Are you having starter problems with your Honda Accord or Crosstour? At Independent Auto Care in Parker, we like to keep our customers informed on such issues. Right now, owners of 2013-2015 Accords and Crosstours are filing a proposed class-action suit. This suit is being filed because the starters in these cars are allegedly failing and are quite costly to replace.
The Lawsuit
In this lawsuit, vehicle owners are alleging that the starters in these particular Honda vehicles are defective and often failing during or just after the limited warranty expires. Owners have sometimes been stranded as a result of dead batteries and vehicle starter failures. After paying to tow their vehicles to the dealer, owners are then informed that the expense of the repair will not be covered by the automaker.
The Plaintiff
Joel Merkin, the plaintiff, indicates that he purchased a used 2013 Honda Accord EX-L in 2015. At the time, the car was under the factory warranty. By 2016, the car had about 40,400 miles on the odometer and had trouble starting 1 to 2 times a week. After multiple tries, the car would start. By the time the Accord had 58,430, the car had difficulty starting 5 to 6 times a day.
When the plaintiff contacted his Honda dealer, he was informed that that his Accord was no longer covered by the warranty. The dealer expected Merkin to pay the entire cost of replacing the starter. Eventually the car was taken to an alternate dealer and the starter was replaced with a new one for approximately $200.
Additional Issues
According to the plaintiff, the dealer omitted the fact that particular parts of components within the started were not manufactured and assembled properly. Additionally, Honda failed to inform the plaintiff that the alleged defect would reduce the resale value of the vehicles. The lawsuit claims that Honda has been aware of the starter issue for years and has not done anything to resolve the issue.
According to Crosstour and Honda owners, Honda usually blames the starter issues on “wear and tear” or “maintenance” or “user-induced” problems. They claim Honda uses these reasons to avoid warranty coverage. Even for vehicles under the warranty, the plaintiff alleges those vehicles with starters problems are still an issue because Honda installs new starters that are also defective. According to the plaintiff, Honda is aware of the starter problems, a problem that they have communicated to dealers in technical service bulletins. The cost for repairing the starter ranges from $400 to $900 or more.
No Recall
In spite of the number of complaints from Honda Crosstour and Accord owners, Honda has not issued a recall, nor has Honda offered to reimburse customers who have had to pay for repairs and replacements themselves. The complaint alleges that Honda has handled its business unfairly and has engaged in deceptive practices. The complaint also alleges that Honda has violated the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act.
Having starter problems with your Honda Accord or Crosstour? If you are experiencing these issues, you may want to follow this lawsuit to see if you may eventually be part of a class action suit. At Independent Auto Care in Parker, we want to help keep you up to date on issues that related to your vehicle.