Rear Diff leaking oil after less than 48hrs of ownership

[omnimax]

Sigh...I just need to vent right now.

Less than 48hrs ago, I purchase a CPO 2008 MDX tech with nearly 70k miles on it. It drove wonderfully and I didn't suspect anything wrong. After driving it off the lot and going for a long drive back home, I was seeing an oil splatter pattern all over the tailgate on my drive back. After washing it off the next day thinking it was a one-time incident, I see the same splatter pattern again while driving the vehicle some more. I decided to look under the car and noticed the spare tire as well as the rest of the parts past the rear differential are coated in oil. Thus I strongly suspect the rear differential is leaking.

I was proven correct when I took it this morning to the local dealer (I'm out of town) and they confirmed in front of me while the car is on the lift that one of the seals has broke. Apparently it takes quite a few mins before the diff starts to leak. Suffice to say that I was seriously livid at this point and I contacted the purchasing dealer to inform them of the issue. Both the purchasing dealer and the dealer I went to today confirmed that it will be covered under warranty. The purchasing dealer even said that the seal was replaced during the certification process but apparently the seal was defective. Is this the luck of the draw?

I had my fears about buying CPO but thankfully there's a warranty. However invoking that warranty within 2 days a bit much...What do you guys think? Is the warranty really there for me to catch what the cerification process missed? What does this say about the certification process?

[nsxtasy]

The CPO warranty includes the ability to exchange the car within three days of delivery. It's up to you whether to keep that car after they fix the problem under the CPO warranty, or exchange it for a different car.

As the dealerships made clear, they found the problem with the seal and fixed it during the certification process, but the part they used was defective. They could not have known this as part of the certification process. So to answer your question, no, the certification process is not to blame.

I think it's also possible that they are mistaken and didn't actually get around to replacing the seal before selling it. Whether they meant to replace it and just forgot, or something intentional, you'll probably never know.

Assuming you keep the car, any additional problems that occur are covered for the remainder of the CPO warranty period. It's unlikely that you will continue to have problems, but if you do, at least they should be covered at no cost.

[omnimax]

Thanks for the reply!

I really would like to keep the car because it just simply drives great and the interior was apparently very well maintained, including the leather. I'm not even sure the dealer has something to exchange this with. That's another question I had about the exchange policy, what would the dealer exchange it with if I bought the only 08 MDX on the lot?

It's nice that I have a warranty to fall back on but perhaps because this is my first foray into used vehicles, I may need to temper my expectations. I saw it leak when they had the car on the lift and when I bought the car, they showed paperwork that the seal was fixed.

I do feel somewhat violated because I put my trust in the Acura CPO name and didn't take the car to be inspected by my personal mechanic (which in hindsight, I should have so that would be my fault).

[nsxtasy]

Typically, an exchange policy means you can turn the car in and get what you paid as credit towards the purchase of another vehicle (usually any other vehicle) at that dealership. However, it sounds like you really like the car. So keep it, and don't worry about exchanging it.

You know what? Your situation sounds a lot like mine when I bought my 2004 MDX two years ago! Like you, this was the first used car I ever bought. I found it and negotiated a price long-distance. I wanted that one because I liked the color and it came with a complete service history. When I went to pick it up, I found that there were some significant scrapes on both bumpers. Right then, I had a choice - I could walk away and not lose anything, or I could buy the car as is, scrapes and all. I bought the car, drove it home, paid to have the bumpers re-painted perfectly by my local body shop, and have been loving the car ever since. It wasn't a CPO car, so I've had to pay for a few minor replacements of parts that normally wear, as well as scheduled maintenance of course. But it's been incredibly reliable too, and everything that made me want this car has turned out to be exactly as I had hoped.

So based on that, my advice to you is this. Let them fix it. And then don't look back and don't worry about it. Enjoy it and you'll probably love it and find that it's everything you hoped for, just like I found with mine.

[G. COLTON]

Originally Posted by omnimax

Sigh...I just need to vent right now.

Less than 48hrs ago, I purchase a CPO 2008 MDX tech with nearly 70k miles on it. It drove wonderfully and I didn't suspect anything wrong. After driving it off the lot and going for a long drive back home, I was seeing an oil splatter pattern all over the tailgate on my drive back. After washing it off the next day thinking it was a one-time incident, I see the same splatter pattern again while driving the vehicle some more. I decided to look under the car and noticed the spare tire as well as the rest of the parts past the rear differential are coated in oil. Thus I strongly suspect the rear differential is leaking.

I was proven correct when I took it this morning to the local dealer (I'm out of town) and they confirmed in front of me while the car is on the lift that one of the seals has broke. Apparently it takes quite a few mins before the diff starts to leak. Suffice to say that I was seriously livid at this point and I contacted the purchasing dealer to inform them of the issue. Both the purchasing dealer and the dealer I went to today confirmed that it will be covered under warranty. The purchasing dealer even said that the seal was replaced during the certification process but apparently the seal was defective. Is this the luck of the draw?

I had my fears about buying CPO but thankfully there's a warranty. However invoking that warranty within 2 days a bit much...What do you guys think? Is the warranty really there for me to catch what the cerification process missed? What does this say about the certification process?

It says that the certification process is working. It also says that the dealers are remaining true to their responsibilities. It also says that unlucky things happen.

George

[Bill_de]

Originally Posted by duncaterro

That's another question I had about the exchange policy, what would the dealer exchange it with if I bought the only 08 MDX on the lot

In the post right before yours;"Typically, an exchange policy means you can turn the car in and get what you paid as credit towards the purchase of another vehicle (usually any other vehicle) at that dealership."

[DB22]

You should be happy that you used the CPO warranty. You paid extra for that insurance and you got some return on your investment. I hate paying for something and get nothing for it.

[omnimax]

Originally Posted by DB22

You should be happy that you used the CPO warranty. You paid extra for that insurance and you got some return on your investment. I hate paying for something and get nothing for it.

Yeah, I'm glad it was covered under the CPO warranty because I'm sure the work itself plus loaner car isn't going to be cheap. I know I would have been left high and dry if I were to have purchased the vehicle uncertified since the final decision did not involve purchasing a new vehicle. I think I just need to adjust my mindset since this is my first go at used vehicles. I think because I thought the car has been certified that I literally put my faith on their word. So the fact that I needed to invoke the warranty this early felt like a slap in the face but yes, it will get fixed and in hindsight, if I put on my engineering hat (I'm a semiconductor reliability engineer during the day) this whole thing makes sense but I think it's the emotional attachment I have that made me feel violated and the fear that the dealer would try to screw me because it has happened before.

I agree with G.Colton's statement and it doesn't serve me to brood on this so to Nsxtasy's point, move on and enjoy my new-to-me MDX which funny enough, I actually miss it now given that I've only driven it for less than 48hrs (gave me a TSX wagon loaner which is pretty neat but not an MDX...).

Thanks everyone for the feedback, I appreciate the support. I should get the car back today and I'll post my finding and finally, some pics!

[omnimax]

Originally Posted by nsxtasy

Typically, an exchange policy means you can turn the car in and get what you paid as credit towards the purchase of another vehicle (usually any other vehicle) at that dealership. However, it sounds like you really like the car. So keep it, and don't worry about exchanging it.

You know what? Your situation sounds a lot like mine when I bought my 2004 MDX two years ago! Like you, this was the first used car I ever bought. I found it and negotiated a price long-distance. I wanted that one because I liked the color and it came with a complete service history. When I went to pick it up, I found that there were some significant scrapes on both bumpers. Right then, I had a choice - I could walk away and not lose anything, or I could buy the car as is, scrapes and all. I bought the car, drove it home, paid to have the bumpers re-painted perfectly by my local body shop, and have been loving the car ever since. It wasn't a CPO car, so I've had to pay for a few minor replacements of parts that normally wear, as well as scheduled maintenance of course. But it's been incredibly reliable too, and everything that made me want this car has turned out to be exactly as I had hoped.

So based on that, my advice to you is this. Let them fix it. And then don't look back and don't worry about it. Enjoy it and you'll probably love it and find that it's everything you hoped for, just like I found with mine.

To add further to your point, I'm not even sure how I stumbled on this MDX because I've basically written off MDX because it was out of my 20k price range. When I found it, drove it and inspected it, I basically decided this is it after searching for any SUV. To think, I was considering a Chevy Traverse from Carmax....So when I found this one, I kind of knew in my gut that this is the one so I want to hold on to it. I'm ready to move on from this!

[omnimax]

Posting an update: I was informed that they found another faulty seal within the rear diff during the inspection. I have officially spent more time in my loaner (TSX wagon) than my own car. The dealership felt confident they can get my car back to me today but I can't get past my feelings of being violated. This dealership where they're fixing my X is 70 miles from me. I didn't drive it home because I didn't want to chance destroying my rear diff during the 70 mile drive. I have to drive back to this dealership to pick up the car.

Is it unreasonable to ask for reparations for my time, from the dealership I bought the car from (which is 150 miles away from me...)? Is the certification process faulty and should be fed back to Acura corporate?

[nsxtasy]

Originally Posted by omnimax

Is it unreasonable to ask for reparations for my time

Yes, it is unreasonable.

Originally Posted by omnimax

Is the certification process faulty

No.

Things break. It happens. A warranty is not a guarantee that nothing will ever fail; it is a commitment that if something fails, they will fix the problem without charging you anything for the repair (subject to the conditions and exclusions in the warranty). The certification process that supports it, means that anything that is found to be a problem during the inspection, will be fixed. They did that. Things can still fail on a car after it has gone through the certification and inspection process. They are fixing them for you, presumably at no charge. That's the way the CPO process works.

Originally Posted by omnimax

When I found it, drove it and inspected it, I basically decided this is it after searching for any SUV. To think, I was considering a Chevy Traverse from Carmax....So when I found this one, I kind of knew in my gut that this is the one so I want to hold on to it. I'm ready to move on from this!

Stop worrying and getting upset. They're completing the fix and you'll get your car back. Take your own advice - once you get it back, it's time to move on, and enjoy the car!

[tolson37]

It doesn't hurt to ask. Maybe some accessories at cost or something easy for them to give up.


Sent from my iPhone using AutoGuide.com App

[G. COLTON]

Originally Posted by nsxtasy

Yes, it is unreasonable.


No.

Things break. It happens. A warranty is not a guarantee that nothing will ever fail; it is a commitment that if something fails, they will fix the problem without charging you anything for the repair (subject to the conditions and exclusions in the warranty). The certification process that supports it, means that anything that is found to be a problem during the inspection, will be fixed. They did that. Things can still fail on a car after it has gone through the certification and inspection process. They are fixing them for you, presumably at no charge. That's the way the CPO process works.


Stop worrying and getting upset. They're completing the fix and you'll get your car back. Take your own advice - once you get it back, it's time to move on, and enjoy the car!

Well said!!!

George

[omnimax]

Just to update you guys, I got my X back from the dealership last friday. Funny enough, I drove to the nearest gas station to fill up and I bumped into the mechanic that worked on my car. He told me that the seal was indeed new but it wasn't installed correctly. The seal folded over on itself and that resulted in the leak. He also replaced a seal inside the diff and said he took the diff out and basically took it apart and put it back together to inspect in the insides. I didn't think you can do that in a day or 2 because it sounds time consuming. The mechanic sounded straight up and very nice which was pretty cool.

All in all, I definitely missed the X and I'm just happy to get it back. I put around 200 miles already and so far so good! Thanks for all the advice and allowing me to vent. I echo George's comment