by Court Approves Class Action Lawsuit Against Honda
A US court has preliminarily approved a class action lawsuit against Honda, which provides for significant payments to victims and also obliges the manufacturer to expand warranty terms and reimburse expenses. The issue concerns the Idle Stop system, which can lead to the inability to restart the engine in some Honda and Acura models.
Initially, the company faced three separate lawsuits, but they were later consolidated into one. The start-stop system, designed to save fuel during stops (for example, at a traffic light), sometimes fails to restart the engine, which can leave drivers in a difficult situation.
Which Models Are Involved?
The list includes the following vehicles:
20 plaintiffs will receive $7,500 each, and the attorneys who represented their interests will receive $11.7 million. Furthermore, Honda has committed to providing a 10-year extended warranty on the starter motor for the affected models.
Warranty Changes and Reimbursement
Previously, Honda offered free starter replacements and valve adjustments, but only after the dealer officially confirmed the problem. Now, all owners of the affected models can benefit from a 10-year warranty on these components, regardless of whether they have experienced problems before. For owners of 2015 model year vehicles, the warranty period ends in 24 months, and for 2016 models – in 18 months.
Reimbursement of expenses is also provided for those who have already paid for repairs to the starter, starter relay, or valve adjustments. This is an additional step to protect the rights of consumers who encountered the problem before the company officially acknowledged it.
This case highlights the importance of the technical reliability of modern systems, especially those like start-stop, which are actively used to reduce emissions. Although Honda has implemented warranty changes, for many owners this may only be a partial solution, as some have already experienced inconveniences due to malfunctions. Mass lawsuits of this type often become a catalyst for manufacturers, forcing them to pay more attention to the quality of components.
