I phoned our dealer (Friday afternoon) to book the car in for the 30k service, and also to address this 'squealing' noise from back right 'wheel'. I was informed over the phone it was the brakes...which I almost laughed out loud, and reminded the service person that this car was going in for 30k..not 130k!!
I dropped the car off this morning and the noise had not been heard for 2 days...
The service dept called me to advise rear brakes had been replaced ($296) the car serviced and was now ready for pick-up. I arrived there to be presented with the bill, which is where the 'fun' began.
I asked why I had not been informed the brakes would only last this amount of time, which they advised me that Honda had informed their dealerships of a 'fault' with the break pads in September 2010. They said they had serviced my car (20k) in October 2010 and inspected the brake pads, and were content my brake would see me through to 30k service....and as my car had 30,550km when i dropped it off this morning, they refused to use the 'warranty' option available for Accord owners, providing the car hasnot done more than 30,000km, and not a kilometer more!!
I checked my log book, and saw that the 20k service was done at 20,557km, so the 2 service periods hadnt even reached 10k, yet at 20k they were happy the breaks would last til 30k. They told me athat at 20k i had 4mm of pad left, and said a new pad had about 6mm, which means i used 2mm in 20k, and then 4mm in 10k!!! I have had the same job, same address, the driving history is unchanged for the entire life of this car. I am the sole driver, yet all of a sudden they want me to believe that i have used 4mm of pad in 10,000km!!
I requested a copy of the Honda report, which was declined, i could read it but not copy it. I requested they provide me with my old brake pads, which they were very very reluctant to do, and I then took them and refused to give them back. So I now have them in my possession. Now, on further inspection of these brake pads, it is very clear the 2 pads are also unevenly worn....yet they still deny this is a warranty repair. The said the uneven wear is due to how my handbrake is set.....at which point i reminded them the 'tweaking' my handbrake was not normally something i do!! Again, still denied as a warranty repair.

As far as I am concerned the sale contract that I signed when I purchased this vehicle does not meet the specifications, and afault, ANY fault, should be actioned and I should have been informed and at least given the opportunity to have them replaced!

I have lodged a complaint with Honda Australia, and intend to pursue this until I am satisfied wiht the outcome. I am Very unhappy with the management of this issue.

This makes me wonder though, what else may be wrong with this vehicle that I do not know about....