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With one owner’s painful story of multiple problems, I’ll explore whether the new Honda Prologue EV is a vehicle you should avoid or if this is an isolated issue.
Benny Jones on the Honda Prologue Owners Facebook Group says,
“My 2024 Honda Prologue is in the shop again. This loaner receipt shows that it has been at the dealer for over 30 days. Yesterday was another 30 days in the shop. It has had its second set of CV axles. I really want to add up the months that my Prologue has been in the shop. The longest stretch was from February to the end of May.”
“That stretch was the first set of axles plus a complete interior teardown for the wire harness and many other issues. If I had to guesstimate, I would say the car has been in the shop for at least 5 months since it was new in October 2024. I have been very negative about this car. I am happy for the people who have had a good experience. I love this car when it works. I feel like I found the worst possible turd in the world.”
“I’m frustrated that I have to deal with such a piece of GM garbage. No one should have to just put up with anything like this on a new vehicle. Would you accept someone doing subpar work on your house or a doctor doing work on you?”
Honda Prologue’s Pain Points
It’s a tough read, and I can feel the frustration coming right off the screen. Benny Jones’s story about his Honda Prologue is a sad tale that strikes at the heart of modern automotive manufacturing and the delicate trust between a customer and a brand.
When a car spends more time in the shop than on the road, it’s not just a defect—it’s a disruption to life, a financial burden, and a source of immense emotional stress. Benny’s experience isn’t an isolated incident, and it sheds light on a broader issue that many new EV owners are facing.
Benny’s situation with his 2024 Honda Prologue, which has had its second set of CV axles replaced and undergone a complete interior teardown due to a wire harness issue, is a lesson in the realities of cross-brand partnerships. His feeling of having found “the worst possible turd in the world” is a visceral reaction to what many would consider a nightmare scenario.
The core of Benny’s frustration, and the reason I want to dig into this, lies in his phrase, “GM garbage.”
This isn’t just an off-the-cuff insult; it’s a direct reference to the Honda-GM collaboration.
The Prologue, as you know, is built on GM’s Ultium platform and is a sibling to the Chevrolet Blazer EV. This strategic alliance was meant to fast-track Honda’s entry into the all-electric market, leveraging GM’s expertise in EV architecture. In theory, it was a smart move, a way to share development costs and accelerate innovation.
However, as Benny’s experience sadly highlights, it can also mean inheriting another company’s quality control issues. This raises a crucial question about the reliability issues with the GM Ultium platform and whether the problems seen in the Blazer EV are being transferred to its Honda counterpart.
There Are Many Red Flags
The fact that the vehicle has already had its second set of axles suggests the initial repair didn’t fix the root cause, which can lead to a long-term cycle of repairs that erodes confidence and drains the owner’s patience.
The additional issue with the wire harness is equally concerning.
A wire harness teardown is an incredibly complex and time-consuming procedure, and it points to potential issues with the vehicle’s electrical system, which is the brain and nervous system of any modern EV. This is a topic that resonates with owners searching for answers to Honda Prologue wiring harness problems.
The sheer amount of time Benny’s car has spent at the dealer—over five months since its purchase—is arguably the most damning aspect of the entire ordeal. The extended dealer repair time for the Honda Prologue is unacceptable for any new vehicle.
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It’s a clear indication that either the dealer is struggling to diagnose and repair the complex issues, or that the solutions from the manufacturer are not readily available or effective. This kind of prolonged downtime is exactly what Lemon Laws were created to address.
So, what to do if your new Honda Prologue is a lemon?
1. The first, most critical step is to document everything.
Benny is already on the right track by tracking the loaner receipt and the days in the shop. He needs to maintain a meticulous log of every service visit, every conversation with the dealer and Honda corporate, and every piece of correspondence. This documentation is the single most important weapon in his arsenal.
2. The next step is to communicate formally.
Send certified letters, not just emails or phone calls, to both the dealership and Honda’s corporate customer relations department, detailing the vehicle’s history and the unacceptable downtime. This creates a paper trail that is invaluable in a legal dispute.
In many states, if a vehicle has been in the shop for a significant number of days due to the same issue, or has undergone a certain number of repair attempts for multiple problems, it can be declared a “lemon.” This legal classification can compel the manufacturer to either replace the vehicle or buy it back, providing the owner with a full refund.
Is Benny’s Prologue a Lemon?
A strong case could be made that Benny’s Prologue falls into this category. This is a situation where seeking a consultation with a Lemon Law attorney is a wise and necessary move. It provides an objective assessment of his rights and the best course of action without him having to navigate the complexities alone.
Benny’s frustration is understandable and completely justified. He’s paying for a premium product that is delivering a subpar experience. While he loves the car “when it works,” its repeated failures and extensive time in the shop leave him with an owner experience that will likely lead him to leave the Honda brand and never return.
For Honda, this is a moment of truth.
How they handle cases like Benny’s will define their reputation in the growing EV market. They need to go beyond standard repair procedures and offer a genuine solution, whether that’s a direct replacement of the vehicle or a buyback.
Conclusion
In the end, Benny’s situation is a powerful example of the growing pains of the electric vehicle industry. His experience with Honda Prologue’s repeated mechanical failures is a warning sign that the race to market can sometimes outpace the commitment to quality.
No one should have to “just put up with anything on a new vehicle,” as Benny points out.
It’s Your Turn
What are your thoughts? Have you or anyone you know faced similar issues with a new vehicle, especially an EV or a car from a manufacturing collaboration? How did you handle it, and what was the outcome? Let me know your story in the red Add New Comment link below.
Check out my Honda CR-V story: My Honda Dealer Is Saying I Need A Brake Fluid Change In My 2023 CR-V, and By the Looks Of It, It’s Not Even Dirty, Is This Another Dealer Scam?
I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news, covering owner stories, and providing expert analysis, ensuring that you are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on X @DenisFlierl, @WorldsCoolestRides, Facebook, and Instagram
Photo credit: Denis Flierl
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Source: torquenews.com
