Honda Jazz (2002 - 2008) 1.4i-DSI SE 5d Owner Review

A car with some excellent design features but generally extremely low quality. I bought this Jazz with about 83k on the clock and one of those waste-of-time used car warranties. It has been impressive when it comes to carrying stuff around - the seats fold flat and leaves a very spacious boot. You can also fit things under the rear seats, and there's ample headroom. The air conditioning is very effective, powerful and cold. The stereo is pretty good, with controls on the wheel, it sounds very crisp and has heaps of bass. However, the Jazz has been endlessly problematic. It had 3 outstanding Honda recalls, which admittedly were fixed in a timely fashion. But: The ABS pump is so unreliable that BBA Reman offer a lifetime-warranty reconditioning service. Had to change it almost immediately. Warranty refused to cover. The rear brake calipers are such crap quality that they're virtually guaranteed to be siezed, leaving the handbrake an MOT-fail. Warranty refused to cover. The gearbox output shaft seals are a poor design, leaking gearbox oil into the clutch housing. You have to change both, but luckily a reconditioned gearbox is £120. The new one has run for over a year without any signs of trouble. Just annoying that the clutch had years of life left in it, had it not been swimming in oil. Warranty refused to cover. The exhaust midsection hanger had to be cut off and re-welded elsewhere to stop the exhaust knocking on the bodywork. The paint falls off the wing mirrors. Driveablility is poor, it skates all over the lane, it's not poised or confidence-inspiring in the bends. It's slow, droning and cheap feeling. I'd keep typing, but I now have to change a headlight bulb, pump the tyres for the third time this week, and I suspect it's developed a squeaky wheel bearing. It never ends.