Honda class action claims several models have brake issue

Honda class action overview: 

• Who: Shavonne Geddis-Wright has filed a proposed class action lawsuit against American Honda Motor Co., Inc. 
• Why: The Honda class action lawsuit was filed after a product recall regarding brake issues in specific models, including Civics, Ridgelines, Passports, Pilots and Acuras.   
• Where: The lawsuit was filed in South Carolina federal court.

A new class action filed against American Honda Motor Co. claims the automaker sold vehicles with a dangerous design flaw in their braking systems — and an earlier recall process failed to remedy the issue.

Plaintiff Shavonne Geddis-Wright filed the Honda brake issue class action lawsuit Sept. 6 in a South Carolina federal court, claiming that Honda’s July 2023 recall of certain model year 2020-2023 vehicles was nothing more than a slapdash fix.

The 2023 recall was initiated over concerns the affected vehicles’ brake systems could have loose tie rod fasteners, which can lead to complete brake failure. The recall covered 2020-2021 Honda Civic, 2020-2023 Honda Ridgeline, 2021-2023 Honda Passport, 2021-2022 Honda Pilot and 2020 Honda Acura MDX vehicles.

Honda offered owners and lessees a free fix as part of the recall. However, Honda never found the root cause of the defect and did not correct its manufacturing process, Geddis-Wright claims in her lawsuit.

According to the complaint, Honda replaced defective tie rods with parts that may have the same defect. Honda’s failure to fully address the problem may mean drivers of the recalled vehicles could continue to experience dangerous issues with their brakes, Geddis-Wright claims.

Honda knew about issue before recall and continued to sell vehicles, lawsuit claims

Geddis-Wright says she purchased a 2020 Honda Civic from a South Carolina dealership in November 2020.

She claims she has never had her vehicle serviced anywhere other than the dealership, but never was told about the brake issue recall.

“(T)hrough Plaintiff’s consistent visits to Stokes Honda of North Charleston’s Service Department, she has never been told of any recalls or defects related to her vehicle’s brake system,” the lawsuit says. “Plaintiff only recalls receiving notice of a recall related to her vehicle’s Air Conditioning (“AC”) System.”

Geddis-Wright also claims Honda was aware of the brake issue even before the recall was issued. Despite this, Honda never bothered to disclose the issue to buyers or lessees, she claims.

The plaintiff is asking for class certification, a jury trial, and monetary damages for all vehicle owners affected by the Honda brake issue recall.

In addition to the 2023 recall, Honda recalled more than 187,000 Ridgeline pickup trucks in May 2024 due to an issue with the vehicles’ rearview cameras.

Are you impacted by the Honda brake issue? Let us know in the comments.

The Honda class action is Shavonne Geddis-Wright v. American Honda Motor Company, Inc., Case No. 5:24-cv-04886-MGL, in the District Court for the District of South Carolina Orangeburg Division. 

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