Apr 22
Honda kicks Canadians again!
Honda really doesn’t like Canadians, now they have adopted a new policy – no recall letters to Canadians… no soup for you!
refer to this post:
- Pages:
- En Français
- Links
- Categories:
- Archives:
- Meta:
Apr 22
Honda really doesn’t like Canadians, now they have adopted a new policy – no recall letters to Canadians… no soup for you!
refer to this post:
April 22nd, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Well, one sort of expected that it would come to this since there appears to be no government oversight of the manufacturers´conduct. Since the RCL is REQUIRED by a pseudo-government agency, what kind of country are we living in if a company can simply refuse to comply with that requirement? As I noted before, what would be Revenue Canada´s response if your employer decided either that he couldn´t be bothered providing your statement of earnings so that you can complete your income tax return, or he decided to charge you $500 each year to do so?
April 22nd, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Honda’s actions appear to be illegal under Transport Canada’s Motor Vehicle Safety Act, subsection 10.(1)
NOTICE OF SAFETY DEFECTS
Obligation to give notice
10. (1) A company that manufactures, sells or imports any vehicle or equipment of a class for which standards are prescribed shall, on becoming aware of a defect in the design, construction or functioning of the vehicle or equipment that affects or is likely to affect the safety of any person, cause notice of the defect to be given in the prescribed manner to
(a) the Minister;
(b) each person who has obtained such a vehicle or equipment from the company; and
(c) each current owner of such a vehicle or equipment as determined
(i) from any warranty issued by the company with respect to the functioning of the vehicle or equipment that has, to its knowledge, been given, sold or transferred to the current owner,
(ii) in the case of a vehicle, from provincial motor vehicle registration records, or
(iii) in the case of equipment, from a registration system referred to in paragraph 5(1)(h).
http://www.tc.gc.ca/acts-regulations/GENERAL/m/mvsa/act/mvsa.html#NOTICE%20OF%20SAFETY%20DEFECTS
Of course the real problem is Transport Canada who already has this information.
April 22nd, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Do you know a broker or someone who can help me to buy a brand new 2008 Honda Odyssey EX ? Or do you know the procedure to buy from a canadian in United States ? I haven’t found yet a Honda dealer who want to sale a car to a canadian ? I’m ready to buy but they ask me to be a resident of USA. If you don’t have anybody or Honda dealer or a procedure to suggest to me, I plan to ask an american guy to buy the car for me and the minute after he will sale to me. What do you think about this idea ? Personnaly, I don’t like it to much but it’s the better I have found until now.
April 23rd, 2008 at 1:15 am
If Honda is refusing to provide a recall letter at any cost then you have a legitimate
complaint and TC should force RIV to issue your form 2 anyways.
You will likely have to complain to TC but you should be able to make it happen.
April 23rd, 2008 at 4:00 am
Ask Honda once more, but make sure you get their response in writing this time.
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:26 am
The Secretary of State for Illinois, U.S.A ,has a brochure online that defines Grey Market.
“Grey Market” Vehicles:
Grey market vehicles are those vehicles not originally
manufactured in compliance with U.S. emission
and safety standards.
Federal law prohibits a grey market vehicle from
being operated on public highways or sold until
the vehicle is in compliance with federal regulations.
Once in compliance, the vehicle is no longer
considered a grey market vehicle.
Now, I was sure our country manufacturers Hondas for the U.S. market. In doing so, the vehicles would need to comply with U.S emissions and safety standards. According to my information Honda manufactures the Pilot, Odyssey, Acura CSX, Civic (2 and 4 dr), Ridgeline, and Acura MDX in North American plants. I am positive these vehicles, whether built in Canada or the US, would comply with American emissions and safety standards. The term “grey market” has in itself been coloured “grey” to suit the needs of manufacturers. Of course, do not seek assitance from Ottawa, as they will surely claim that the issue is out of their jurisdiction. One would think that with overall vehicles sales in the U.S at a near all-time low that manufacturers would be pleased to sell cars to Canadians, as well as, Americans. Honda’s U.S sales in March were down 3.2% from 2007, and are down 0.4% YTD. Obviously, they are satisfied with that sales performance. Satisfied enough to shut out Canadian consumers wanting to import U.S. (some Canadian made) Hondas. It’s a head scratcher!
Here is the link to Jesse White’s brochure : http://www.sos.state.il.us/publications … sd2728.pdf
Additional Comment:
If Honda is bold enough to pull off such a stunt, one can bet other U.S manufacturers are closely monitoring public reaction. If Honda’s strategy works others may follow!
Posts: 67
Joined: Wed Jan 30, 2008 6:30 pm
Private messageE-mail
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:46 am
Attention Business/Automotive Editors: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2008/01/c9210.html
Honda Canada sets 1st quarter sales record
Record March sales for Honda Fit, Civic, Ridgeline and CR-V
TORONTO, April 1 /CNW/ - Honda Canada Inc. reported combined record March
sales of 16,285 units by its Honda and Acura divisions, a 7% increase over
last year’s March sales. With record first quarter sales of 40,356 units,
Honda and Acura combined sales were up 24% over the previous first quarter
sales record of 32,573 units in 2003.
The Honda Automobile Division reported record March sales of 14,197
units, up 7% over last year. The Acura Division reported March sales of 2,088
units, up 8% over last year.
“Our record sales for the first quarter of 2008 are a positive indication
that Canadians believe we are offering the right products with the right
value,” said Jerry Chenkin, executive vice president, Honda Canada Inc. “We
see continued consumer interest for our high-value, fuel-efficient products
with a 24 per cent monthly increase for Civic, and a 17 per cent monthly
increase for the Fit.”
<>
Honda is the world’s preeminent maker of engines for a wide range of
products, including automobiles and trucks, motorcycles, ATVs, power equipment
and marine applications. With 134 manufacturing facilities in 28 countries
worldwide, Honda now attracts 23 million customers annually. Honda Canada
manufactures the Honda Ridgeline and Civic sedan and coupe, and the Acura CSX
and MDX at its two plants in Alliston, Ontario. A new, third plant in
Alliston, with the capacity to produce up to 200,000 vehicle engines annually,
is scheduled to open later this year.
For further information: Richard Jacobs, (416) 287-4708
Comment from Don O’Connor: Perhaps this explains Honda’s reluctance to supply RCLs for U.S imports. Sales are excellent in Canada, so why rock the boat by permitting U.S Hondas in the country?
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:55 am
It’s just my opinion, but I don’t think sales have increased as much as expected, considering how many new models there are in the Acura/Honda lineup. My other gauge is that I see very few of these models on the road, even Accord’s. Still, no excuse for the being the arrogant pr*ck that Honda has become.
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:58 am
Wondering how Honda people find out if we have a US address. Do they ask for proof of citizenship etc…?
It looks like the only way to import a Honda vehicle now is to buy it through an american friend/relative.
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:46 am
Why not have the seller get the recall letter for you? The last part about radio and theft codes was pretty sleazy…..Auto manufactures are becoming like banks…no conscience…..
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Donnyo’s comment above starts with the term “Grey Market”. I think a close look at the term is required, not only as applied to cars. The following comment appears in a U.S. court case:
See Weil Ceramics & Glass, Inc. v. Dash , 878 F.2d 659, 11 USPQ2d 1001 (3d Cir. 1989) “the term ‘gray-market’ unfairly implies a nefarious undertaking by the importer, and.the term parallel import accurately describes the goods and is, perhaps, a better term because it is devoid of prejudicial suggestion… However…the term ‘gray-market’ goods…has become the commonly accepted and employed reference to the goods at issue.”
The above is taken from a very thorough article which looks into parallel (grey??)market issues from the trademark perspective. See
http://www.ladas.com/IPProperty/GrayMarket/GrayMa.html
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:11 pm
(continued from above) Note this quote:
Such is the plight of parallel imports, also known as “reimports” and “gray market goods”, chiefly by their opponents, presumably to insinuate some association with “black market” goods.
April 23rd, 2008 at 9:53 pm
What a shame. Other car companies are making much better vehicles than they did 5 years ago…Hyundai’s got their act together, even the American car companies got some really nice products out there. If Honda’s continues on this conceited path, they will certainly lose out…one customer at a time.
April 24th, 2008 at 10:51 am
Just recently I was told by the RIV that they do not need a recall letter from any Honda/Acura vehicles. I would suggest you check with them again at info@riv.ca then go buy your vehicle.
As a side comment the new Acura TSX is released today in the US and Canada. The TSX with Technology package and automatic is $42025 in Canada, and $32775 + tax in the US. That’s an equivalent exchange rate of 0.78 US/CDN, the last time the Canadian dollar was that low was September of 2004. http://ca.finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=CADUSD=X&t=5y
The nonsense continues!
April 24th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
I phoned this number and got the same mantra–unfortunately they would or could not give any reasons other than company policy–would not provide any up the line contact numbers. The question here is where do you go from here - it is blatant discrimination and flies in the face of any semblance of free trade. By reports in the newspaper Honda is enjoying brisk sales in Canada. How to counter their enormous advertising dollars and politicl clout. This is a farce and TC is in the middle.
April 24th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
We don’t accept the letter from dealer, if the recall letter is issued by dealership then it must be a printout
“(internal share system printout).
The dealer printout is acceptable for the manufacturer - Honda, Toyotal, Lexus, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Audi,
volkswagen, Ford, Dodge, Hyundai, Infiniti, Nissan. Suzuki, Kawasaki.
For more information please call our call centre team at 1888 848 82
40.”
I phoned these folks and they suggest they can get a recall letter via the web. Nothing else required. I wonder what is the correct answer?
April 24th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
With respect to Luc Lafrance’s comment above, I don’t understand how Honda Canada keeps reporting record sales month after month. I’ve visited one particular dealership several times over the last 6 months and it appears that their lot is overflowing with unsold inventory. Who knows, it could just be very high inventory turnover but I’d like to believe that Canadians have stopped buying.
April 24th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
RobW, if Acura/Honda sell one extra car year over year, that’s a record month. I live in Ottawa and I have seen _very_ few of the following ‘08 models on the road: MDX, RDX, Accord (!!!). The lack of Accord sightings is the most telling clue that things are not as expected in HondaLand…
April 25th, 2008 at 8:29 am
I recently purchased a Honda CRV in Ohio. I was told by (RIV Honda USA and Honda Canada) that I required a recall letter. When I was at the dealer both Honda USA and Honda Canada told me that thy would not provide me with a recall letter and that I required it to get the car into Canada. Honda Canada said it was because it was a US vehicle and Honda USA said because I was not a US citizen. However I brought the car into Canada and RIV and the Canadian Customs did not ask for the recall letter. Imagine that! Also, you do not have to pay state taxes in Ohio contrary to what I thought.
April 25th, 2008 at 8:56 am
TC,
You do not require the recall letter to import the car into Canada. You require the recall letter in order to get your form 2 however.
May 4th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
I was never asked for any recall letter at all. Maybe RIV did the recall check.
May 6th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
TC, I just got back with an 05 MDX today. Of course no luck with Acura. As per A Craig, everything I have read says you have to get that recall letter in order for them to release your form 2. Did you already get tha form?
May 13th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
i called the riv and told them that do i need the recall letter for honda
/acura. he told me that i don’t need the recall letter for to import an
Acura/honda.