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
Same starter issues for my 2014 Honda Accord Sport with 66k miles.
Please include me.
Same issue on 2015 accord
Please add me to the class action suit. I have a 2014 Honda Accord EX-L.
My 2014 Honda Accord has the same issue. Last time I opened and closed the trunk and it started. I have heard of othe people having an issue with the trunk popping open on its own.
Add me to class action lawsuit
Add us too!! 2013 Honda Accord Touring barely driven and needs a $600 starter!!
I have same problem with my 2015 Honda Accord! Was going to call to see if covered under warranty.
I have a 2013 Accord sport sedan and am dealing with the same issue. Replaced battery and had the alternator checked. Sometimes takes 5-10 times for it to start. It’s crazy that they haven’t put out a recall for this!
My 2016 Honda Accord EXL has the same problem. It takes several attempts before the push button starter works. I have 47k, and car was purchased new on December 16 2016.
i have 2014 accord ex-l. Same starter problem
Same problem with my 2014 Honda Accord
My 2013 Honda Accord EX-L V6 started experiencing the problem in Spring 2019. Now (November 2020) with ~70,000 miles is is getting more frequent. So far it has always started by the fourth or fifth starting attempt, usually after the second or third attempt. I have not yet been stranded, but do worry about being so in the future.
I’m in Minnesota… Just had the same issue, although my VIN isn’t part of recall list. 2014 accord lx
2013 Honda Accord LX key start the same issue. Please add me to lawsuit.