Rating: (1/5 Stars) -- Unacceptable Service, Safety Negligence, and Zero Accountability
I am deeply disappointed with the service department at Whitby Oshawa Honda. Over the last two months or close to, I have brought my 2017 Honda Ridgeline in four separate times, resulting in a cumulative bill of over $16,000 for major repairs (including a torque converter replacement, an oil change, and replacing both front and rear lower control arms). Despite spending a small fortune here, their attention to detail, basic safety protocols, and customer care are completely non-existent.
Here is a breakdown of why no one should trust this service department:
1. Blatant Safety Negligence & Rushed Work
After my first visit (a massive $13,000 bill where I declined pushed "value-added" upsells to focus on necessary safety repairs), I had to return for a second visit. Following two separate wheel alignments over these visits, and they failed to properly inflate my tires both times. Worse yet, when I returned a fourth time because of a severe new front-end noise, the technician realized the wheel nuts were looseright before our test drive or assumed. He tightened them on the spot, and the loudest part of the noise vanished. Letting a customer drive away with loose wheel nuts is a catastrophic safety failure.
2. Predatory and Outrageous Pricing
During my second visit ($3,000 total), they diagnosed a loose catalytic converter. Even though there were zero diagnostic codes, they tried to get me to replace the entire functioning system. Alternatively, they quoted an outrageous $900 just to tighten it with clamps. Meanwhile, a missing heat shield was completely ignored and never ordered or offered in value added services.
3. Suspicious Dash Cam Tampering
When I dropped my truck off, my dash cam was plugged in. When I picked it up, it had been intentionally unplugged twice--both from the AC/DC outlet and directly at the camera unit itself. Given that this specific dealership has previously gone viral online for a dash cam incident, this double-unplugging feels incredibly suspicious and evasive.
4. Damaged Vehicle Condition Upon Return
After they worked on my vehicle for 4th time, I noticed my window cowl was left completely loose, creating a loud wind noise on the highway. Additionally, the windshield washer fluid connector was physically broken/split, causing the fluid to completely miss the window.
5. Avoidance of Warranty Obligations (Loaner Car Battle)
My third visit was for a known torque converter issue covered under extended warranty. Even though my contract strictly guarantees a loaner vehicle for work taking over 5 hours, they refused to provide one for a two-day repair. It wasn't until I corporate-escalated the issue to Honda Canada that the dealership folded and finally booked a Hertz rental--but they didn't even notify me until 4:00 PM on day one, making it completely useless for my daily responsibilities.
6. Appalling Customer Service & Corporate Dismissal
When I brought the truck back the day after my warranty repair because of a terrifying new front-end noise, they did a rushed visual check, short test drive. Same noise not replicated because they tightened the wheel bolts before test drive.
Instead of taking accountability for their recent teardown, they demanded an additional diagnostic fee just to look at what they might have messed up. When I pushed back, the Service Manager was incredibly dismissive, aggressive, and unprofessional.
When I called Honda Canada to report this, the corporate customer service experience was just as bad. They refused to let me speak to a manager, falsely claimed at first no managers were available, and then promised a callback that never happened. They didn't even open a new file; they just lazily tacked it onto an old complaint number. (The warranty issue and no rental car)
Conclusion:
Funnily enough, the Uber driver who dropped me off to the shop told me he had a similarly horrible experience here and was harassed by management to take his negative review down. It is a small world, and word travels fast.
Driving away with new mechanical problems, loose wheel nuts, broken parts, and unplugged dash cams after four visits is predatory. Whitby Oshawa Honda does not take pride in its work, nor do they respect their customers. Take your business elsewhere to a competent, honest mechanic. read more