain Ford dealer in Beavercreek Ohio. This car was never put through the service department before being sold and finding out now it had multiple safety recalls that should have been addressed before selling. when test driving we asked about the erratic shifting and were told by kevin it was typical for the type of transmission for fuel economy reasons which was a lie to make the sale. I have called the sales manager and keven twice each with no return phone calls. This car belongs to my 18 year old daughter and I am on the loan as well as a cosigner. She has years left to pay and has a undrivable vehicle due to Germain Honda not selling safe and serviced vehicles. I ask Germain Honda to do what's right and resolve this problem. I will gladly close the case and remove unsatisfactory reviews if this is properly resolved.

Purchased a car from this dealership on 10/1. The car is a 2013 Honda Civic and was purchased for my 16 year old son. On 11/10, the brakes on this car started to grind horribly. After reaching out to Germain about this on that day, was told that everyone that could help us was gone for the day and would reach out to us the following day. Decided to take it to Midas to see what the issue was and then decide where to take for service. Upon inspection, the brakes, front and back along with calipers and rotors needed replaced on both front and back brakes. Since the car was not in good condition to travel from our home in Lewis Center to Dublin and I was not paying to have it towed AND since we had not received ANY phone call from Germain that morning, we decided to have the issue fixed with our local Midas. Now, after just purchasing the car we now have an additional $1200 to pay for all new brakes. This car was obviously not inspected before selling to us or if it was, they did not disclose that the brakes were faulty. These faulty brakes and disregard of safety could have caused my 16 year old son to be in an accident.

I entered into a lease agreement in 2018. My lease was due in October so I started to look around and figure out what I was going to do. I went to Germain Honda because it was where I got an auto lease. This time I wanted to buy a vehicle because over 3 years of leasing I had spent over $15,000 on the vehicle. I went to Germain twice and they kept saying they didn't have many cars at all. Since I was about to have breast cancer surgery and knew I would not be able to drive for a few weeks. They finally got a car that I really liked so we sat down to discuss the purchase. My salesman (Dan) was so happy to tell me that I had a lot of "equity" and that could be applied to a purchase of a new vehicle. I told him that at 68 years of age, I would not like a 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 year payment schedule. That's exactly what they did to me. I thought I was going to be financed by Honda Financial but in the end, they bought the car for my from my own bank. I trusted them, and somehow this happened. After I purchased the vehicle on September 9, I did not hear from them for weeks. Finally, one day I opened my bank account and saw the loan I never asked for. It probably had something to do with that piece of paper they said I had to sign. I signed it but did not have time to read everything. They never gave me a copy of my sales contract and have refused to return my calls. *** was the man who texted me while I was at work to come sign one more paper. I did not get one DIME on my "equity" and they arranged for me to pay full price of $36,000. The loan is for EIGHT years. I feel used and lied to. Even the manager *** would not return my calls. So, here I am at age 68 realizing this car won't be paid for until I am 76 years old. The payment is half of my Social Security check and I am so very distraught. I always listened to a guy on the radio called "Boots" and he highly recommended Honda. I am a 21 year veteran and was screwed

I took my 2016 Honda Pilot to Germain Honda on Aug. 25 to get my vehicle's air conditioning checked. It had stopped working a week or so before, and I had taken it to my trusted local mechanic. He looked at it and told me the refrigerant was low but that I needed to take it to a Honda dealer because independent shops like his don't have the necessary equipment to recharge the newer cars with R1234 Freon. He also said the A/C compressor was making a noise and might need replaced. When Germain checked it out, they determined that I needed a new condenser and discharge hose at a cost of >$1,300. My service adviser told me "Your compressor is fine." I took a couple days to think about it, then made another appointment at Germain to get the work done. I took it there on Aug. 28 and left because they said it would be an all-day job. A few hours later my service adviser called and asked me if I had taken the car anywhere where they had tried to recharge the system. I explained, again, that I had only taken to my local mechanic who simply diagnosed the low refrigerant and referred me to a dealer for the repair. The adviser then claimed that "someone else" must've tried to recharge it, because when Germain's crew tried to recharge it the system it got overcharged and the compressor failed. It would be an additional $1,800. I was incredulous. This story made no sense to me and I felt I was being misled or flat out lied to. Either the problem was always the compressor and they misdiagnosed the problem, or it was the Germain crew that overcharged the system and they were making up a story to cover themselves. I paid the $1,400 and left. I took it to Hugh White Honda for a second opinion the following Monday. They agreed it new it needed a new compressor, which they ordered for me. I took it back there on Oct. 25 for the installation. But they found extensive damages to other parts of the system it would need $4,000 in additional service work. Honda agreed to cover 50%.

Consumer mailed handwritten letter of complaint to ComplaintsBoard.com. Below is a transcription of the letter:
"September 30
Dear Columbus ComplaintsBoard.com,
I would like to register a complaint on the treatment I received at Germain Honda Sawmill Rd, on the treatment I received when leasing a Honda HRV 2020.
History
July 10 - signed a lease for a 2020 HRV and was told I would get the car in a couple of weeks.
July 23 Called to inquire about my car and was told my salesman had been called back for active duty. I received two phone calls they were looking into it.
July 26 Received in the mail my first bill for my leased car. Called later that day saying I had received a bill but had no idea where my car was. Received a call saying they were putting my back up warning signals on and I would receive the car soon.
July 28 My salesman called and said the car was ready and it would be delivered Saturday
I kept inquiring about my title so I could get my license plates through a phone call and on my computer. Never heard a word. My temporary plates were to run out August 24 so I called the DMV and inquired what I was to do. It was then I was informed that the dealership had to provide the license plates. I am eighty eight and never leased a car so I had no idea. The week after I called the DMV I received a text saying my license plates had been shipped to the dealership. I finally on September 17, on their computer asked about my plates. I received those license plates the week of September twenty first.
My complaint was unanswered inquiries, misinformation, and stress of dealing with the situation. I leased a car in July and didn't get my license plate til September.
I have dealt with this company for years and never had a problem. My son said I should to a dealership closer to home but we had bought two cars from them before and never had problems.
PS I had decided to enter the easy payment plan. I had to fill out two easy payment contracts, then phone calls two of which I gave my check number and they claimed that I never paid my bill. (One bill was paid for through a phone call.) I went to my bank and am handling the payments through them. This also added to my stress.
Thank you, but I felt his whole deal was a mess which if it had been handled differently would have made my life a little less stressful."
Sincerely,
*** (***) ***"