NHTSA Complaint #10148594 — 2000 HONDA ACCORD

I HAVE A 2000 HONDA ACCORD SE. IT WAS SINGLE HANDEDLY DRIVEN SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN MARCH 2000. I HAVE BEEN MAINTAINING IT PER THE SPECIFICATIONS STIPULATED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL, AND GETTING IT SERVICED FROM HONDA SERVICE CENTERS ONLY. I HAVE BEEN A VICTIM OF UN-PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE FROM HONDA'S DEALERSHIPS AND AMERICAN HONDA. A FEW MONTHS AGO THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. SINCE IT WAS TIME TO GET MY MAJOR SERVICE DONE I TOOK IT TO LARRY HOPKINS HONDA AND SPECIFICALLY ASKED TO CHECK THE ENGINE LIGHT. THEY DIDN'T CHECK ANYTHING AND SAID THAT EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE. SINCE THE LIGHT WAS STILL ON I HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK ANOTHER TIME TO GET IT CHECKED BY PAYING A DIAGNOSTIC FEE OF A $150 WHICH I COULD HAVE SAVED HAD THEY CHECKED IT THE FIRST TIME. THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS A STUCK THERMOSTAT, CODE P1486, AND REPLACED IT, CHARGING ME $241 MOSTLY LABOR CHARGE. AFTER A WEEK THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, AND WHEN I CALLED LARRY HOPKINS I WAS INFORMED THAT ECU NEEDED REPLACEMENT, COSTING $960, AND THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSURE ME THAT IT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM, EVEN AFTER SPENDING MORE THAN $1250. RECENTLY, I CONTACTED AMERICAN HONDA AND THEY ADVISED ME TO GET ANOTHER DIAGNOSTICS DONE AT ONE OF THEIR DEALERSHIPS BEFORE THEY COULD HELP ME. I GOT THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED, AND AFTER PAYING $129 THE SAME CODE P1486 WAS FOUND AND WAS INFORMED THAT ECU WAS INDEED A WEAR AND TEAR PART. HOWEVER. I DISAGREED, AND HAVE CHECKED WITH VARIOUS TECHNICIANS WHO DISAGREED THAT ECU WAS A WEAR AND TEAR ITEM, AND HAVE NEVER HEARD OF AN ECUS GOING BAD AFTER A FEW YEARS OF USAGE. *AK