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
My 2013 Accord is having the same issue. It has 69000 miles on it. Please add me to list. Thanks.
Please include me same starter problem and I cant afford to get another car
Happening to me too. 2015 Accord. Battery tests fine – engine won’t turn over now over half the time.
Please add me. 2013 honda accord v6. Starting problems for 6 months now
2014 Honda Accord Sport, bought new in September 2014. The same issue with starter at 86000 miles.
I have a 2014 Honda Accord with 50,000 miles and we are having issues with the starter. Grinding noise and it will not start. We are afraid it is hurting the fly wheel. I have viewed a lot of complains concerning this issue. Honda should do a recall. Not sure I will keep my car if Honda is not standing by their vehicle.
2014 Honda LX. intermittent starter issues going on for months at a time. Honda wanted to charge me $800 for repairs. Add me.
Same thing has happened to me. Paid $700 somewhere else to replace the starter and after only 2 months, it is failing too. Please add me.
Same issue. 2013 Accord EXL with starter issue.
2015 Accord Sport, bought new in December of 2014, It intermittently makes a clicking noise (one click) when attempting to start, I turn off the ignition and turn it on again and it starts. Had the battery tested and its fine, mechanic (not a Honda mechanic) that tested the battery said it’s the stater. Also, in 2017 battery was dying, had it tested and it had an internal fault. Bought a Honda for the reliability. Add me to the suit, please.
I own a 2013 Honda Accord EX-L V6 with the same starter issue. With so many complaints you would think that Honda (being a reputable company) would do the right thing by its loyal customers and issue a recall. I would tend to think that this could easily fall under a “Safety” recall. This could leave you stranded anywhere. Pease add me to the list as well.
Honda 2013 V6, Dealership refuse to replace starter & flywheel so the engine would start. I had carried the car to Dealer before the warranty was off & brought it new. Estimate $6,400, at a regular Body Shop. A cost & inconvenience so car is down. There is a factory problem.