Sounds like this could be an issue for those who drive so little they just do annual oil changes (per the OM). I'm not aware of any instructions to NOT reset the MM when doing annual oil changes. Interesting...
That's
exactly a potential conundrum!
Based on my experience and others I've seen on here, the average driver will be prompted for an oil change about every 8,000 miles.
Assuming someone who drives less than 8,000 miles per year tends to make short trips which will accelerate the decrease of calculated oil life, the MM should prompt for oil changes sooner - perhaps in the 5-6,000 mile range.
If a person drives less than 5-6,000 miles per year, they may no longer own the vehicle by the time other maintenance items become
too neglected. For example, it may take nine years before the transmission fluid needs changed.
We also have to consider how many of those who drive such a short distance in a year actually change their oil every year as instructed. Unless someone else tells them, they might not know to do that.
Eventually, the MM will prompt for an oil change.
Another factor is how the vehicle is driven during that year - a 100-mile round trip each weekend results in much less wear and oil deterioration than a 5-mile round trip to work every day. Towing an RV 2,500 miles twice a year is yet another potential scenario.
The footnote regarding oil changes reads, "If the message Maintenance Due Now does not appear more than 12 months after the display is reset, change the engine oil every year." It does
not read, "...change the engine oil every year
and reset the display." This
could suggest that Honda expects the oil to be changed, but
without resetting the MM even though it seems to be in conflict with the notice that says, "Failure to reset the engine oil life after a maintenance service results in the system showing incorrect maintenance intervals, which can lead to serious mechanical problems."