Honda class action alleges some vehicles have paint defect

Honda class action overview: 

• Who: A group of Honda owners are suing the automaker.
• Why: The plaintiffs claim some Honda vehicles have defective white paint that can peel and flake.
• Where: The class action was filed in a California federal court.

Honda has been hit with a new class action lawsuit alleging certain models of its vehicles from model year 2013 onward suffer from a white paint defect that leads to peeling, bubbling, and flaking.

Plaintiffs Jim Clemmens, Terri Hernandez, and Marie Toussaint filed the class action complaint against American Honda Motor Company Inc. on Nov. 12, alleging violations of state and federal consumer laws. 

The plaintiffs claim that Honda was aware of the issue but failed to disclose it, leaving affected customers with costly repairs or diminished vehicle value.

According to the lawsuit, the defect applies to all model years from 2013 to the present of the following vehicles:

• Acura MDX in White Diamond Pearl paint (NH-603P)
• Honda Odyssey in White Diamond Pearl paint (NH-603P) or Taffeta White paint (NH-578)
• Honda Pilot in Taffeta White paint (Paint Code NH-578)
• Honda Fit in White Orchid Pearl or Bellanova White paint (Paint Code NH-788P)
• Honda HR-V in White Orchid Pearl or Bellanova White paint (Paint Code NH-788P)

The plaintiffs claim the defect stems from problems in Honda’s manufacturing process, particularly with the application of “three-stage” white paint, which gives cars a pearlescent finish.

The defect allegedly causes the paint to delaminate and fail, reducing the cars’ value and forcing owners to either live with unsightly damage or pay out-of-pocket for repainting. 

“The appearance of the surface significantly affects a customer’s perception of product quality,” the lawsuit says, adding that the defect goes beyond aesthetics to impact resale value and protection against rust.

While Honda extended warranties for some models of the vehicles, the plaintiffs say the automaker hasn’t done enough to remedy the problem. They say repainting fails to fully resolve the issue, as the defect remains in other parts of the vehicle.

As a result, the plaintiffs are suing on behalf of anyone in the United States who bought or leased one of the affected vehicles. They are suing Honda for fraudulent concealment, breach of warranty, and violations of consumer protection laws in California, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania and seeking certification of the class action, damages, fees, costs and a jury trial.

Meanwhile, Honda is recalling about 720,000 vehicles over concerns they may have leaky fuel pumps that put drivers at risk of a fire or a crash.

What do you think about the allegations in this Honda class action? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiff is represented by Daniel L. Keller of Keller, Fishback & Jackson LLP and Stephen J. Fearon, Jr. and Paul V. Sweeny of Squitieri & Fearon LLP.

The Honda class action is Jim Clemmens et al. v. American Honda Motor Company Inc., Case No. 2:24-cv-09728 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

• Honda issues recall for Goldwing motorcycles due to potential engine stall
• VW announces recall for several models due to potential airbag defect
• Tesla announces 6th Cybertruck recall
• Honda class action claims several models have brake issue