Judge OKs Honda Accord Oil Defect Class Action Settlement

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A California federal judge has granted preliminary approval to a class action settlement that will resolve claims that American Honda Motor Co. manufactured more than 1.5 million defective Accord vehicles that excessively burn oil, causing engine malfunction and premature spark plug degradation.

Plaintiffs Vince Eagen and Alex Soto initially filed the class action lawsuit in March 2012, claiming that 2008-2010 Honda Accords contained a “systematic design defect that enables oil to enter into the engine’s combustion chamber,” causing the engine to consume excess oil. According to the class action lawsuit, this alleged defect led to “premature spark plug degradation and engine malfunction.”

The class action settlement agreement was initially submitted to U.S. District Judge Susan Illston on Sept. 11, 2013. The plaintiffs asked Judge Illston to grant preliminary approval to the Settlement Agreement, which she did on Oct. 9.

“The Court preliminarily approves the settlement and Settlement Agreement as sufficiently fair, reasonable, and adequate to warrant dissemination of Notice of the proposed settlement to the Settlement Class, the posting of the Notice on the Website, and the scheduling of a formal Final Approval hearing,” Judge Illston wrote.

Under the terms of the class action settlement, Class Members include all U.S. purchasers and lessees who purchased or leased certain Honda vehicles in the United States. The affected vehicles include 2008-2012 Honda Accords; 2008-2013 Honda Odysseys; 2009-2013 Honda Pilots; model year 2010-2011 Honda Accord Crosstours and 2012 Crosstours equipped with 6-cylinder engines that have variable cylinder management.

Honda agreed to extend the powertrain limited warranty for up to eight years after the original sale or lease of the vehicle, without limitation as to mileage. Under the terms of the class action settlement, Class Members who submit a valid claim form with a copy of an original repair invoice, receipt or other documentation plus proof of payment for repairs or replacement parts may be eligible for a full reimbursement.

A final hearing for approval of the class action settlement has been scheduled for March 21, 2014.

According to the class action settlement agreement, the Settlement Administrator must notify Class Members about the settlement by U.S. mail by Jan. 10, 2014. The notice will include a claim form, which will also be posted on the settlement website, once the website is established. Any request for exclusion must be postmarked no later than Feb. 24, 2014.

Further details on how to file a claim for the Honda Accord Oil Defect Class Action Lawsuit were not immediately available. Keep checking Top Class Actions or sign up for our free weekly e-newsletter below to receive settlement updates.

Class Members are represented by Steven Berk and Matthew Bonness of Berk Law PLLC; Beth Terrell and Kimberlee L. Gunning of Terrell Marshall Daudt & Willie PLLC; Michael Ram and Jeffrey B. Cereghino of Ram Olson Cereghino & Kopczynski LLP; and Lawrence Deutsch, Sharon Carson and Eugene Tompkins of Berger & Montague PC.

The Honda Accord Oil Defect Class Action Lawsuit is Alex Soto, et al. v. American Honda Motor Co. Inc., Case No. 3:12-cv-01377, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

UPDATE 1: This class action settlement now includes other Honda vehicles, including the Honda Accord, Odyssey and Crosstour. Details on how to file a claim to receive reimbursement for repair costs can be found here.

UPDATE 2: A federal judge granted final approval to the Honda engine misfire class action settlement at a March 21, 2014, Final Fairness Hearing.