Family learns the hard way that your house can melt your car
A family who complained to Honda that their car had started melting were given a surprising reason over what could be the cause.
Charles Goldberg said the side-view mirrors, bumper and other trim pieces on his daughter’s 2022’s Honda Civic had started to warp while bubbles appeared in the paint.
The car had been parked in the family’s driveway in Dunwoody, Georgia in the US, where the summers are hot but temperatures during winter – when this happened – sit at around 10-13°C.
The family took the vehicle to their dealer, where they were told it was caused by the glare coming off their house’s energy-efficient windows, which are designed to reflect the sun’s energy to keep the home cool on hot days.
But to their surprise and dismay, they then learnt that the damage is not covered by Honda’s warranty.
Describing the damage to the car, Mr Goldberg told news station WSB-TV: ‘It’s as if someone shot a ray gun at our car. I’d never seen anything like it. It was also warped and started melting and disintegrating.’
Not happy with Honda’s response, the Goldbergs have reportedly filed a complaint with the firm.
They also did a ‘melting Honda’ search online and found that they weren’t the only owners to experience the issue.
Honda told WSB-TV it was ‘a long established fact that focused sunlight can heat surfaces and cause damage, depending on the intensity and length of time of exposure’.
They said the ‘rare’ problem was not limited to vehicles or to Honda in particular and confirmed it is not covered by their warranty.
Metro has contacted Honda in the UK to ask if they’ve had reports of similar issues.
It is not clear whether Mr Goldberg’s daughter’s car insurance covers the damage.
Sam Sheehan, motoring editor at cinch, said it’s important car owner’s have the right insurance for them and know exactly what they’re covered for before signing up.
He told the Metro: ‘Ultimately drivers should check the fine print of any car insurance policy and ask questions about anything that might be unclear before signing up.
‘Being aware of what is and isn’t covered for your particular needs can help avoid costly surprises in the event you need to make a claim down the line.’
He said there are several things people often assume they’re covered for but actually aren’t.
One area people might struggle to get a pay-out for is rodent damage.
He said: ‘While comprehensive insurance should cover all animal damage, including that done by mice and squirrels, this won’t always be the case. You’ll need to prove that you parked securely, or else your insurer might not pay out.’
Mr Sheehan also warned owners that software modifications can invalidate your insurance, ‘even a simple upgrade to your infotainment system’.
He advised getting in touch with your insurer before making any modifications to check.
If you’re hoping to save some money on your next car insurance renewal, it could be worth heading the advice of Money Saving Expert’s Martin Lewis.
He said asking for quotes on an exact date before your insurance auto renews could save you hundreds of pounds.
You can find out more here.
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