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 issue with my 2014 EX. Starter began missing at 31k miles. Was told “nothing was wrong” at the dealer. Its hit or miss now.
I would like to be added to the lawsuit. I had confidence in Honda but when they know about problems and leave their customers with the bill it is ridiculous.
Same issue with my 2015 Honda Accord Sport 54k miles now… Intermittent starting been going on for the past 15-20k miles.. I have had a brand new battery installed as well..
I never know when I get in the car to take my son to school or pick him up or at the store or work etc etc IF MY CAR IS GOING TO START OR NOT!! If it doesn’t, it clicks once but won’t turn over. All lights in the car come on, radio works etc it just won’t start on some occasions. Sometimes it’s one fail start sometimes its 3-15 fail starts before it’ll turn over finally. One time I was stuck at a friend’s house for 2 days before it decided to start. This is ridiculous and Honda needs to step up and realize its not on the consumer to fix this SAME issue in thousands of vehicles within the same year.. I don’t have $1000 to drop on a starter that should last for over 100k miles. This is my 3rd Honda and my last!
Same issue on 2015 accord V6. Replaced starter once now it’s doing it again. Please add me to lawsuit
Past couple of weeks having same issue, I have new battery self installed so thought probably terminals were loose. But with the clicking noise and control panel coming off and on had me doubtful and thinking this is not battery issue, sounds more like starter or engine start switch not working properly. But reading all the comments I am certain its starter issue. I called local dealer to check on recalls for starter or battery sensor case and they said nothing on recall file for my vehicle and I bought my car with same dealership along with my 2014 Honda Odyssey.
I have a 2013 Honda Accord Ex-L and am having the starter replaced this week. Started having issues starting a couple months ago and would only click when I pushed the start button but would eventually start. It’s no longer starting. To those who have replaced the starter… did that fix the issue?
Thanks!
Kristi
I am at the dealer right now to get this problem with my Accord Sport 2014 fixed. The starter just clicks and I have to attempt starting the car several times before it succeeds. I am being quoted a cost of around $820 (plus tax) to get a new starter.
I have a 2014 Honda accord and I am having the same issues with starting my car
Same issue with our 2013 Honda only 73,000 miles on our Accord. Just started having issue when we push button to start. Sometimes it takes couple tries to start. Just replaced fob battery so not that issue. We have also had high oil consumption since we bought it and had dealer check from first oil change.
Same issue. I’ve had the starter replaced with no luck. If you look up service bulletin 16-002, it explains that the starter needs to be replaced AND they need to rotate the torque converter one bolt hole. If that doesn’t work, then you need to replace the torque converter
2015 Honda Accord, try to start and you hear a spinning noise, most of the time it starts within a few tries. Honda said the starter needed replaced and rotate the torque one bolt holt. I did what the said would fix the problem, however six months later doing the same thing. Honda now says the torque converter needs to be changed and another new starter. So if I do this how long will this last before it starts doing the same thing again? Honda should man up and fix these engineering mistakes!!!
Today I replaced my starter for my 13 Honda Accord! They did everything that the Bulletin stated to do and it’s still grinding. So why are they not recalling these when everybody from 13 through 17 is still having the same issues??? This is totally unacceptable and they should be recalling and fixing these for free and reimbursing us for all the cost and maintenance to get it replaced!!
Same issue with my 2015 CR-V. 47,000 miles. Intermittent failure to start. Dealer replacing starter for $800. Not right.
2013 Accord, 54,380 miles. Intermittent starter issues. No crank, lights come on. Sometimes needs 2 tries, last nt , 5x. I’m afraid to get stuck somewhere. Mechanic can’t find issue unless it doesn’t start in front of him.