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A group of consumers says that Honda CR-V and Accord vehicles are affected by a parasitic draining defect that causes electrical components to draw down the battery – even when the car is turned off.
Lead plaintiffs Andre Cruz, Mitchell Bryon Pazanki, Dayane Tessinari, and Fernanda Nunes Ferreira lodged a nationwide class action lawsuit in Florida federal court Tuesday. They say that Honda knew of the parasitic draining defect that leaves owners of 2017-2019 CR-Vs and 2016-2019 Accords with unexpectedly dead batteries.
Each of the plaintiffs claim that the batteries in their Honda Accords or CR-Vs failed prematurely due to the alleged battery defect.
Parasitic draining allegedly occurs when electrical components in a vehicle fail to shut down once the vehicle is parked and turned off, which in turn allows the components to continue consuming power from the battery. The vehicle safety defect can leave motorists stranded, potentially in dangerous situations, say the plaintiffs who also point out that the problem can affect emergency hazard lights and headlights.
The plaintiffs say that even replacing the battery does not cure the defect.
“Repeated draining of a vehicle’s battery progressively weakens a battery until ultimately the battery fails and needs to be replaced,” explains the class action lawsuit. “Even prior to complete failure of a battery, excessive draining can cause electrical components of the vehicle such as hazard lights, headlights, and taillights to fail without warning, including when the vehicle is being driven.”
The class action lawsuit contends that car owners should expect their batteries to last approximately six years or more. The parasitic draining defect allegedly affecting Honda Accord and CR-V vehicles results in a much shorter battery life.
The plaintiffs say that they and other consumers would not have purchased or paid as much for their Honda Accord or CR-V vehicles had they known about the battery defect. They allege that the carmaker knew of the parasitic draining defect, but hid the problem from the public.
Indeed, Honda was hit with a parasitic draining defect class action lawsuit lodged in Iowa federal court in May of this year.
The plaintiffs in this class action lawsuit allege that Honda touts the CR-V and Accord as safe and reliable vehicles. In total, the carmaker has sold and leased millions of these vehicles that allegedly suffer from the parasitic drain defect, they say.
In addition to the plaintiffs’ experiences, the class action lawsuit points out consumer complaints lodged with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration over Honda CR-V and Accord batteries. The plaintiffs accuse Honda of violating state consumer protection laws and federal warranty laws, as well as fraud and unjust enrichment, by knowingly selling cars with the parasitic draining defect.
The plaintiffs seek to represent Honda CR-V and Accord owners and lessees nationwide, along with a Florida subclass.
The class action lawsuit wants to hold Honda responsible for the expenses suffered by Accord and CR-V owners, along with statutory and civil penalties, and attorney and court fees.
Do you own a Honda CR-V or Accord? Have you had issues with the battery? Tell us about it in the comment section below!
The lead plaintiffs are represented by Mark. J. Dearman and Eric S. Dwoskin of Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP, and Marc A. Wites of the Wites Law Firm.
The Honda CR-V, Accord Defect Class Action Lawsuit is Cruz, et al. v. American Honda Motor Company, Inc., Case No. 0:21-cv-61130-XXXX in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
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190 thoughts onHonda CR-V, Accord Parasitic Draining Defect Alleged In Class Action Lawsuit Over Batteries
I have a 2015 Honda CRV with very low mileage – under 35k. Because I’ve worked from home for last 5 years I don’t drive it much but when I need it for appointments, shopping, etc. it’s very frustrating to have it start because the battery is dead. Paid n
In November, I paid just under $1,000 to have MICU that the dealer service department claimed was the culprit after over 2 weeks of troubleshooting and some heated discussion about how much of the diagnostic time I was going to pay for. And yet over the last 6 months have had to have it jumped over a dozen times. If I don’t start it and rev the engine for 10-15 minutes or drive it every 24-26 hours, it dies. Missed starting it yesterday morning and by 4 pm battery was too drained to start it.
Gonna give dealer service one more shot at it then I’ll try to get it in somewhere that specializes in electrical issues. Very frustrating for a vehicle I paid over $33k for.
I own a 2019 Honda CRV that has exactly the same problem. Less than two years after buying the car, I had to replace the battery. I’m expecting the same thing to happen in the next couple of months. Please add me.
I have a 2015 Honda Accord and have this exact issue! I’ve replace the alternator 3 times, the battery 3 times. I charge it with a battery tender weekly. This has made me miss work, dr appointments and my children going to school. Not to mention it’s not safe to go anywhere like a grocery store. I was stranded yesterday with my 10 year old daughter and no one would jump my car. And the drain is too much for a portable jump box to work. Honda needs to do something about this. I’m a single mom paying over $420 a month not to mention insurance… to have a vehicle I cannot drive.
I have a 2018 Honda CRV purchased new from the dealer 2/18. 2.5 years into having the car the battery died. I replaced it. One year later, died again. This time took to dealer and they diagnosed BCM problem. That was 12/29/21. I had to pay up front and order the $350 part. It’s now 4/10/22 and I’m told every two weeks that the ship date has been pushed out again current projected ship date is 5/11/22.
At first diagnosis told my only recourse was to disconnect the battery to stop the parasitic drain.
In the meantime, the issue got progressively worse. Initially, I could leave the battery hooked up for a few hours at a time, otherwise it would drain th battery and set off the alarm. Within a month, the problem was so bad that, within 60 seconds of turning the car off, it would power itself back on to accessory mode and drain the battery. It could not be fully turned off without disconnecting the battery. For the last 2+ weeks the car will not start at all despite reading as having a fully charged battery.
I’ve been stranded multiple times. I’ve had to call for jump tow service twice. I have had to buy a jump starter and switch for the battery all of which Honda has refused to reimburse.
Honda refused a loaner or rental until yesterday when I had a fit and they finally agreed to give me a loaner for 3 weeks and then give me a rental car.
I have had to fight like hell to get them to agree to cover 90% of the service.
Despite the fact that this is clearly a major and known issue, they claim this is just a rare instance.
So now I’m 3.5 months into a car that doesn’t work and is now completely broken with at least another month to go. I can’t sell the car bc it won’t start.
Wondering how to join this lawsuit.
I have the same issue I purchased my Honda CRV in May 2021 and by October 2021 was stranded a few times with a dead battery and I took in to a mechanic paid over $3,000 and still have the same issue. I was told they are still waiting fir the part and it will hopefully arrive in May. 6 months without being able to drive still making car payments and paying insurance.
Have you been able to be added to the lawsuit?
Not only is my battery affected but all my driver assist sensors are malfunction my brakes brake their self for no apparent reason putting myself and others in danger the car seems to have a lost of power with no acceleration have to turn off and restart the car These things started with 500 miles on the car and Honda has not stepped up to the plate and admit there is a problem.very disappointed with them.
My battery keeps drying after two weeks of non use. Honda replaced the battery in the first year, just replaced it myself in 2021. Still dies in less than two weeks.
I have a 2017 Honda CRV purchased new from dealer. I am experiencing the exact electrical issues as noted in several replies noted above. It has been at the dealer for repair since October 2021 and has been delayed on a monthly basis since then. The latest estimated date has leapfrogged beyond April 8th to now being estimated to be in on May 8th. That will put our car in the shop for 7+ months. We too are making car and insurance payments for a vehicle we don’t even have. As this has been going on for such an extended period with no real response from Honda, I feel a class action lawsuit is the only course of action that may get Honda to deal with this problem.
I have a 2015 Honda CR-V and after a diagnostic test and then a”deep” diagnostic test the dealer claimed it was a dead battery and after being charged for the test, was given a new battery which I’ve had to had recharged four times in six months! Recharched it just over two weeks ago and didn’t start the car for ONE day and the battery is totally dead!
I have Honda CR-V 2017 and I had to change my battery already and not only that I have a lot of electrical and engine problems including bad smell. last month I got a new one where Honda is trying to get out of which is EVAP monitor DTC caused by two harnesses to the side of the driver and passenger. I think this is a clear defect that they say it is out of warranty but it doesn’t make any sense to me. I have complained to Honda multiple times regarding engine issues and gas milage being worse but they assured me time and time again no problem is found. A
We bought a 2017 CR-V, within a couple months had to take back to dealer and they put new battery in. Continued to have vehicle go dead especially if not driven EVERY day.
Heard about the parasitic bleeds, called dealership, they said maybe something was left “on”…nothing was left on, keep getting “phantom” blind spot/lane departure/braking/warning signals for no reason. Called dealer again this morn after having to jump start again in a rain storm…said Nope no recall…maybe a bad battery,,,I said oh you installed a bad battery 2 years ago? He said they go bad all the time…I should not have to replace a battery every 2 years and jump it monthly…his solution was to have it brought in for diagnostic testing…no guarantees and its not free.