Honda Dealer Service reviews and complaints

On 12/14/2022, I took my Honda van into Metro Honda dealership in Montclair, CA for oil & filter change service which includes 18 point inspection. It was a bad decision as this service location is a fraud. They advertise oil & filter change service includes 18 point inspection for $67.95 before tax and fee; however, they did not inspect any part of the car other than check and fill up the tire pressure. At check out, they did not go over my car report and just asked me to sign. I asked the adviser what I am signing; he states that signing states he had gone over with me. I looked at him and asked what is it that I should know, where is the 18 point inspection report? He then hands me a Multi-point inspection form in Black and White. I was very disturbed by the form reason being, 1) when my car was pulled into the service building and up the car lift, there was almost no customer waiting and I was able to stand right outside with a full view of my car on lift. I observed the technician draining and filling my oil and replacing the filter, checking and filling up my tire pressure before they brought my car down from the lift and drove to the pickup service location outside of the service office. 2) The advisor hands me report for the inspection which covers interior/exterior/battery performance, under the hood, under vehicle, tire condition and brake linings. Much of the items on the report, from my observation, were not done. 3) The inspection report were said to be color coded, using color to indicate what item require my attention. This report was printed in black and white. Advisor states that they don't have a color printer. Yet, I see a color form of the inspection report right in front of him. Advisor could have transferred manually to that color form instead of insisting that the black and white form is sufficient when I repeatedly state that I can't read the note in black and white. Advisor then proceed asking for payment while I am still trying to figure out the black and white report. He took my credit card for payment and said everything is fine with my car. I told him, I know there is issue with the car as I had my vehicle previously looked at by another Honda dealership. Also, noting to the advisor that I had observed the entire service and the technician did not visually inspect my vehicle and that I don't understand how this report can be created. Advisor cannot respond other than my car was done accordingly. I asked to see a detail of what all the items on the inspection form are and how they are performed, advisor brought over his service manager, Gary hidalgo. I re-explain to him what I saw and that this supposes inspection form is fraud as the inspection was not performed. Service manager insist they had done all the inspections on the form when they checked my tire pressure and threads. I exampled some of the items on the inspection form, such as shock absorber, transmission/fuel connection, drive shaft and condition of hoses and connections which cannot be visually inspected by standing on the outside where the tires were; furthermore, technician spend mere seconds on each tires and I did not see the technician looking around the under carriage of the car while he was checking the tire pressures. Manager Gary ignored my observation and insists that all the listed items on the inspection form were done when the technician was checking the tires. I reiterate that many of the items cannot be visually inspected by standing on the outside of the car by where each of the tires. I did not observe technician going under the carriage when he had my car lifted up. The only time he was under the car was to do oil drain and filter change. It is fraud to advertise a paid service, when the service was not performed. Manager Gary then pulls my car into the shop and lifts the car, walks around under the carriage with his flashlight that lasted no more than 15 seconds and said he had inspected and no issue that requires attention. This service location not only defraud customer by advertising service that was not performed, they were unethical and unprofessional when they provide an all pass inspection report when they did not even perform the inspection. Their failure endangers customer's life by affirming the car is in good condition when the car has issues.

Capitol Honda
Categories: Car Dealers, Auto Repair
5/21/2010
My wife has 2000 Honda Civic that she has taken very good care of an it is almost like new at 10 years old and 150K miles. Over the years we have mostly taken it to the dealer for all service.

At the 150K mark the dealer recommends a major service which I was quoted $600 at first. Then I a coupon for South Bay Honda showed up in the mail. The coupon was for $100 and it said the major service was $448. Since we have taken her car to capitol before we figured that their "match any other dealer coupon" would be honored. When I asked the service advisor said sure they was accept the coupon, but not honor the reduced price, cause they flush the coolant and brake fluid as a part of the service and South Bay Honda does not. I had the guy call South Bay Honda to verify and they did verify that those services are not included. So I told the service advisor to go ahead and flush the fluids.

About four hours later my wife and I were shopping for house stuff and planning on spending a few hundred bucks when we she got a call from Capitol Honda. At first I figured it was the typical "Your car is ready" call, but my wife's face quickly change from happy to sad/afraid. She handed the phone and said "there is something wrong with my car and it is going to cost $600 more. So I asked the service advisor what was up and he said "The right rear brake cylinder was puking fluid." I was amazed and shocked that it was puking fluid and we had not noticed any problems. When I asked how much he said he would us a discount down to $600 including a $75 brake cylinder. I asked him how low the fluid reservoir was.

While waiting for the service advisor to call me back I called a mechanic friend and asked him if he could fix it for us at his shop. My friend quoted me $150 including labor and 1 $40 (direct from Sunnyvale Honda) brake cylinder. Hmmm quite a huge difference in labor price at a gas station shop and for dealer direct parts.

The service advisor called me back and said the fluid was 4mm above the low fluid line. Hmmmmm now that does not seem to bad for something that was puking fluid. I asked the service advisor flush the brake fluid as part of the service and fill it up.

After picking up her car we drove it directly to my friends service station to get it fixed that day. My friend noticed that the fluid in the reservoir was very dirty and just above the low level line. Hmmm I thought I paid for this to be flushed. When he lifted the car and took off the wheels we noticed that there was no leak at all and the cylinder were dusty but semi new. They definitely had not been wiped down or replaced and other than brake dust the pretty clean.

Not only did the dealer try to steal $600 form us, but there was no hint of a problem and they did not flush the brake fluid as we had paid for.

I am not a mechanic, but these guys are shady. Please stay away from Capitol Honda Service Center and save yourself from getting ripped off.

Picture to show you what I saw when my mechanic opened the brake cylinder.