Joined
·
20 Posts
I bought a 2001 Insight back in April, before gas prices started to spike. Up until last Friday, I felt it to be a shrewd purchase, since it was saving me about $45 for every 600 miles traveled.
Last Thursday I rotated the tires, making sure that all four skirt anchor screws were tight. Friday afternoon, the passenger side wheel skirt flew off on the freeway. Fortunately, the airborne skirt did not strike another vehicle, but it was completely destroyed. I lost both anchor screws, and the rear attachment flange was bent outwards. The cost of replacing the skirt and screws and repairing the body is well over $300. That's all the money I've saved on gasoline since I bought the car.
While it's not as scary as a chunk of foam insulation falling off a Shuttle fuel tank, a flying wheel skirt has the potential to cause significant harm beyond the staggering cost of replacing the parts. I've been researching this problem and have learned enough to lead me to believe that it's a serious problem that Honda is probably aware of, but not willing to acknowledge or to compensate owners for their losses.
A couple of bits of information stand out: In Edmund's lengthy review of the 2000 Honda Insight after a 15,000 mile test, the team noted the loss of a wheel skirt. This problem goes back to the introduction of the vehicle and is documented.
Also, I was surprised that my dealer was able to get the replacement skirt ($225) and screws ($15 each) in less than a day from the local warehouse. By comparison, when I special-ordered a cabin air filter (supposedly a routine maintenance item) it took almost a week.
How is it that a wheel skirt on such a low-volume production vehicle is so readily available? Has the replacement of lost and damaged wheel skirts become a profit center for Honda?
I welcome any Insight owner who has lost a wheel skirt to respond with comments. I'd like to know how common this problem is, and perhaps form of group of concerned owners to help focus Honda's attention on solving it. :!:
Last Thursday I rotated the tires, making sure that all four skirt anchor screws were tight. Friday afternoon, the passenger side wheel skirt flew off on the freeway. Fortunately, the airborne skirt did not strike another vehicle, but it was completely destroyed. I lost both anchor screws, and the rear attachment flange was bent outwards. The cost of replacing the skirt and screws and repairing the body is well over $300. That's all the money I've saved on gasoline since I bought the car.
While it's not as scary as a chunk of foam insulation falling off a Shuttle fuel tank, a flying wheel skirt has the potential to cause significant harm beyond the staggering cost of replacing the parts. I've been researching this problem and have learned enough to lead me to believe that it's a serious problem that Honda is probably aware of, but not willing to acknowledge or to compensate owners for their losses.
A couple of bits of information stand out: In Edmund's lengthy review of the 2000 Honda Insight after a 15,000 mile test, the team noted the loss of a wheel skirt. This problem goes back to the introduction of the vehicle and is documented.
Also, I was surprised that my dealer was able to get the replacement skirt ($225) and screws ($15 each) in less than a day from the local warehouse. By comparison, when I special-ordered a cabin air filter (supposedly a routine maintenance item) it took almost a week.
How is it that a wheel skirt on such a low-volume production vehicle is so readily available? Has the replacement of lost and damaged wheel skirts become a profit center for Honda?
I welcome any Insight owner who has lost a wheel skirt to respond with comments. I'd like to know how common this problem is, and perhaps form of group of concerned owners to help focus Honda's attention on solving it. :!: