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 2014 Honda?Accord has 77,000 miles on it. Just replaced the starter motor to the tune of more than $800. Honda really needs to do something about this. The car has had regular maintenance at the Honda dealership. I’ve had 1991 and 2001 Accords and never had these kinds of problems.
I also have a 2014 Honda Accord and the starter has been replaced twice now. And the 3rd starter also is defective. I was told by the dealer there is no fix yet other than new starters. It is push button start and makes a grind noise. Then it will start once I try it a second time.
Just had to get a new starter $636.75. Honda Accord. 2014
I have a 2015 honda Fit. got a letter from Honda saying there’s an issue with the engine start/sop button and offering to replace it free. It’s the same issue described by many people on this page: have tp push the start button multiple times to start. took my car in and had the warranty replacement done for free. It didn’t help. Now the dealership is trying to tell me the warranty covers the ignition, but my issue is the starter, which is not covered and will cost $900. BS. what a coincidence that would be.
Very frustrating ! My 2014 Accord EX “rarely” starts without 6 – 10 attempts.
We own a 2014 accord, replaced the starter 60K miles $750.00. Is the class action still in the works?
I had to just pay over $800 for a refurbished starter from Honda. Something has to be done, Honda needs to place a recall on this.
I have the same problem with my 2013 honda accord touring
Model, it’s very frustrating that Honda refuses to do a recall and fix this. Can others join the class action?
I have accord 2013 whit the same problem how I join the class action
I have the same problems listen above. How do I join the class action?
I totally agree with the starting issues with some makes and models especially with the V6 accords I checked the battery condition and found no issues. I checked for loose cables or connectors with the starter, battery, alternator, and found no issues. I had the starter replaced by a local shop because it won’t turn over after six to eight ignition push starts. This was in late January of 2020 now 2021 till this day I’m having the same issue but this time it grinds and points to the torque converter all because of honda service bulletin. After reading most post here I’m convinced that this issue has created major opportunities by misleading the consumers for services that they may not need especially the same issue parts replaced. My starter is in good condition but, it has to work harder because of other obvious issue. Everyday I go to work worrying about this issue and I’m still paying for this vehicle, so yes big time the torque converter is very questionable for recall and something needs to be addressed soon. Class action I’m game.
I have a 2013 Honda Accord v6 EX/L and have paid twice to have the starter replaced and 3 times under the Honda warranty replacement for the two replacements that I had purchased. Now the Honda service center is suggesting to replace the torque converter for approximately $3500. The car has approximately 155k miles and is in great shape minus the starter issue. I hate to keep throwing money at this issue and am just to the point of trading it in for something new.