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 a 2013 Honda Accord owner -purchased this brand new and am having starter issues.Service technician advised he has been seeing this issue in the Accords!
I have a 2013 Honda Accord Sport that started with a dead battery in February 2018 then the starter failure in May. I paid $868.00 fir the replacement!
I am a 2013 Honda Accord owner -purchased this brand new and am having starter issues. Just took it to Honda today as I do for ALL service and they’ll be replacing my starter tomorrow for nearly $600. Service technician advised he has been seeing this issue in the Accords!
I like to join this lawsuit. Bought brand new 2014 Accord Sport in October 2013. Since day one starter not starting engine once a while. Things have progressed to 3-6 times cranking to start. Vehicle has 47k miles. Now car is dead due to bad stater.
We would like to be part of this suit. How can we make this happen?
How can I be part of the lawsuit? Starter problem with 2014 accord only 38000 miles.
My Honda Accord 2014 ( bought new in oct 2013), with 38000 miles, snail to start since 10/2018. After changed a new battery, still cannot start once a while. Now often happen.
I own a 2013 Honda accord with 21000 miles on the car and have problems with it starting as well. How can I be a part of the lawsuit.
I had to replace starter in April 2019, for my 2015 Honda Civic si.
Can I come into that lawsuit.
I have a 2015 Honda Accord. Today 6/5/19, I was told that my Starter needs to be replaced by my local Honda dealership.. How can I be apart of the lawsuit? I have a 2004 Honda Civic and have never had the Starter replace or stop working. Very disappointed with Honda right now!