Automotive

THIS IS A WARNING FOR ACURA RDX BUYERS:Please be aware that the AcuraLink system does not work when you need it the most

  • Last Updated:
  • Jul 26th, 2021 7:35 am
[OP]
Newbie
Jul 22, 2021
2 posts
1 upvote

THIS IS A WARNING FOR ACURA RDX BUYERS:Please be aware that the AcuraLink system does not work when you need it the most

WARNING!!
ACURALINK FREQUENTLY FAILS WORKING - PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU NEED HELP FOR SENIORS!!

I am putting on record that Acura/Honda are repeatedly harassing me to provide you with more and more information, when I have evidence to show the following:
1. I have been having problems since I purchased a brand new 2018 Acura RDX Elite model from Sherway Acura.
2. I have taken my vehicle to Acura Sherway several times and have their work orders as proof.
3. Unfortunately, the dealership pleaded their inability to support the AcuraLink system since their technicians are allegedly not trained and I have to deal directly with Honda.
4. I had filed a complaint with COMVAP – which unfortunately is financed by Honda and other car manufacturers.
5. The Arbitrator (paid by Honda and other car manufacturers) allegedly did not review all the evidence and listened to the prognosis of the Inspector – who again is paid by Honda and the other manufacturers – and who ignored evidence during the test drive.
6. I have provided over 20 pages of evidence to COMVAP, but, obviously they allegedly rule in favour of Honda who pay they.
7. I have not been using my brand new Acura RDX as I am nervous when I drive on the road since the AcuraLink would fail as has already been proven.
8. The 2018 Acura RDX Elite model has only 4900 km as on July 23, 2021 so you see how there are not more instances as could be if I drove the vehicle more often.
9. One of the latest instance of problems was on June 17, 2021 I noticed my subscription was going to expire on June 18, 2021.
10. When I spoke to Bart of Acura on June 17, 2021 (As per evidence) he confirmed that to renew my subscription, I have to pay a total of $198 towards the package of basic Connect and standard etc and he confirmed the subscription service that would be renewed automatically since you have my credit card on file and the charges would be $198.00. HE ALSO CLARIFIED IN DETAIL ALL THE SERVICES THAT ARE INCLUDED WITH MY SUBSCRIPTION - BUT, WHICH IS NOT BEING COMPLIED AS REPEATEDLY THE SYSTEM FAILS EVEN AFTER $300 HAS BEEN DEDUCTED FROM MY CREDIT CARD.
11. On June 23, 2021 when the subscription was not renewed and I called Acura, the call went to the Philippines and the Agent Marie said she had no record of the conversation with Bart and I have to call and renew my subscription and the charges would be $300.
12. My question is why do I have to pay $300 when on June 17, 2021 Mr Bart said that I have to pay $198?
13. I am enclosing a recording of my conversation with Mr.Bart as evidence for Case No.2546731.
14. On July 22, when I got stuck on the road, I tried to navigate to my HOME and the AcuraLink system said there is no record of my home.
15. So, I tried to key in an address to test the system as 333 Dixon Road and AcuraLink failed to give me directions.
16. So, I pressed the AcuraLink connect button in the vehicle and had a series of problems which I informed Acura/Honda and kept on getting calls from Mr.Philip who kept on harassing me for more information.
17. As a Senior Citizen I have been stating time and again the AcuraLink service has been horrible to say the least. This is a safety issue since I am paying $300 per year for assistance and when people come online since they are located in the USA they are not familiar with Canadian addresses.
18. I have a 20 page history of the problems I have been having with AcuraLink and neither the dealer nor Acura/Honda Canada have been able to help me because the AcuraLink system is defective and constantly breaks down putting senior citizens at risk as I have evidence to prove the same.
19. On July 22, 2021, I was lost and called for AcuraLink assistance.
20. When I pressed the AcuraLink button in my vehicle nobody came on line for a long time.
21. So, I tried again and got somebody called Mindy who first had a problem understanding the address because he is located in the USA. (P.S. This has been a regular problem when I contact the AcuraLink Agents who are located in the USA and have problems locating Canadiand addresses).
22. On July 22, 2021 said he is trying to send the directions but, it would not work for a long time. He said he is trying to send to my vehicle but, the directions did not come to my vehicle.
23. I then asked him to transfer me to his supervisor. After a long time and waiting he did not transfer me to his supervisor for assistance. (This has been recorded as evidence)
24. He then just disappeared.
25. And after waiting and waiting I disconnected and tried again and got another Associate who again took to come online and then asked me what help I wanted. I explained that I was waiting for over half an hour and asking for a supervisor and nobody came.
From the above you will see the stress and depression I have been suffering at the hands of AcuraLink and nobody seems to be helping me. If my doctor confirms that the unusual stress and depression is due to the behaviour of Philip and the entire staff of AcuraLink, I will be taking legal action, which please note.

Even though Honda/Acura have all my information on their systems, when I give my phone numbers they say there is no record of my vehicle.

I have begged of them that since they collect all the information that is in THEIR files regarding my vehicle and to STOP HARASSING ME FOR MORE AND MORE INFORMATION SINCE IT IS A FACT THAT EVERY ACURA VEHICLE IS CONNECTED TO THEIR COMPUTER SYSTEM AND HAS A RECORD OF USAGE, MILEAGE, TIRE PRESSURE, GAS USED, ETC. AND YET they KEEP ON HARASSING ME FOR MORE INFORMATION.

You will thus see that it is a LEMON to constantly have the same problems and Honda/Acura are not prepared to accept that my vehicle is a lemon and needs to be replaced.
35 replies
Deal Addict
Sep 22, 2009
3273 posts
2154 upvotes
Markham
Welcome to RFD forum and posting your 1st post.
Deal Expert
Mar 23, 2004
33724 posts
15836 upvotes
Isn't this actually OP's second post as doesn't the forum record your first as your zero post?

Anyway guess OP should've bought a GM--OnStar's been around for decades now, pretty sure all the bugs are worked out there ;) Heck maybe Acura should have stuck with it too lol--years ago, think they had OnStar in some of their vehicles.
Sr. Member
Sep 25, 2018
954 posts
1950 upvotes
Unless I missed read your post (which is quite likely given its length), your problem with AcuraLink is that sometimes it doesn't get connected to a person (which could be that no available person is online), and when it does, the person either doesn't give clear instructions or doesn't understand you, and sometimes they hang up on you.

Seems to me that hardware for AcuraLink works. It's the service behind it that you are not happy about. In that case, cancel the subscription and ask for refund. If they don't give you refund, ask your credit card company to do a charge back. Dealership won't fix your issue because they have no control on AcuraLink service. Ombudsman or any intervention organization likely can't help you either because they are not gonna be able to convince Acura to hire an agent for $$$ specifically for you just for a mere $300 or $200 subscription fee.

Seems like your car is equipped with navigation. Why can't you just input the address in your head unit and let it navigate you? I think you mentioned something about navigation can't find the address. Sometimes you have to put in a more complete address cause the system doesn't guess vague address as well as Google Map.
Before you speak: THINK
T = is it True?
H = is it Helpful?
I = is it Inspiring?
N = is it Necessary?
K = is it Kind?
Deal Addict
Sep 30, 2007
2760 posts
3617 upvotes
Toronto
LOL.
How did OP, who is allegedly a "senior citizen", was getting around before he purchased a brand new 2018 Acura RDX Elite model from Sherway Acura?
Deal Addict
User avatar
Jan 8, 2009
1507 posts
537 upvotes
Brampton
Does your car have Apple CarPlay or Android Auto? If that is the case then why not use Google Maps. I have 2021 RDX Elite and just use Carplay and Google maps.
Member
Feb 15, 2018
444 posts
546 upvotes
Edmonton
Sorry they have to give you this run around. Next time try a Lexus - way better service than Acura.
Edmonton area Realtor
Sr. Member
Nov 13, 2016
902 posts
539 upvotes
Acuralink/Hondalink has always been the most useless feature of Acura since inception. That said it's not fair to question the OP for being upset about a product not delivering as promised. I am familiar with some of the kinks in the Acuralink/Hondalink. Even the navigation system of Acura requires old generation city names to locate the street in the navigation module. You may not find street if you search in Markham unless you search in unionville. Similar situation for Thornhill, east York, north York or Etobicoke. If you enter city as Vaughan or Toronto, the streets of those cities will not be found.

What I cant understand is that despite these issues from 2018 OP still renewed and paid for the subscription in 2021 and expecting a different outcome? I am curious at the contents of the 20 pages of investigation report. With so much history and questionable performance why would anyone pay for the subscription?

CD
Sr. Member
Dec 9, 2013
791 posts
759 upvotes
Toronto
Maybe I'm out of the loop but... If you're lost, just use your phone and use Google maps, or call a friend/relative?

If you need assistance, have a CAA subscription and call them? What's the point of acuralink exactly?
Deal Fanatic
Jun 13, 2010
7249 posts
9563 upvotes
GTA
Canadadesi wrote: Acuralink/Hondalink has always been the most useless feature of Acura since inception. That said it's not fair to question the OP for being upset about a product not delivering as promised. I am familiar with some of the kinks in the Acuralink/Hondalink. Even the navigation system of Acura requires old generation city names to locate the street in the navigation module. You may not find street if you search in Markham unless you search in unionville. Similar situation for Thornhill, east York, north York or Etobicoke. If you enter city as Vaughan or Toronto, the streets of those cities will not be found.

What I cant understand is that despite these issues from 2018 OP still renewed and paid for the subscription in 2021 and expecting a different outcome? I am curious at the contents of the 20 pages of investigation report. With so much history and questionable performance why would anyone pay for the subscription?

CD
I don't understand that either. What's really unbelievable is the OP stopped driving the car because the NAV system may not work. If OP needs directions every time they drive then they shouldn't be driving.
Deal Expert
User avatar
Jul 30, 2007
32388 posts
19792 upvotes
Toronto
I guess OP's recourse is to lawyer up ... big time. Of course, it will cost thousands and thousands of $ to get anywhere. Alternatively, just sell the car, given it has so low mileage, it is likely OP can get premium pricing for it. Just tell the buyer the Acuralink sucked.
Deal Guru
User avatar
Dec 2, 2008
12431 posts
2154 upvotes
GTA
is tesla connect better??? Which company makes the best?
Deal Expert
Jan 15, 2006
20532 posts
21867 upvotes
Richmond Hill
qaz393 wrote: is tesla connect better??? Which company makes the best?
I don’t think you quite understand what this service is. It’s basically concierge.
[OP]
Newbie
Jul 22, 2021
2 posts
1 upvote
Unfortunately, without paying for the subscription no remote services work. So no remote starting, no remote monitoring of gas, etc. Further, the concern was when AcuraLink Agent was contacted on June 17, he confirmed a charge of $198 and the subscription would be automatically renewed (in order for a senior citizen to get some level of confidence that the vehicle was being monitored). But, when the AcuraLink was not automatically renewed and a call was made, the Agent said that there was no record of the call of June 17 and the customer was charged $300 instead of $198. That is one of the issues. Apart from that, AcuraZine has a host of similar complaints about AcuraLink and the responses from the USA Agents who are not familiar with Canadian addresses.
Deal Guru
User avatar
Dec 2, 2008
12431 posts
2154 upvotes
GTA
EP32k2 wrote: I don’t think you quite understand what this service is. It’s basically concierge.
7. I have not been using my brand new Acura RDX as I am nervous when I drive on the road since the AcuraLink would fail as has already been proven.

are you sure?? it seems like an essential make or break servie required for driving the car. not really sure what acuralink does exactly...... but i took a quick look at youtube and it connects the car to your phone and you can remote start lock. pretty much like a cellular key?

am i correct on what acuralink is??
Deal Expert
Jan 15, 2006
20532 posts
21867 upvotes
Richmond Hill
qaz393 wrote: 7. I have not been using my brand new Acura RDX as I am nervous when I drive on the road since the AcuraLink would fail as has already been proven.

are you sure?? it seems like an essential make or break servie required for driving the car. not really sure what acuralink does exactly...... but i took a quick look at youtube and it connects the car to your phone and you can remote start lock. pretty much like a cellular key?

am i correct on what acuralink is??
That's part of it. I'm just baffled by how OP thinks the car is unsafe due to AcuraLink not working all the time. What did they do before when a car was just a car???
Deal Addict
Apr 26, 2013
4058 posts
4005 upvotes
Toronto
I have a few Acuras and I have Acura Link on 0 of them. They're all working just fine. Just got a 2022 MDX Elite Plantnium I was able to drive it off the lot without AcuraLink connected. Sounds to me like OP is making a mountain out of a mole hill. Cancel the service get your money back if you NEED acuralink to drive best to get an Uber or Taxi.

Yes I'm proud of my new purchase so just dropped it in the reply even though it was completely unneeded.
Deal Expert
Mar 23, 2004
33724 posts
15836 upvotes
xrvr wrote: LOL.
How did OP, who is allegedly a "senior citizen", was getting around before he purchased a brand new 2018 Acura RDX Elite model from Sherway Acura?
By chauffeur of coz! OP figured it was cheaper to get rid of said employee and DIY it with his "senior citizen" reflexes and driving skill and AcuraLink! Didn't turn out so well and sadly OP's beloved Simon (guy driving him around before) ended up working for another chap, and is now scooting around with that guy in a Rolls and OP is SOL.

It's a story of tech failing to replace a human...'cause it was made by Honda lol. Perhaps OP can sell the story to Netflux.

PS love how OP keeps mentioning the "senior citizen" aspect of this, playing that card to net a sympathy vote or something I take it? Not on RFD Automotive, pops! There's no sympathy for old timers (or anyone else for that matter LOL), as the downvotes have shown! :lol:

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