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Honda Owners FAQ

Section 1. Movement of Vehicles between Canada and the United States

I have a U.S. model Honda, and I am now living in Canada. I have learned that American Honda issued a recall on my vehicle. Can I have the recall repair done at a Canadian Honda dealership?

Yes. Although the same recall may not have been issued in Canada, any Canadian Honda dealership can obtain the parts to perform the recall. If the same recall was not announced in Canada, however, or if the recall parts for affected U.S. models are different, the Canadian dealer may have to request a special parts order, which could take some time if the parts have to be ordered in from the U.S.

I am planning to move to Canada from the United States with a Honda automobile that I bought in the U.S. What do I have to do?

If you want to import your Honda into Canada from the U.S.A., you must contact American Honda Customer Relations at 1-800-999-1009 to obtain the necessary paperwork, if in fact your vehicle is eligible for importation, prior to arriving at a border crossing in Canada. You must also contact the Registrar of Imported Vehicles in Canada, at 1-888-848-8240, and/or visit their web site.

If I purchase a used Honda in Canada that was originally sold as a new car in the United States, will Honda Canada provide any warranty coverage?

No. The reciprocal warranty agreement between Honda Canada and American Honda only covers owners who relocate from one country to the other, or owners from one country who are travelling on business or vacation in the other country. If a vehicle that was originally sold new in the United States is brought into Canada, its warranty only applies to the owner that purchased the vehicle while living in the U.S. and who imports the vehicle into Canada for their own personal or family use.

If I move to the United States with my Canadian Honda, will the manufacturer’s warranty be valid in the U.S.?

Technically, as is stated in the Warranty Guide that is provided in the glove box of every vehicle sold, the manufacturer’s warranty provided by Honda Canada Inc. is only valid for vehicles that are “normally operated in Canada”. However, American Honda will provide warranty coverage for the applicable warranty period if you fax or mail the following documents before you move to the United States:

A copy of a current Canadian driver’s license to show proof of Canadian residency
A copy of the Canadian Bill of Sale, which must have the VIN, selling dealer name, and engine number
A copy of the Canadian permanent vehicle registration. Temporary registration is not acceptable.
A copy of the current vehicle registration in the United States.

You must contact American Honda Automobile Customer Relations (1-800-999-1009) to determine if the above applies in your specific case, and if the warranty provided by Honda Canada Inc. can be applied to your situation.

What documentation do I require if I am moving to the United States and I want to take my Honda vehicle with me? Will my warranty be valid in the United States?

Usually, Canadian Honda vehicles can be taken with you when you are moving to the United States. There are exceptions based on whether a vehicle complies with State and Federal Safety Regulations for the United States. If a vehicle is eligible to be brought into the United States, you will need to obtain specific documentation to produce either at the border crossing point, and/or at the state motor vehicle licensing office at your destination, as follows:

You will need a recall clearance letter from Honda Canada stating that there are no outstanding recalls on the vehicle. Contact the Honda Canada Customer Relations Department on our toll-free line, at 1-888-946-6329 and request a “Recall Clearance Letter”. Have your 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) available when you call, as we must quote it in the letter we prepare for you. Recall Clearance Letters will only be provided for individuals who are exporting a Honda for their own personal use. Letters are not supplied for commercial exporters of used vehicles.
You will also need a compliance letter from American Honda to stipulate that your Canadian vehicle complies with the applicable U.S. safety and emissions requirements. You must contact American Honda at their toll-free number, 1-800-999-1009, and request a “Compliance Letter”. Have your VIN ready as American Honda will require it in order to provide the letter.

Section 2. Vehicle Information

I received a recall notice concerning my vehicle. What should I do now?

Upon receiving a recall notice, please contact your Honda dealer to schedule an appointment to have your vehicle repaired. This will also allow your dealer to give you an idea how long they will require your vehicle – usually less than a day – to perform the repair. The dealer will repair your vehicle free of charge.

I have just purchased (or am considering purchasing) a used Honda. How can I determine where the vehicle was serviced in the past, and what service has been performed?

Since maintenance service can be done at any Honda dealership, or in fact at other private retail service outlets, Honda Canada does not have access to any service or maintenance records. If you can contact the previous owner(s) of the car, or where they had it serviced, you could approach them or their service shop directly for this information. Honda Canada can only provide you with the original in-service date of the vehicle, and the name of the original selling dealership. To obtain this information, contact our Customer Relations office on our toll-free line, 1-888-946-6329 with the 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of the vehicle in question.

I had a flat tire on my car, and I am still within the warranty period. What warranty coverage is available on my tires?

The warranty on the original tires on all Honda vehicles is honoured by the tire manufacturer, not by Honda. If you believe the flat tire was caused by a tire defect, you may either contact the tire manufacturer’s Customer Assistance line directly, or ask your Honda dealership to do so on your behalf. Every Honda sold has warranty information provided by the tire manufacturer, including telephone numbers, in the glove compartment. There is no Road Hazard warranty on original equipment tires unless you have purchased Honda Canada’s optional Roadside Assistance package. This means that if you run over a nail or otherwise impact an object that causes the tire to go flat, you are only covered if you purchased the additional Roadside Assistance package.

I just bought a used Honda and there was no Owner’s Manual with it. How can I get one?

Most recent Owner’s Manuals are still available. They can be ordered and purchased for a reasonable cost through the Parts Department of any Honda dealership.

I am working on my own Honda and need some technical support from Honda to get my car fixed. Can I call your engineers and get them to help answer my questions?

Sorry, but no. Honda Canada does not have a technical support line for the public to call. We recommend that you have your Honda dealer do the work on your car. Honda service technicians are trained to know your Honda vehicle, and have access to all the latest service bulletins and other technical information directly from Honda.

I find that in winter, the original all-season tires do not provide enough traction. Can I put snow tires on just the front wheels?

No. If you live in an area or drive in conditions that require tires with better traction, you should consider installing winter tires, but you must install them on all 4 wheels, not just the drive wheels. Again, be sure to use tires that are the same size as originally specified for your Honda.

Can Honda recommend different tires for my Honda than those which were installed as original equipment?

Sorry, but no. Honda Canada can only recommend what was originally designed for use on your Honda. If you are changing tires, Honda recommends that you utilize the same tire size, load and speed rating as that of the tires originally supplied with your car. This also applies for winter tires – always use the same size as the tires that were originally installed on your vehicle.

I want to modify my Honda and install a different engine or transmission than was originally installed in it at the factory. Can Honda Canada provide me with information on how to do this?

Sorry, but no. Honda Canada can only recommend what was originally designed for use in your Honda.

How do I find out if my Honda has any outstanding recalls?

You can ask your local Honda dealership’s Service Department, or you can call Honda Canada Customer Relations at 1-888-946-6329. Your Vehicle Identification Number will be required in order to check for any recalls. If you ever move, please let Honda Canada know your new address, so we can ensure you receive any future recall notices. Or if you sell your Honda, ask the new owner to notify either a Honda dealership or Honda Canada so our files can be updated with the new ownership information.

How do I obtain information on the fuel economy ratings for my vehicle?

You can obtain more information by visiting the Natural Resources Canada web site. Remember that the ratings listed are illustrated for comparing one model to another, to determine which model is relatively more or less fuel efficient. The ratings are reached in laboratory conditions and your actual fuel economy results may vary. The Ministry’s web site describes the many factors that could affect your vehicle’s actual fuel consumption.

The radio in my Honda has a security code, and I had to disconnect the battery in my car in order for a repair to be performed. I cannot find the security code card for my radio and now it will not work. What do I have to do to get my radio to work again?

First, you can save yourself a lot of trouble if you keep the card with the radio security code in a safe place, where you can find it. If you cannot locate the card with the code, you should check with the dealership where your vehicle was originally sold. They MAY have kept a record of the radio code. If not, to obtain the radio code we need to know the serial number of your radio. If your Honda is a recent model, your Honda dealership may be able to obtain the radio serial number from the display on the front of the radio. However, if your Honda is an older model, the dealership will have to take the radio out of the instrument panel, and call Honda Canada to obtain the radio code. You will likely have to pay your dealer a fee to remove and replace the radio, as this is not covered by warranty. For security reasons, Honda Customer Relations will not provide a radio code over the telephone; it can only be provided to an authorized Honda dealership.