Honda dealer wipes out my maintenance records?

I called my dealer to arrange a service for my 91 Accord, which just
turned 100,000. The service person says that they don't have any
records for the car and explained that the system wipes records for
any car that hasn't be serviced in six months.

I'm a computer programmer and nothing is cheaper than disk space these
days, and I could likely fit all of the maintenance records of all the
Accords in the US on one of my PCs. It just doesn't make any sense
that they would wipe out stuff.

I don't do much maintenance of the car at the dealer, but the car was
originally bought there by the previous owner and I have had it there
several times. The original owner had all of the maintenance done
there.

 

And your question is.............?

 

I'll go you one better. I leased my Accord in December of 2000, four
years later I purchased the car from Honda Canada. The maintenance records
of the vehicle (in fact its very existence) was wiped out of Honda's system
due to the privacy laws here. It's a good thing that I have every piece of
paper regarding the servicing of the car stored in hard copy here at home.

 

As a computer programmer, it would be a no sweat job for you to make a
spreadsheet detailing all the work done on your car. Besides being a backup
for the idiot dealer, it makes a good selling point when you want to get rid
of the car.

 

Sounds odd. More likely their disk crashed six months ago and they
had no backup!



J.

 

I had the same thing happen here in N.E.Ohio. I happen to have a
"lifetime" replacement muffler on my '92 Accord, and the dealer doesn't
keep records .
I got a three ring binder, and have kept the originals of ALL the
expenses for the car. Comes in very handy, and has helped me get three
free mufflers and one new radiator! bob

 

Ah yes, the question is, is this normal Honda policy or was I just
handed a platter of crap?

 

There are plenty of programs out there that already do this and I'll
admit to just being too lazy (I'll be nice to myself and say "too
busy"). I do keep all the paper and eventually it ends up in a folder.
It just seems so odd that they "routinely" wipe the records. If so, it
makes no sense, and if not, then I don't like being lied to. If they
lie about that, then they'll lie about other stuff.

 

Sign up on Honda Ownerlink and see if your service records are there....

 

Why should a potential buyer believe your spreadsheet. The dealer's records
and paper records adds value to your car when you go to sell it. A
spreadsheet prepared by you doesn't. I don't believe the 6 month crap from
your dealer. With the new built in honda maintenence system, people driving
new Honda's but putting on low mileage won't be back to the dealer every 6
months for an oil change. Will their records be wiped out too? Doubtful.

 

I've registered my last two Hondas on ownerlink and no maintenance records
ever appeared there save the entries I put in it myself. Its no different
than a personal spreadsheet.

 

I keep all receipts and maintenance summaries.
So each spreadsheet line can be backed up.
Very simple and accurate.

 

Why don't you learn to not top post?

My spreadsheet, along with the work orders, etc., gives a better picture of
how I took care of the vehicle. If the buyer chooses not to believe, that's
their problem.

 

You haven't dealt with Honda.

My dealer stores records for much longer, but yours is not related to mine.

Dealers are independant entities, not a part of Honda.

 

The dealer just isn't holding up his part of the deal as that is what you
are paying him for.

 

I called one of the local Honda dealers to schedule a maintenance this
morning, and I had been there for maintenance last year. It sounded
like they almost didn't want my business. He asked what I wanted to
do. I said "scheduled maintenance." Then he said "what kind?" and I
said I had been there a year ago, and he said they don't keep good
records so they might not know what to do. But finally he said he
would schedule me and they would look at it. WTH?

 

Where are you and who's the dealer?

 

Ask them to prove that you have possession of a car supposedly leased
from them.

 

So basically, if you have one oil change not done by them, they erase
your records of timing belt changes, etc.? Yeah, sure, that makes
sense.

 

Anyone that read what I typed, would know that I don't have possession
of a vehicle that is leased from them.