A proposed class action lawsuit filed July 25 claims certain Honda vehicles have infotainment system and phantom braking issues.
Alleged Defects
In a 195-page complaint, South Carolina resident and proposed class representative Aida Milena Gonzalez seeks to hold defendants American Honda Motor Co., Inc. and Honda Motor Co., Ltd., liable for the alleged defects.
According to Gonzalez, the infotainment systems affect the speakers, causing them to emit no audio or loud and unexpected popping or crackling sounds. The display screen may dim or black out, she claims, and make navigation tools, back up camera visuals, or hands-free features unavailable periodically.
Moreover, Gonzalez claims a braking defect in the affected Hondas makes them brake without explanation, including on narrow roads, two-lane roads, bridges, and in stop-and-go traffic. By way of example, she alleges, an oncoming car in another lane could trigger the vehicle to harshly brake.
Plaintiff’s Alleged Experience
As alleged in her complaint, Gonzalez says she bought a Honda Pilot in 2020, when she was expecting a child, because of Honda’s reputation for safety and reliability. About a year after purchase, the alleged defects started showing up, and beginning in March 2022, she began making regular trips to her dealer for those issues. She reportedly experienced popping and cracking noises from her speakers, “like pebbles hitting the windshield,” as well as phantom braking. Her complaint claims she made five service visits for related complaints through February 2023, taking her car out of commission for 171 days.
Class Description
Gonzalez seeks to represent two classes—a national and state class:
- all persons or entities nationwide who purchased or leased a 2020-2022 Honda Pilot, 2020-2022 Honda Passport, or 2020-2022 Honda Odyssey (except the 2020 LX) manufactured and sold by defendants; and
- all persons or entities who purchased or leased a 2020-2022 Honda Pilot, 2020-2022 Honda Passport, or 2020-2022 Honda Odyssey (except the 2020 LX) manufactured and sold by defendants in South Carolina.
Honda’s Purported Knowledge
The lawsuit asserts Honda has long known of both alleged defects through avenues including its own testing and consumer complaints. Gonzalez claims other litigation for other vehicle makes, models, and/or years further placed Honda on notice of similar infotainment and phantom braking issues, including Conti, et al. v. American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Bahn et al. v. American Honda Motor Company, and Cadena, et al. v. American Honda Motor Co., Inc. She also points to prior service and technical communications about the alleged infotainment and braking issues as evidence of Honda’s purported knowledge.
Legal Claims
The lawsuit raises claims including breach of warranty, false advertising, violation of consumer and business laws, fraud, and unjust enrichment. Gonzalez asks the court for remedies including damages, equitable relief (e.g. replacement of the defective vehicles with new vehicles), and attorney fees.
The case is Aida Milena Gonzalez v. American Honda Motor Co., Inc. et al., number 5:23-cv-01462, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
