Honda has been ignoring complaints about a defective engine starter, according to the plaintiff in a recent class action lawsuit.
Plaintiff Joel Merkin says the Honda engine starter in certain recent model years of Honda Accords and Crosstours is defective in a way that causes the starter and battery to fail. Once that happens, the vehicle’s engine will not start, potentially leaving drivers and passengers stranded, Merkin claims.
The engine starter is an electric motor that gets the car’s engine spinning when the driver turns the ignition key, until the engine starts and keeps running on its own.
Merkin claims the defendants have known about this Honda engine starter defect for at least four years. Owners have been filing complaints with Honda about the alleged defect, and the company itself has published internal technical bulletins addressing the problem, he claims.
According to this Honda engine starter class action lawsuit, Honda has been refusing owner requests to remedy the engine starter defect under the affected vehicles’ warranties. Merkin says Honda has dismissed warranty claims for this defect by attributing the problems to wear, owner misuse, improper maintenance or lack of maintenance.
When Honda has bothered to fix the defect, Merkin alleges, the company has only replaced the Honda engine starter with a similarly defective starter.
Despite Honda’s alleged knowledge of the defect and the asserted coverage under the manufacturer’s warranty, Merkin says the company has not “recalled the Class Vehicles to repair the Starter Defect, offered its customers a suitable repair or replacement free of charge, or offered to reimburse its customers who have incurred out of pocket expenses to repair the defect.”
Merkin himself is the owner of a pre-owned 2013 Honda Accord. He says that in May 2016, his Accord would fail to start about once a week. The problem got progressively worse, he says, until the vehicle would fail to start five to six times per day.
A local Honda dealer told Merkin the car was no longer under warranty. Merkin had the problem fixed at an out-of- pocket cost of about $200, he claims.
Merkin is proposing to represent a statewide plaintiff Class consisting of all persons in New Jersey who are current or former owners of one of the listed vehicles equipped with the allegedly defective Honda engine starter. He lists these vehicles as the Honda Accord from model years 2013 to 2015 and the Honda Crosstour from model years 2013 to 2015.
He is asking the court to certify his proposed Class and appoint him as Class representative. He seeks a court order requiring Honda to repair, recall or replace the Honda engine starter in affected vehicles. He also seeks an award of damages with pre- and post-judgment interest and reimbursement of court costs and attorneys’ fees.
Merkin’s attorneys are Matthew D. Schelkopf, Joseph G. Sauder and Joseph B. Kenney of McCune Wright Arevalo LLP.
The Honda Engine Starter Defect Class Action Lawsuit is Joel Merkin v. Honda North America Inc., et al., Case No. 3:17-cv-03625, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
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454 thoughts onHonda Class Action Says Engine Starter Defect Merits Warranty Coverage
2013 Honda Accord Coupe V6, same issue, TSB did not fix problem.
2015 honda accord- 38k miles. Car would not start with diagnosed battery problem. battery changed two times. Last battery changed in summer 2019 and still have start up problem in dec 2019. local mechanic diagnosed with starter problem. OF course, it is out of warranty and must pay out of pocket.
Just happened to me. $800 repair from Honda
Add me in to the lawsuit
My 2013 Honda Crosstour is having the same issue. My car was still under extended warranty with around 70k miles on it when I had to have the starter replaced in Feb 2019 because of the grinding sound when the start button is pushed and failure to start a few times per week. I had only had the car for less than 1 year at the time. Fast fwd to Nov 2019 and the starter has failed again. The new starter has been in the car for less than a year. We returned the faulty starter to the dealership that put it on and requested that they order a new one. This will be my 2nd starter repair in less than a year. Honda needs to rectify this issue. I purchased my car with about 70K miles on it & 2 years later it is only at 84K miles, so that let’s you know that the car barely gets driven because I live close to my job. This should not be happening on a vehicle with under 100k miles.
I bought my 2014 Honda Accord at 72k miles. At 104k miles, I got to work and about to come back the car would not start. The key turns with all the lights but the engine will not turn over. I towed it to my mechanic, replaced the starter and would not start. It later starts. Mechanic not very sure what he fid that got it started. In 3 days the same problem happened again. I called my mechanic, he advised me to go to dealership and chech if there is recall on this issue. I would call Honda dealership this morning. Hope they would be nice.
My 2014 Honda Accord will start for one second and then dies immediately. I’ve recently replaced the Alternator and battery within the last 2 months. Now have to tow the vehicle and pay for whatever repair is suggested. Please add me to the class action suit. Let me know what I need to do to be included please?
I also have problem with my 2014 Honda Accord. It wouldn’t start, My car was towed to repair shop. Then left it overnight and were able to start next day. The battery is new, so it’s most likely intermittent started problems. I called HONDA customer service they told me that there’s no recalls. I only have 54K on this car.
If there’s a class action law suit, I would like to participate.
I have a 2013 crosstour. Same problem. My husband replaced the starter and still having issues. Honda in Tacoma Washington denies any problem.
Add me to the lawsuit….PLEASE! Have had several makes/models of Hondas over the last 30 yrs… Bought a previously leased 2013 ACCORD IN JULY 2016; ONLY HAD 20,000 MILES AND WAS IN MINT CONDITION, INTERIOR & EXTERIOR; REPLACED BATTERY IN JUNE 2018, NO BIG DEAL… AND WITHIN THIS PAST MONTH OR 2, AT 51 ,000 miles, the starter began NOT starting, thought it was key fob battery…NOPE! I am having to take it to a local mechanic today, arrange a week’s worth of alternative transportation, AND, isn’t it “funny” when I was discussing this problem with the local Honda Dealership Service Dept. last Thurs., he mentioned NOTHING about this being a common problem, on 2013-2014’s in particular…Hmmmm; My local trusted mechanic, however, revealed to me, same day, how they’re very familiar, and encouraged me to go on-line, do my homework, I did…WOW! My mechanic’s estimating $480.00 if it’s the Starter, less if it’s just the starter button itself….. SHAME ON YOU HONDA>>>>NEVER AGAIN…will be sharing, reviewing, and spreading THIS cluster-eff with ALL!
My 2014 Honda Accord has the same starter problem. My coworker and I bought the same car within 2 weeks of each other, brand new. She replaced her starter at 42K and I started having issues with pushing the button and gas pedal over and over and over before it would start at 33K. I called Honda and they acted like it was the first time they had ever heard of such a problem. They told me I was out of warranty because of the year, but not the miles. They said I was a special case and they MIGHT consider a reimbursement if I took it to their dealership for replacement. I DO NOT TRUST THEM. They told someone else this and then denied the claim and the person was stuck with a $700 bill. I WILL NEVER EVER BUY A HONDA AGAIN. I DO NOT LIKE THE WAY THEY HANDLED THIS SITUATION. I have low miles for a car that is almost 6 years old. My car is in great shape inside and out, but it won’t start right away. WHAT A JOKE. I am sharing my experience with everyone I know. How can a person consider buying a Honda when Honda does not stand behind their product? I hope all of the people complain about this problem and I hope Honda will be forced to remedy the problem, since they will not do it on their own.