[LMC HERSHEY]

Hi all! I just purchased my Passport EXL AWD 4 days ago and love it. What began as a superficial observation has me a bit concerned now. The night I got home with the Passport I realized there was no badging other than the main Honda badge. So Passport and AWD are not on the vehicle. I returned to the dealer who said he had never seen that and blamed Covid-19 for manufacturer/factory and quality control for error. While he was inspecting the lift gate he ran his finger across what appeared to be a deep chip. I didn't see it before buying the car because I inspected the car prior to the detailer shining it up. My heart sunk. Less than 24 hours I have my first significant chip right near the edge of the gate corner. It appears more like a sharp busted paint bubble. The badges were ordered and now I'm waiting. I can't seem to find a single comment on the internet about Honda not badging a vehicle unless specifically requested and a surcharge added. My neighbor inquired about what kind of car I had and then shared that their sister experienced the same thing except the car had been damaged, sold as new and not informed of the repaired damage. My neighbor pointed out that the low right corner of the lift gate isn't perfectly flush. Now I'm really nervous. Please tell me 1, missing badges happen and 2, seams aren't always perfectly flush and 3, that chip isn't suspicious.

 

[Cilles]

It's all very suspicious to me. :-(

 

[CHEFERMAN65]

Welcome,
Sounds like damage either during it's stay on the dealer's lot or a test drive. Do you actually believe its a quality control issue from Honda? They inspect that vehicle so many times to miss something so blatant and obvious. Dealer wouldn't accept a delivery of a damaged unit, neither should you. I would raise holy hell and make a huge stink.
Then politely ask for a new vehicle.

 

[TnTA2]

The only way to know for sure why the badges are missing is to inspect the paintwork on the lift gate and even look all around the edges and underneath the weatherstripping. Sometimes vehicles are damaged between the factory and the dealer and they get repairs, and not always a perfect job. If there was a paint run tat flaked off that would mean possible paintwork. Compare the color, appearance of orange peel and the paint quality with the rest of the vehicle. Seems likely some damage was repaired on the lift gate. It's always possible that the badges were left off at the factory. It's no uncommon for this to happen.

 

[JRJ]

LMC- sorry to hear about what you described. Question... did you buy the PP new or was it used? If used, was it from a Honda dealer? If used, did you get a Carfax? You said you got the vehicle detailed- could the detailers have done what you described. Did you ask them? Are there any pictures of the PP before you finalized the purchase that you could compare?

 

[LMC HERSHEY]

This is a brand new 2020 Passport. 9 miles on the odometer. I got it from a large Honda dealer. I took it for a ride and stopped for inspection during the test drive. It was pretty dirty from rain and dust residue. (Black) the dealer detailed the car while I was signing the paperwork. I did not take pics of the car until I got home. This is when I realized the badges weren't there. By this time the lot was closed but I returned the next day and the salesman said he never saw that before and blamed manufacturing. I didn't suspect anything worse until my neighbor and I were talking about it. As far as the chip/paint flaw and the lower right corner of the gate not being perfectly flush. It's not exactly noticeable. I made an appt for an auto body shop to consult on it. I don't now if swapping it for another brand new car is in the cards. I wouldn't buy a dented can of beans and I surely would have got that car if i knew it was damaged. Not to mention that they wouldn't disclose such a thing.

 

[JRJ]

I sure hope the dealer makes everything right for you. Let us know how it goes.

 

[CHEFERMAN65]

This is a brand new 2020 Passport. 9 miles on the odometer. I got it from a large Honda dealer. I took it for a ride and stopped for inspection during the test drive. It was pretty dirty from rain and dust residue. (Black) the dealer detailed the car while I was signing the paperwork. I did not take pics of the car until I got home. This is when I realized the badges weren't there. By this time the lot was closed but I returned the next day and the salesman said he never saw that before and blamed manufacturing. I didn't suspect anything worse until my neighbor and I were talking about it. As far as the chip/paint flaw and the lower right corner of the gate not being perfectly flush. It's not exactly noticeable. I made an appt for an auto body shop to consult on it. I don't now if swapping it for another brand new car is in the cards. I wouldn't buy a dented can of beans and I surely would have got that car if i knew it was damaged. Not to mention that they wouldn't disclose such a thing.

Like I said, I call BS, they aren't selling enough PP to not notice that something as obvious as badging is missing. As far as that leaving the assembly line incomplete, ya ok.
I would request a new vehicle. That's my $.02

 

[LMC HERSHEY]

Yeah, so i just got back from a body shop and 2 different guys check it out. Both are confident the lift gate is the original but definitely repainted. WTH!! Do I go schitzo demanding a new car or demand money refunded? At minimum I should be entitled to a warranty on that work. I'm spitting bullets. Thank you all for your feedback!!!

 

[JRJ]

I'd be spitting bullets as well. So tailgate must have had some sort damage like paint scrape, dent, or whatever. They took the badges off to repaint, which would make sense. I wonder if whatever damaged the tailgate also damaged the badging- so they couldn't/didn't put them back on. Questions Questions. The feeling someone, dealer or Honda, is not being honest with you is bothersome. As for what you should do... up to you. I would be raising a stink though if it were me. Some sort of compensation is in order.

 

[CTHuskyinMA]

I would demand a new car. You paid for a new one, not one with ANY body damage. If they balk, call the Attorney General's office.

 

[Tats]

I would be irate, and agree with Husky. This type of stuff is why you don't sign and agree to arbitration.

 

[carpayments4life]

20 years ago, BMW got in trouble for body and paint work on new cars without telling the potential buyers.
It doesn't matter that Honda does the work in house and cherry picks which repairs are submitted to carfax, if paint work was done Honda should have disclosed the info. Call American Honda at 1-888-528-7876

 

[pshadoa]

I'd would do whatever necessary to do a swap. No telling how the new pair will hold up over the years.

 

[BrownBear]

I would have a 10 minute one sided conversation with the dealership’s GM and let him/her know you will calling the Better Business Bureau, your state’s DMV, Honda and the dealership’s owner. I would go even further and call my local news station.

What is the name of the dealership? If a dealership is blaming Covid-19, they are simply not trustworthy. What is wrong with people today.

Sorry you are having to deal with this non sense...should be much happier times for you. Good luck!

 

[JRJ]

I think I would also try to get one of those flexible scopes inside the tailgate and see if you can see anything. Maybe remove the plate at the bottom center of the inside of tailgate and see if you can get the scope in there. I have a cheap one I think I paid 35-40 dollars for and it works great. WiFi connects to phone so can record your screen for video or take screen shots for a pic. Mine is made by Depstech. I'm just that curious but if you don't want to go to the trouble, you certainly shouldn't have to. If I found unquestionable damage via the endoscope and they denied it- they would have carry me out of there.

 

[BrownBear]

@JRJ “they would have carry me out there”...that would make two of us.

 

[CHEFERMAN65]

I think I would also try to get one of those flexible scopes inside the tailgate and see if you can see anything. Maybe remove the plate at the bottom center of the inside of tailgate and see if you can get the scope in there. I have a cheap one I think I paid 35-40 dollars for and it works great. WiFi connects to phone so can record your screen for video or take screen shots for a pic. Mine is made by Depstech. I'm just that curious but if you don't want to go to the trouble, you certainly shouldn't have to. If I found unquestionable damage via the endoscope and they denied it- they would have carry me out of there.

That flexible scope would be seeing someones rectum. Just sayin. 🤬💩

 

[JRJ]

Yeah the word endoscope does lean towards the medical field for most minds, I imagine- but maybe I was suggesting looking into the bowels of his tailgate. Just sayin.

 

[CHEFERMAN65]

Yeah the word endoscope does lean towards the medical field for most minds, I imagine- but maybe I was suggesting looking into the bowels of his tailgate. Just sayin.

😂, I completely understand your suggestion for its use. I'm saying I, if in the OP position with this mess, would shove that camera up their booties.