Starting to think these cars are low quality
 

List of problems with the vehicle. 23 months old & 17,000 miles:

Tail light condensation - Day 1 (Don't really care)
Squeaky windows - Day 1 (Bothers me)
Steering wheel ruined & replaced - Month 6
Right window switch failure - Month 19
Yesterday dash has began to unglue. Use sun shield on hot months. - Month 23

I've driven Hondas that are 20yrs old that never had such issues. You'd think Toyota & Subaru know how to get the basics down this day and age.

I can only imagine what's going to happen in the coming months when the warranty expires...

I haven't had any of those problems. Car must be high quality.

Nothing will ever be as dead nuts reliable as a 20 year old Honda. Unfortunately I think those days are behind us.

It turns how that many owners of new Honda's are going through the same thing. Early clutch failures on the FIT are a good example.

I have 22,000 miles and coming up on my 23rd month too - no issues so far. Mine is a 2013 as well.

Same here. Double high quality.

Parts miss QA sometimes. Tolerances for part fitment and measurements add up. Thousands of cars roll off the line each day.

You're bound to have a bad part every so often. Calling the whole car low quality as a result is a bit of a stretch.

Lamborghini engines catch fire occasionally, yet people don't call them low quality, do they?

So you are saying that your $25k car is low quality?

Even Porsches have recalls and problems friend. At least the engine hasn't been known to catch fire to a point to where you need to return it for an entirely new engine.

Time to go forced induction!!!! :thumbup:

Whats the story with the steering wheel? The rest sound like minor gripes, sorry that the car didn't meat your $50,000 expectations. :iono:

the car has ears, my friend. dont ever let her hear you speak of her like that

my car has problems thus all cars have the same problems

If you think that is low quality you should check out the mustang forums.

The tail light condensation is frustrating, but that's something that could happen to any non-higher end car. I've seen cars from other brands driving around with a fishbowl amount of water in them, especially if your car is parked outside; when I had my car in for service at the dealership, I walked around the lot and there were numerous cars (not just the FR-Ss) that had condensation - it sucks, but there are a number of ways you can fix it easily.

The windows on this car are the first one's I've had that are designed this way - without the door frame encompassing them, so I'm not sure if that is part of the issue, but you also don't really define the context of 'squeaky'.

My steering wheel looks like the day it did I drove the car off the lot - do you ever clean it? Especially if your car is parked outside in the heat, eventually oil from your hands is going to cause damage to it - this is true for any materials like this exposed to extreme conditions. Personally, the steering wheel on the FR-S is the most comfortable, and enjoyable steering heel I've had; I cannot stand the hard plastic one in my mom's '05 4Runner, that makes grip incredibly sketchy if your hands are sweating at all, and not to mention uncomfortable - but again, you don't really define 'ruined'.

I'm not sure about the stitching either - I haven't had any problems with mine. Do you rest your arm on the door a lot, and move it around while resting, or anything that might cause rubbing that would damage the threads? Again, this is less of an issue with the car as it is caring for basic materials that are designed like this.

I have heard that a few have had issues with the dash warping or ungluing - did you talk to your dealership about it? Again, I've never experienced this problem, and it's odd if you are good about using the sunshade (which I do in warm weather anytime I'm going to be parked somewhere for 15 minutes, or longer) - maybe consider getting a tint if you don't have one already, as it seems several of your issues may be related to your car getting too hot when parked outside?

I'm sorry to hear about the issues you're having, but it does sound like a few of them could be brought up with the dealership, and I would encourage you to do so before your warranty is up. Also, several of your issues should be fixable with some DIY work; there are definitely at least a few options available to you, so don't feel that you're just stuck having to be miserable, and liking your car less because of it.

This is the only one I can comment on myself, but I've seen multiple 86 drivers who have the steering wheel peeling off material. Granted, these guys also all track or autocross their cars, so their wheels see more abuse. I think they all got it replaced under warranty though.

You may just got a lemon.

I'm at 12k on the odometer and there's zero issue so far. There's the infamous cricket but I'm used to it by now, (not a quality issue).

I mainly use mine for occasional drive to work and weekend spirited driving, always garaged, hardly park outside in the summer heat or cold winter and I'm the only driver :).

I haven't had mine for as long as yours, but after 7 months damn near everything is still in factory condition.

I have two of those problems, and I could not care less about them. It would never occur to me to think the car is a POS.

I never said the car was a piece of shit. I love the car.

What I'm saying is there's a lot of minor issues with the car that I've never had occur with other models. The steering wheel should not peel after 6 months. The dash should not begin to unglue, ever. Why is it that every time it rains, my windows will screech days later when they're brought down. It's surprising to me that a Japanese manufacturer with decades of experience has these issues. $25,000 or not.

I have a passenger side door rattle. Not speaker related as it happens with the speaker off. Dash is lifting as well. Probably just going to get it looked at during my next service.

56,000 km (you guys do the math for miles)....only thing needed was to replace driver's side weather strip because snow made a bracket break off, which was covered by warranty anyways

At least the problems that you're experiencing can be fixed. Porsche Intermediate shaft bearings cannot be remedied and the engine must be replaced - and this applies to Porsche I think 1998-2008...

Or BMW forums for 335i as an example...lots of engine issues none-stop and that's a 70,000 car (cdn)

OP, sorry to hear you're having problems with your twin this early on, but in reality every manufacturer has their share of problems.


My 2006 Honda cracked the engine block in 2 places because the cooling journals were milled too close to the outside of the engine (all '06, '07 and some '08 models with aluminum blocks have the potential of doing the same), premature tire wear requiring replacement of upper control arms, cracked sunshades.


My wife didn't fare any better with her 2004 Accord that blew a trans at 120K (admittedly higher mileage). She's not an aggressive driver by any means. My buddy had the same year and model Accord and his trans went within 1,000 miles of hers.


Get the most out of your warranty while it's still in effect. Hopefully your experiences are because of yours being an early model.

You buy a new model car in the first 2 years of release you are gambling at best. It would be ideal if the manufacturers worked all the bugs out before they started a build but it is a fact of life that some flaws need time to appear and all the proactive testing and QA in the world can not predict them.


Take it in, have it fixed and enjoy.

Agreed. Perhaps I'm just being nitpicking. As long as there's not mechanical issues I'm satisfied overall. Definitely will push for everything to be fixed up before the 36 months. In the mean time, I will continue to let the heat lift the dash in the coming months and then opt for a replacement towards the end of summer.

You beat me to it. Here's the crap I've had to deal with on my Mustang.

My list:
Replace radiator (leaked from factory) - 1 week

Engine fail-safe mode on highway for misfire detection - 3 weeks (dealer reprogrammed computer, hasn't returned)

Replaced warped rubber trim on roof - 2 months

Replace 12V outlet - 5 months (fell out of the car the first time I used it)

Popping sound from engine - 6 months (dealer had the car 2 weeks to figure it out... according to them - steel separator plate between aluminum engine block and transmission housing was popping as it heated up and expanded/cooled at a different rate then the aluminum around it... unfixable... they re-torqued the bolts and it's minor now... but still there. It's my version of the crickets.)

Replace wheel hub on front driver side - 1.5 years (wore down my tires unevenly so now I have to replace them sooner)

Seatbelt guide/hook digging into my Recaro seats and slowing tearing them - currently happening

Both windows etching/scratching from the door trim - currently happening

Doors/dash/console/rear deck/trunk/entire car rattling - currently happening

Who knows what's next, I just hope it happens before the warranty runs out.


So just remember, it could be worse... you could have bought a Mustang.

Strange you should mention that. I have a 2006 Civic that has OEM paint peeling off and just about every seal in the engine leaks oil. With their oil change intervals and how quickly the oil leaks out I never have to change my oil now!

This is before we understand how cheaply these cars are made.
It is a great commuter car for those who don't mind paying for maintenance, but Honda isn't what it used to be.

30 year old Volvos got the Hondas beat

I have had almost the exact same issues on my 2013 and I have gotten them all fixed under TSB's and life has been good. I had both tail lights replace, Both window motors and assemblies as well as switches replaced with the newer 2015 style to fix the window roll down thing as well as the squeaking. They did the weather strips. Idk how you ruined a steering wheel though lol and then the dash unglueing is the only thing I havent brought up to them. I have like a month or two before I roll over 36K miles so idk what I am going to do about that. I also use a sunshade but I dont think it is helping..

Also dont even get me started on the rattles in this car.. Effin cheap peice of crap :mad0260: If it didnt drive so well I probably would have sold it by now.

Things are made to fall apart now.........

My Dad still have his 91 corolla cuz it just wont quit working. He only changed engine mount/timing belt once other then regular maintenance. The Sony TV sitting in my family's living room just quit only half year ago. That's 25 years for a TV, the thing basically grow up with me.

The 2000 CRV I had was really good too, I really beat on that thing till I come around & love it.
You want to have quality/durability from that era of cars? Get a Lexus and hope u are lucky.

Nope. No issues. Just had 2nd gear making noise but once its warm, its dead silent.

If something quality of seat material because it loves to grab lint and stuff.


1990 Pickup with 320k, all original but clutch.

Mine is quieter, by a wide margin, that the RS8 tC I had. THAT was noisy. What did you really expect from a car that had to have pennies pinched everywhere to even see daylight? Is it an age thing? Lower expectations? I'm still amazed at the number of people here (seems to be the majority as well) who hate the car.

:bellyroll:

It may not be so much an "age" thing as it is a current state of automotive affairs thing. Since the early 90s cars have got more and more luxurious at lower and lower trim levels just to try to compete. Even the lowest and cheapest trim levels now have so many goodies (and yes that includes soundproofing) that you take one or two of those things away and all of a sudden people are complaining.
Anybody that ever drove a base level 1960s-70s Dart will know exactly what I mean.

You are right about the cost.. That is why I cut the car some slack. The rattles are just a personal issue of mine. They probably arent that bad for most but I just despise rattles. Even in my miata I am hunting down every rattle I can find so that the car is more bearable to drive long distances. When the soft top is folded down it rattles like crazy. When I go from the miata to the FRS though its like going from a tin can to a lexus. The FRS seems perfect for awhile but the little stuff just gets to me. Thats why I have to have more than 2 cars at all times :D

Owned my 2012 Toyota 86 for almost 3 years now and I haven't had any issues.

Sure the windows squeek a bit after a wash but that's pretty normal with frameless windows.

Either my 2 year old, 2013 FR-S, doesn't squeak or rattle ..... or I just can't hear it, even down cow paths or off road ..... :)


https://youtu.be/3p69_FQxJfw



humfrz

I had a few minor ones when it was -20 out but they are all gone now that it has warmed up.
Oh, and my car had a few as well but they went away too.

My steering wheel is a POS. Shitty sticky coating never quite cured and peeled right off. I'm not sure if I want to let the dealer fuck with it.

The windows are a bitch to align properly but I figured out how to do it and dialed them in perfectly. Very much a "feel" thing and can easily see there being quality issues from one assembler to the next.

Only noise I have is the rear deck pop. Meh, DGAF once I figured out the cause. I can wiggle the seam and get it to pop at will. Not worth bending anything to quiet it IMHO.

edit: ...and zero regrets. A year later and still giddy every time I get behind the wheel. It's a joy to learn inside and out.

Youve obviously never owned a first year/production car. This is why you never buy a car in its first year in production and allow them to work out all the problems.