Should I push for a loaner?

[Roc A Bee]

So I got a letter about my recalled passenger airbag last Summer. Basically all I've been told is, when we get the part, we will call you. That was 9 months ago.

Should I push for a loaner? I've been driving the entire time. I drive a 2010 Subaru Impreza btw

[just]

So I would, but I didn't have to and I'm a bit of a coward. I'd have probably made my husband kick up a fuss. As it was Honda was great about it. I do believe strongly that we were top of the replacement list when they came in since we were costing them money (in a rental) whereas others weren't.

It's a rare, but pretty dangerous recall - while I'm fairly blase about shit like this, I'd be nervous about driving in it and definitely wouldn't be driving with someone in the passenger seat.

[scout8]

I did with my Acura. All I did was mention that I was concerned about safety, and they quickly offered up a loaner. Once I had the loaner, the part came in pretty fast. I have a feeling the parts come in first for those that have a loaner.

[Deleted]

Yes. We did for our car. It took a month for it to get fixed.

[mich1]

We just got notice about this last week for DH's 2007 STi. This car is his toy, and he wants to drive it so I understand why he does not want a loaner. At this point, I'm tempted to ask him to have the passenger side airbag disconnected. But if they are paying out for a loaner, maybe you'll get to the top of the list faster?

They claim there is not going to be parts for it until 2018!

I have a Forester, same year, and while it hasn't been on any of the initial lists, neither was his.

[sarahsays]

Mar 28, 2017 12:39:23 GMT -5 mich1 said:

We just got notice about this last week for DH's 2007 STi. This car is his toy, and he wants to drive it so I understand why he does not want a loaner. At this point, I'm tempted to ask him to have the passenger side airbag disconnected. But if they are paying out for a loaner, maybe you'll get to the top of the list faster?

They claim there is not going to be parts for it until 2018!

I have a Forester, same year, and while it hasn't been on any of the initial lists, neither was his.

Crazy. I'm in Southern CT and they replaced the one in my H's (2006) STi a few months ago so the part is definitely around.

[savan]

I would call and bug them about the part. We received a letter last summer but never got a call from the dealer. We finally called them in November for a service and it turned out they did have the part available.

[Deleted]

I had a recall a few years ago that was going to take them two days to complete. When I asked about a loaner, the dealership declined. I explained that I couldn't get to work without a car, and the recall hindered the cars safety...The guy said, "say no more, you said the magic words." Apparently at this dealership, the policy is no loaner UNLESS the recall is a safety recall and the customers safety is at risk. But the customer has to express the concern.

YMMV but I think it's worth a shot, and escalating to management if you get a no.

[vmars]

Yes. When I found out the other week (I got a post card in the mail) I called the dealership and simply said "my car was part of the airbag recall, I will need a loaner until it can be fixed" at first they said they didn't do loaners, but once I moved up the chain, I got my loaner that day (and a really nice one at that). I overheard them talking about it when I came in and they didn't know the protocol since I was the first one to request it but their supervisor said they'd do it if they have safety concerns. I am looking at mid April before my cars fixed.

[winemaker06]

It's worth the try.
DH got the notice and called a few times (Scion). He even pulled the 'I have a newborn riding in this car regularly' excuse (which was true!). But the dealership manager ultimately called to tell him it's not happening.

[chimera]

I haven't dealt with this recall on either of our Subarus (2011/2017) but I'd ask. Ours has always given me a loaner for other issues that were covered under warranty or extended warranty due to a class action suit.

DH did have this recall on his old Civic. The selling dealership were a bunch of asses about it and said it would be forever and no loaner. Called another one similar response about the loaner. Paperwork from Honda said loaner would be provided. Wtf. So he called the 800 number on the notice - the rep found him a dealer who had no issues with the loaner and got the replacements in within a week.

Escalate if you don't like the first answer.

[gummy]

We had a recall for our passenger airbag on our Honda. They refused to offer up a loaner and even sent out several letters advising that no one ride in that seat until it was fixed. We were apparently "far down the list" waiting on a part. Oddly enough some random clunking starting happening at idle speed so we brought it in. Because it was in the shop and they had the part on hand they were required to fix the recall despite the fact we weren't next in line on the list.

[mrs.jacinthe]

Call the dealer. R's Forester had been in that boat since October, and when we called to ask, they scheduled us for replacement the next week. Apparently they've had the parts for a while but somebody dropped the ball on the "we will call you" part.

[fryjack2]

Does the letter say you had the option to get a loaner?

We ended up just trading our car in for a new one that didn't have the airbag problem.

The wait for parts was insane and they couldn't guarantee that the loaner would be equivalent to what we were driving (Acura RDX). I didn't want a sedan with twins and we would have had to pay to store our car somewhere since we only have one parking spot in our building and we would be barred from driving it at all. Parking here averages $300 a month and Acura wouldn't cover that.

If we didn't have the twins, I would have gotten a loaner. I didn't want to risk malfunctioning airbags. Good luck!

[kadams767]

That is so weird that some places have this crazy wait. I didn't even call about mine. When I took my Outback in for service on something else, they told me that they had the part for the airbag recall and could do it at the same time if I wanted. No wait.

[vmars]

Mar 30, 2017 8:49:07 GMT -5 kadams767 said:

That is so weird that some places have this crazy wait. I didn't even call about mine. When I took my Outback in for service on something else, they told me that they had the part for the airbag recall and could do it at the same time if I wanted. No wait.

By any chance are you in a southern state? They have received priority bc under humid conditions the airbags are more likely to malfunction. This is the biggest recall ever so if you aren't in a prioroty area you have to wait. They are having trouble keeping up with the demand of airbags needed to be replaced.

[kadams767]

Mar 30, 2017 10:42:08 GMT -5 vmars said:

Mar 30, 2017 8:49:07 GMT -5 kadams767 said:

That is so weird that some places have this crazy wait. I didn't even call about mine. When I took my Outback in for service on something else, they told me that they had the part for the airbag recall and could do it at the same time if I wanted. No wait.

By any chance are you in a southern state? They have received priority bc under humid conditions the airbags are more likely to malfunction. This is the biggest recall ever so if you aren't in a prioroty area you have to wait. They are having trouble keeping up with the demand of airbags needed to be replaced.

Nope, I am in the Northeast.