I just bought a 2005 CPO (49,800 miles). Before I purchased I noticed that the car vibrated at about 65 mph. I figured it needed tires balanced, and since I was getting 4 brand new tires, they would balance and the problem would be resolved.

After I picked it up, I noticed there was still a noticible vibration. So I brought it in and they gave me a loaner. The next day I get a call that the tie rod needs to be replaced, the following day they say it's the ball joint.

My question, why wouldn't they have picked this up while Certifying the car? They told me that they don't drive the cars over 65mph, but couldn't they have found this problem without a test drive?
As far as the "certification", I asked for a check list of what they did and they only showed me that the car was "certified". I thought they were supposed to provide a check list of exactly what was completed?

I'm starting to get pissed, but before I call and let the Service Dept have it, I figured I'd cool down and run this by you guys for advice.

 

As you have found out, what should, and what is, are two completely different things. Very few certified cars, regardless of the make, get a 100% thorough and detailed inspection to that degree. They get a simple look over, kick the tires, check pads, fluids, accident history, etc. That is about it.

Checklist are worth the paper it is written on which means it's value is nothing as the dealer figures the car is under warranty to begin with. You will also see that each dealer does things a little different than others.

May not be what we like, but it is what it is.

 

and

Hopefully the dealer is fixing this at no charge to you, b0n3. You might consider an independent inspection in order to rule out other problems that the dealership missed. It's a small amount to pay for peace of mind.

 

Hell yeah .. no charge. They let me have a 2009 TSX as a loaner (pretty cool ride, but no RL).
I was just wondering if it was common to miss something like a tie rod, ball joint during a certification.

And I will probably get an independent inspection .. luckly I went for the 100k bumper to bumper

 

They have to give you the CPO sheet that shows the car was inspected. I have mine. 68 items are checked

With regards to the steering system (or things that are close), the following is checked (some are hard to decipher exactly what they are checking, others seem very subjective):

CV joint/drive axle noise (full lock turn r/l)
Braking (noise, vibration, effort)
Transmission/transaxle noise (cold/hot)
Driveability (smoothness)
Sterring, effort (drifting r/l)
Steering wheel free play/steering wheel centered
Tire or steering wheel vibration
Body/suspension (performance/noise/rough road test)
Power steering fluid

However, if your problem only happens above 65 mph and they didn't take it over 55 mph, even if these were checked, they wouldn't have found it.

I can also say that not everything in my CPO was checked properly as my car was pulling to the right heavily and they had to fix it.

 

I had similar problems with vibrations during acceleration only. It turned out to be the front axles that were bad. I can't remember how many miles I had when they started to go bad. I think it was 150K or so.

Of course I started out by replacing the spark plugs; then the fuel injectors; then the rear axle; and finally they figured it was the front axles - $$$$, problem solved.