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 problem here with 2014 Accord Touring
I have a 2013 Honda Accord with the same issues. Been through multiple batteries and a battery recall as well..only for it to lead to starting issues. It’s been not wanting to start for over 2 years. Everytime I mention it they want to replace the starter and adjust the flywheel. Did that…still not starting. I need help!!!!!!
I just replaced the starter on my 2013 Accord EX at a cost of $775. I would be interested in joining a class action lawsuit. I told the dealer about all the issues I’ve seen on-line Honda starters but they were uncooperative in covering any of the repair costs.
Please confirm if there is an active class-action lawsuit. I have a 2015 Honda Accord V6 just under 50,000 with same intermittent problem. Honda Dealer is asking around $900 to repair.
I am having a very similar issue with my 2013 Accord Sport sedan. Honda says I need a new starter, but other mechanic says it sounds like another issue.
Will there be a class action started on this?
my 2017 Honda Civic’s starter crapped out at 51,000 miles. first tried the battery…. seemed to fix it for about 2 weeks, then it started taking longer and longer to start. then finally dead. had to get towed. $500 later…. and now two years later – almost 50,000 miles and it’s starting to act up again. this is bull. i bought a honda for their reliability. I want a HRV, but nope wont do it now.
I’m have 2015 push start that started off having trouble starting sometime but it’s been two days now and it still won’t start. I’m guessing it’s the starter.
Just bought a 2016 V6 a couple months ago. Started out fine- happened a couple times after having it a couple weeks where it would just fail to start although you can hear it trying, and now it’s happening most often when I try to start my car I have to bear the god awful noise and keep trying to start. Super frustrating, interesting to know others are struggling with the same thing. Gonna get it looked at ASAP and try to figure it out. bleh.
Same issues starting. 2014 Touring, 79k miles.
My 2014 accord just hit 70,000 miles and was failing to start about once a week for the last couple weeks but usually started again after one try. I changed the battery in the key fob thinking that was the issue but today was stranded and couldn’t get it to start for 10 mins. It’s at the shop now getting the ignition switch replaced. Car has had routine maintenance done only at honda certified dealerships. Very disappointed hopefully it doesn’t cost too much. Hope this goes through.
Same issue. Never know when it will start. Took it to the dealership . They replaced computer board. Cost $650, but by the way, it still won’t start. Now we need to replace the starter and that will be another $800. They’ll keep replacing parts as long as you let them. I thought that was why they used diagnostic eqipment.