Thanks for the advice. The woman I spoke to at American Honda also said the "VIN specific" was based on where the car was built. As far as I know, they were all built in Japan at the same plant that used to build the NSX. Anyhow, I am supposed to be getting a call from a "case manager" on Monday. We'll see how that goes. I'll keep you all posted.
The woman I spoke to at American Honda also said the "VIN specific" was based on where the car was built.
Encoded in the VIN is also the region for which the Insight was built as shown here. It would make more sense to me that this is what she was referring to. If your Insight is not a U.S. model, its IMA warranty was not extended. I hope yours isn't a Canadian model.
__________________
Aloha,
Art Isbell
2000 Insight A/C #559
Genesis One MIMA+FAS and grid charger, OBDIIC&C, Rostra, Fumoto, DEFA engine block heater, Philips LED DRL's, Honda security system
Thanks again, my VIN is JHMZE14732T001343, based on what you tell me, as I suspected, my Insight was built in the Tochigi factory. If in fact that is the case, I would hope Honda will honor the 10/yr/150K warranty.
Thanks again, my VIN is JHMZE14732T001343, based on what you tell me, as I suspected, my Insight was built in the Tochigi factory.
As you stated, all Insights were built in Tochigi, so that's irrelevant with respect to IMA warranty coverage. Because the warranty extension applies to only U.S. Insights, it's the digit in the twelfth character position that matters. In your VIN, that digit is a '0' which means your car is a U.S. model and thus, the warranty extension applies.
__________________
Aloha,
Art Isbell
2000 Insight A/C #559
Genesis One MIMA+FAS and grid charger, OBDIIC&C, Rostra, Fumoto, DEFA engine block heater, Philips LED DRL's, Honda security system
I went around in circles just a few weeks back about the same thing. My space pod was put into service in June 03 and has 120,000 miles. My batteries went dead and the dealer then American Honda tried to tell me there was no warranty. I pulled a copy of the service bulletin regarding the extension and read it to them. They then came back and honored the warranty. One thing to remember is I believe the warranty is good for cars that were put into service only in certain states. I believe they are all southern states where there is much heat. That was part of the class action suit against honda. You need to know what state your car was originally put into service. But keep fighting. I did and it worked out. I just had $3,000.00 worth of batteries and IMA installed in my car for free. Just be persistent.
One thing to remember is I believe the warranty is good for cars that were put into service only in certain states. I believe they are all southern states where there is much heat. That was part of the class action suit against honda. You need to know what state your car was originally put into service..
Service Bulletin (SB) 06-027 extended the IMA warranty for 2000-2004 Insights in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Nevada, and Texas, only.
SB 06-057 extended the IMA warranty for 2000-2004 Insights in the remainder of the U.S. states. So there is no need to know in which state your car was originally sold.
The class action involved odometer error in several 2002-2006 Honda models (SB 06-085). Because the above IMA warranty extensions involve only 2000-2004 Insights, the odometer error extended the distance covered in the IMA warranty to 157,500 miles for 2002-2004 Insights and to 84,000 miles for 2005-2006 Insights.
__________________
Aloha,
Art Isbell
2000 Insight A/C #559
Genesis One MIMA+FAS and grid charger, OBDIIC&C, Rostra, Fumoto, DEFA engine block heater, Philips LED DRL's, Honda security system
They told me the same thing about it being vin specific.... I think this is a tactic to try and pay out as few claims as they can. I argued with them daily for a week then they offered a discount and I told them off and threatened legal action and quoted their own tsbs and then suddenly that same day a manager called me and said they would do it and I can bring my car in and it will be done same day :P battery and computer
I wonder what the ratio is between those who fight and win as you did versus those who don't know their rights and knuckle under. I bet that ratio is considerably less than 1.
__________________
Aloha,
Art Isbell
2000 Insight A/C #559
Genesis One MIMA+FAS and grid charger, OBDIIC&C, Rostra, Fumoto, DEFA engine block heater, Philips LED DRL's, Honda security system
I finally got a call back from American Honda. They "INSIST" that the IMA warranty on my 2002 Insight is 8yr/80K. When I specifically asked about the warranty extension, SB 06-057,they claim it does not apply to my vehicle for some unknown reason. They still insist that it is 8yr/80K miles. We went back and forth for a bit and they were not in a position to honor the 10/yr/150K warraanty. They were willing to offer me $1000 off the replacement cost of the battery pack. I asked to speak to a supervisor and was told that it would be usless as I would only end up speaking to another service rep. I still have not been able to print out SB 06 -057 due to computer issues. Any further advice is welcomed, Thanks again to all. I asked for the district manager's name and phone # for my area and was also told that I would only be redirected to American Honda. Looks like I'm getting the run-around. So, as we speak, Honda is willing to take $1000 off the cost of replacing my IMA battery pack. $2500 vs. $1500. What do you guys think?
Thanks, Scott
I finally got a call back from American Honda. They "INSIST" that the IMA warranty on my 2002 Insight is 8yr/80K. When I specifically asked about the warranty extension, SB 06-057,they claim it does not apply to my vehicle for some unknown reason. They still insist that it is 8yr/80K miles. We went back and forth for a bit and they were not in a position to honor the 10/yr/150K warraanty. They were willing to offer me $1000 off the replacement cost of the battery pack. I asked to speak to a supervisor and was told that it would be usless as I would only end up speaking to another service rep. I still have not been able to print out SB 06 -057 due to computer issues. Any further advice is welcomed, Thanks again to all. I asked for the district manager's name and phone # for my area and was also told that I would only be redirected to American Honda. Looks like I'm getting the run-around. So, as we speak, Honda is willing to take $1000 off the cost of replacing my IMA battery pack. $2500 vs. $1500. What do you guys think?
Thanks, Scott
I had to sue to make Honda honor their warranty. They settled on the courthouse steps after a year and inquires by the Pa attorney general.
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