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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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450 thoughts onHonda Class Action Says Engine Starter Defect Merits Warranty Coverage
2015 Honda Accord is having the same issue with the starter. Please at me to the lawsuit. I’m in Mississippi.
I own a 2015 Honda Accord LX purchased new. A few weeks ago at 31,200 miles the car intermittently would not start on the first try. Eventually the car would not start at all. The problem was the starter failed and had to be replaced. This shouldn’t happen at 31,200 miles. I would like to join the class action lawsuit.
2016 Honda fit EX – replaced starter at 45,000 miles and just took it in at 65,000 miles hoping it was the starter button system that is now included in an extended warranty and diagnostics say it is the starter.
Our 2016 Fit needs a starter replaced too. I just purchased it three months ago for my kid. No money to repair it
Same issues I’m having now with my 2014 Accord SE.
How do we get added to the CAL?
2016 Accord V6, same issue!
2015 Honda Accord, same issue with the starter.
Reply
2014 Honda Accord same starter issue. Please add me to the lawsuit.
2015 accord same issue please add men
2015 accord same issue
2013 Honda Accord starter replaced in March 24,2017 now again today 12/2/2022.
I have a 2014 Honda crosstour got it and it had 22,000 miles on it have replaced two starters in it because of this issue I know how 42,000 miles and I’m ready to run it off a cliff I’m definitely interested in being in the lawsuit also
I have a 2014 Honda crosstour got it and it had 22,000 miles on it have replaced two starters in it because of this issue I now how 42,000 miles and I’m ready to run it off a cliff I’m definitely interested in being in the lawsuit also
2015 Civic si 2.4 bought new. Starter was replaced under warranty less than one year old. Now gone again at 50,000 miles.