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
I have a 2013 accord 4 doors sedan that has start up problem . I am not continued to use a hand carried battery for my start of my car. I was once tour from Sacramento to SF. My starter was also became malfunction early . I call dealer they denied they had any problems.
Trying to see why my 2015 civic push button won’t work stumble on this. It has been starting on the 3rd or 4th try but today nothing. I only have 52k miles on it so frustrating. I know its not the battery just replaced it last year and everything works except the start button.
Nicole-
I am having the exact same problem. I have 52,000 miles on my 2014 Honda Civic. Takes 2 tries to get it to crank. I took it in to my (reliable?) dealer, they checked it over and couldn’t find anything wrong. The battery was good, my fobs were good, the computer diagnostic check didn’t show any problems. So I leave and it happened on my way home when I made a stop at the store! I waited about 2 weeks and took it back just yesterday and lo and behold all of a sudden it WAS my starter but funny that didn’t show up 2 weeks ago. I had done some research on this problem and came up with the brake light switch being the culprit but they assured me that was working properly…and what a coincidence that would have been a much cheaper fix but I was assured it was the starter.. $864 later…I go to pick my car up, go out to crank it to leave the dealership and guess what…it HESITATED and it took me 2 tries again to crank it. I sat there dumbfounded. I thought this can’t be happening. So I tried it again and it did it again. I was livid! I had just paid $864 and haven’t even left the parking lot. I went back inside, found my service advisor and it wasn’t pretty. So long story short, they checked it over again and determined the service tech didn’t install a new battery because most of the time when they put in a new starter, it requires a new battery as well. So I pick it up tomorrow, with a new battery and a new starter but I feel like I’ve been took. It does come with a 3yr/36month warranty but this experience has made me not to want another 1. Honda and 2. push button starter. You might want to try your luck and suggest to your dealer “it could be the brake light switch” and see what they tell you. This is a rip off problem and Honda should be ashamed to charge their customers that much money to replace a starter.
Add me to this list. 2015 Honda Accord just started having these issues at 75k. Won’t be buying another Honda with their lack of recall.
I have 2014 Honda Accord – Key ignition (not push button) and it has the same symptoms. Please add me to your list
Please add me to the list my 2015 crv is now being towed for starter issues. Thank you
I have a 2014 Honda Accord with starter issues. My husband has replaced the rely, starter and ignition switch and we are still having issue. We are having more issues with it not starting. The car has (130k miles).
Please add me to this list. I just bought a 2014 Honda Accord and it will not start. It only has 62,382 miles on it. I have changed the battery and all the lights come on, doors open and lock with key fob. Everything works except for the car turning on when I hold the brake and hold the start button. After reviewing all the comments it seems like there is multiple people having the same problem as me.
I would like to be added to the list. I just purchased a starter and have to replace it due to issues. I have a 2014 Honda Accord Sport V6.
I have 2013 Honda Accord with 62000 miles . Purchased pre-owned certified in May 2016.
Was having issues with starting the car and finally spent $550 to get it replaced from a local mechanic..
I was researching and happen to see this page. Please let me know if there is anyway Honda will reimburse.
Please add me to the list. Been having same staterc issues for a while now and just have not takin in for repair because there tired not seem to be a proven fix yet? 2014 Accord V6. Like others have said, dealer just says replace the starter for $600?