dont quote me on this but i think:

The reason why the quality of Acura/Honda and many other japanese brands have decreased has a lot to do with where it is made.


All the cars i have owned that are made in US.(ohio) have been pretty bad in terms of Quality. and the ones made in japan are pretty much rock solid ... my s2k has over 30k miles and not single one problem... NONE!!!

More and more cars are built in US now and the quality is getting worse and worse.

It may not be true but from my own statistical expereince... it is true.

 

That's certainly one way to look at it.

 

I really loved having my CLs. I would buy one again if I had the cash. I think it was a perfect balance of sporty with some class.

With that said....I agree with almost everything bad said about Acuras here. I had rattles, bad leather and about $10K worth or warranty work done in the 3.5 years I had the CL. I think Acura is still a really strong name and they will be around a while, but it is slowly settling into the basement of the luxury automobile line.

 

You hit the nail on the head. I do see a decrease in quality from the older years, but you find me a company that does not have issues. I would rather deal with rattles then a cruise control button catching my car on fire ( cough, FORD). I have not had any issues with my 07 tls to want to get rid of it.

 

i would obviously enjoy higher quality leather in my TSX, but for under 30k should I be complaining? It had a ton more features than any BMW or Benz near that price along with similar quality leather...

Usually, the higher quality stuff is in some premium package costing more on those cars...

 

Honda/Acura generally uses cheap interior materials. My Integra wasn't too bad, of course Honda cloth seats are pretty much indestructible. There isn't a single Acura product I'm REALLY interested in at the moment, aside from a used TSX 6MT as a commuter in the waaaay future.

Legend - awful head gasket issue
Integra - HUGE theft issue
2G TL/CL - auto tranny
3G TL - rattles

My mom used to have a CB Accord like the one laidback posted, and I agree that car was damn reliable. She still regrets selling it, she could have used it as a beater.

Currently, these are the Hondas in our household:

7G Accord - no major problems (afaik, I don't drive this one)

2G TL-S - leather seats have small tear in 2 areas (seats are conditioned and protected occasionally, but still), transmission has rougher shifts as each month passes, seat heaters don't work, brake rotors are (probably glazed), poor paint quality (chips, mismatching paint on original rear bumper), original passenger airbag doesn't match rest of dash

EK Civic 4AT - cheapest wood trim ever peeling and cracking, transmission shifts roughly, poor paint quality, side molding clip broke off (NOTHING happened to it) and rattles like hell at highway speeds, key sometimes gets stuck in ignition

I'm probably nitpicking but Honda obviously cuts corners, which is why they can usually undercut other Japanese luxury manufacturers. I have very little faith in them at all right now, the only current models that really interest me are the S2000 and TSX.

 

Honda/Acura quality hasn't dipped, but then again we're not going into the fact that hardly any of the Honda and Acura cars are built in Japan anymore either.

Acura isn't dead in the water yet, they just need to shape up and keep distancing themselves from Honda.

My Honda/Acura experiences

88 Accord (Ohio-made)

Good quality except for brakes and premature rust. Lasted 133K miles and 11 yrs.

99 Accord (Japan-made)

Had some problems with the ignition switch recall, but lasted for 94K w/o major problems, but catalytic converter was shot at 90K miles.

04 TSX (Japan-made)

Just rattles and oem battery is crappy.

My next car though won't be a Honda/Acura only because I want to experience another car brand's car driving ownership experience, not because Honda/Acura has gone downhill, which it hasn't.

 

05 TL owner here. 34k miles. First problem was at 11k miles, my battery went dead. Replaced under TSB/warranty- no questions asked. Second problem was with driver's leather seat at 25k miles- started to get discolored. Again, dealer replaced it with no questions asked. No other issues whatsoever. Not so bad for a 32k car.

 

I'm happy with my '05 TL-fast, quiet, completely reliable.

No rattles or dealer warranty visits.

The only issues I experienced were minor and cleaning-related:
"Fading" dash > chemical leaching out of dash, which looked new when wiped clean and then had 303 Aerospace applied. I have done that 2x in 30 months.

Slight squeak in the front door windows- they went away when I cleaned the windows and wiped the weatherstripping with 303 Aerospace.

 

My 06 Accord with 26k has zero issues. Not one rattle. This is my first Honda product and I am more than impressed.

 

how the hell is a 99 Accord Japan made?

 

My vin on my 99 Accord started with a "J" and the sticker on the side said "Manufactured in Japan by Honda Motor Co 01/99."

 

My 99 Accord needed the rear springs replaced at ~12k and a new transmission @ 38k. My 07 Accord needed the rear window regulators replaced (warranty) right out the gate. Both of these were assembled in Ohio.

Perspective, my 02 Maxima needed a new MAF sensor @ ~10k (warranty) and a new HU @ ~25k (warranty). My 05 Murano needed a new throttle body @ ~7k (warranty). Both of these were built in Japan.

 

Ahhhh, you guys know that all the factories have the same quality control measures right ? So I dont see how a Japanese worker is more effective in turning a bolt than a american worker . I dont understand why you guys are so brainwashed into thinking that because something is made in japan its superior . When I think of most Japanese products I think of Cheap but effective products, not top of the line products .

 

well you gotta keep in mind that posters in car forums are car enthusiasts and more likely to pay attention to/bitch about the minor imperfections of their car. shouldn't read all the complaints on acurazine and assume bad quality

 

I agree that it isn't because a Japanese work is more effective at turning a bolt than an American worker (although there are bound to be some differences, although negligible).

I think the fact that Honda is producing more cars in the U.S. is more an expected coincidence to decrease in quality than an effect...competition to turn out cars with more features while keepign costs down, increased capacity demands, increased turnaround time for engineering, increased inspections/testing/certification time and costs, etc. etc.

No doubt that producing cars in the U.S, where they will be sold, helps streamline the manufacturing process and cuts down on costs and imports and whatever.
Take toyota for example...their quality control system probabyl hasn't changed, yet they are slipping in quality due to the fact that they increased capacity while trying to decrease cost and reduce turnaround from engineering to production. All these things lead to more problems slipping through to the end-user, and the fact that they produce a lot of cars in the U.S. is just coincides with the decrease in quality due to these other reasons, and the domestic's formerly poor quality engineering/design/manufacturing just makes people see a correlation that isn't really there.

With that said, I wouldn't buy a modern American car because of where it was manufactured, I wouldn't buy a modern American car either because I don't like the design/engineering/cost cutting (intentional "quality" problem) or I don't like any current design (although the new CTS looks very promising).

 

Going back on topic, I don't think Acura is dead or dying...

they simply haven't kept up with the competition in their product offerings, either intentionally (killing off RSX, refusing to produce a production V8), or unintentionally (being out of touch with customers at $50k+ price segments).

I think for the value, the quality in Acura products is completely acceptable (you can't expect Fuddrucker's quality at Burger King), but with competition much more fierce now than it was 5-10 years ago, it's going to take a LOT more for Acura to maintain any competitive edge (which started eroding since the end of the 2nd gen. TL and is nearly non-existent today).

 

trust me it wasn't every domestic Accord(not the TSX) has been made in Ohio. the body since 82 and engines since about 86. my dad worked for Honda that's why i know this. his line produces the Accord motor. he's been with Honda for 25 years.

 

Drive train and engine maybe...there are a number of honda/acura models that had their interiors put together in Japan. Fit and finish in Japanese vs. US production has consistently shown to be better in Japanese constructed vehicles. Whether this parlays into other arenas I'm not certain but it definitely makes me wonder... I worked for an industrial plastics company that supplied these materials and personally saw both.

 

Don't know about the TL's reliability and quality, but my TSX's Q & R is probably at the top for me. The 95% (Japan) writing on the window sticker puts a smile to my face. Never had a problem since. And for those who have the seat creaking problem, take it to the dealership. They'll fix it. For the windshield wipers, there are PLENTY of other cheaper alternatives rather than replacing with OEM's.

But I am going to have to agree. My 1994 Volvo 850 was structurally indestructible Never had one problem, and it had over 500k on the odometer.

 

My last 2 Accords shared the warped rotors and paint issues. Also my tirejack collapsed. I thought that heavy traffic was the reason for such poor brakes. After 3 years, no brake issues on my Bimmer; very powerful, straight and no pulse.

 

Acuras are nice cars, but open your eyes man.

 

My TSX has been quite solid....I still get a smile nearly every time I hop into the car and drive it.

 

thats b/c it was made in japan

japan made>usa made

 

my uncle had the same problem with his at 150 miles


i won't buy a foriegn car made in the us, nothing but crap

 

I have to agree, I bet most of my rattles would be gone if it was made in Japan. I think they have a better eye for detail then the US workers. But that could just be me...

Either way Honda gets all the feedback from the dealers. They could make changes/training on the assembly line to help the quality...

 

Kinda what I was thinking; I could buy a equal model domestic and get the same quality or better. But with RWD and more power... I think the biggest loss will be the service. For me the Challenger will be be my next ride... this of course on it's 2nd model year No way I'll buy a 1st model year ever again.

b.t.w the only reason I say this is because Ford/GM have really stepped up in the interior dept. In the last 2 years they have gone leap and bounds over their old designs. If they keep on this track they'll have some excellent products (again, finally).

 

mercury really has done well in the past couple years, prob better quality, they have done it pretty much under the radar.
but prob like a lot of people, to drive a domestic after owning so many imports would be tough to do

 

Even some of the first 08 accords have vins that start with JH...

Not all Accords in the USA are made in Ohio.. You've got to stop living in your own little world. Think globally...

The Japan Accord line starts production before the US line... So the very first Accords on the US dealers lots are imported from Japan until the US workers can catch up

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...ps#post5550328

 

 

I am done with Honda Products until they have affordable AWD or rear drive.

 

47K on my 2005 TSX. It has the left pull issue (rear control link TSB), I replaced the rotors, I don't like how the auto tranny shifts, and it has a rattle in the trunk.

For nearly 50K miles, I'll take it. One thing is for sure, its way better than my clunking rattletrap 2003 WRX, which was an absolute f-ing disaster.

-Mirror

 

have them check the trunk spring clip, we have found some to be broken or missing. There is a fix for chatering wipers. Replace the arms and inserts, there is a TSB that they lack enough tension. Some of the accords are made in JP, that is why you might need the vin for some parts.
Satan0415 look at the past 10yr which Co. do you see except for nissan has a good looking cars, plastic interior that dont look like it cost 2cents to make and 4 seconds to design. As for the motor we all know the product.
We will be dead in the water if some thing dont change to give customers what they want. all the other Co. are doing this and is giving us better products than they did before. Mugen civic how about a Type-r, bring back the name Legend, a killer(M3) prelude. If not a afforadable NSX.

 

Looks are subjective so I am not going to argue that, but I do think the ACuras look nice.

Performance...well, that's a no-brainer. Yes, the NSX handles very well, but what else is Acura/Honda putting out right now that blows almost everything out of the water in handling, straight line, etc? Nothing.

Quality...Yes, they are nice cars. Yes, all makes have their problems, but Acura is not worlds beyond anyone besides givens like Kia etc.

Don't get me wrong, I'd own an Acura/Honda, but these cars are not the be all end all of anything. The guy who made that statement is living in a bubble

The statement of all American cars are crap, paraphrasing here obviously, is also just pure ignorance.

I'm an auto enthusiast. I enjoy many makes and models. Look at the big piucture here, folks. DOn't be naive.

 

I shopped an X5 and an MDX. All things considered I bought the MDX. Perceived quality was no comparison. The MDX leather was better, the dash was better, the ride was on par with the X5, AND it was $20k less. The only thing better about the X5 was acceleration. Who cares. This is an SUV not a roadster.

Oh, by the way, my sister-in-law bought a 750Li two months ago. The driver window motor is binding up, the sunroof has constant wind noise and leaks, and their's an annoying hesitation when accelerating. By brother is just waiting a little while longer to see WHAT ELSE breaks before bringing it in.