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 am going on my third replacement starter for my 2013 Accord. The first one was a rebuilt and the second was done back on the fall of 2019 at my local Honda Dealership. I am now going for my third. I just found out that they were faulty to begin with. Please keep me in the loop.
I have a 2014 accord ex at 63,000 miles I started having starter issues. Replaced the starter still had issues. Just replaced second starter with Honda paid $1152. They blamed it on my buying a non manufactured starter. Hopefully it works this time. I’m a California resident. Can I be added to this class action suit?
Daughter had this exact issue with her 2014 Civic. Cost her $1000 to repair. Any help for Civic owners?
Same issue with my 2014 Honda Accord EX. 52,000 miles and bought it new. Dealership said it was the battery so I purchased a new one but still having the problem.
We have a 2015 Honda Accord Sport where the battery is too small for the car & now the car won’t start at all. Husband believes it is the alternator because the battery won’t turn over at all, doesn’t even click. How do we join the class action lawsuit? Very low miles on car.
Add me my ho d accord 2014 has same starter issue and weakly chappel Honda dealer ,Tampa, Florida , charge me 900$ to replace
I have had intermittent starter issued and as of this weekend, it has progressed to being unable to start my car. 2013 Honda Accord Sport. I was told it was a battery issue. New battery, same problem.
I also have the problem of my 2014 honda sometimes not starting.
I HAVE 2015 ACCORD WITH THESE ISSUES HOW DO I JOIN THE CLASS ACTION CASE?
I also have the problem of my 2014 honda sometimes not starting.
My 2014 Honda accord EXL has the same problem. I’m going to see if I change the starter well that help
I have a 2015 Honda Accord Sport 50k miles & JUST this past week at cold start nothing happens the 1st time I try to start it. So far the 2nd time it’ll start luckily!! I just replaced battery a month ago too..