Honda Motor Company, Ltd. and American Honda Motor Company, Inc. have introduced an interesting feature to some of their vehicles, intended to improve fuel efficiency. It’s called Auto-Idle Stop (AIS) and it is meant to stop the engine when the vehicle is stopped, for example at a red light. But the complaint for this class action alleges that it often fails to restart the engine, leaving vehicles stranded and inoperable in sometimes dangerous places.
The Nationwide Class for this action is all persons or entities in the US who bought, leased, or own a class vehicle. A North Carolina Subclass has also been defined for those in the above class in North Carolina.
The class vehicles include the following, equipped with a 3.5L engine and a 9-speed automatic transmission:
- 2016-2020 Honda Pilot
- 2015-2020 Honda Odyssey
- 2015-2020 Acura TLX
- 2015-2020 Acura MDX
The AIS system is supposed to increase fuel efficiency. “When engaged and functioning correctly,” the complaint alleges, “the AIS feature automatically shuts off the engine when the vehicle comes to a complete stop, and automatically restarts the engine when the driver releases the brake pedal, thereby reducing fuel consumption while the vehicle is stationary.”
However, the complaint alleges that the system does not always work correctly, and that sometimes when the driver releases the brake pedal, the engine does not restart. After that, the complaint alleges, the driver cannot restart it and the vehicle becomes “inoperable and immobile” and must be towed.
The complaint alleges that Honda has known about the problem for a long time and that as early as 2018, it put out an internal communication to Authorized Service Managers about consumer complaints of the problem with 2018 Honda Odyssey and Honda Pilot vehicles. However, four years later, the complaint alleges, the company has not issued a recall or offered an effective fix for the problem.
On June 3, 2022, the complaint claims, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) began its own investigation into the AIS defect because of the volume of complaints it had received from consumers.
The complaint reproduces a large number of consumer complaints about the problem, such as the following: “Auto engine idle stop malfunctioning, leaving vehicle stalled and stranded in the middle of traffic. Has happened two times in last month (Sept. 2019) now with last being on a busy highway with young son in car. … [We were] very fortunate we were not hit as vehicle was stalled in the middle of 60 mph traffic for nearly two hours. … Engine idle auto stop feature cannot be turned off permanently and [you] must remember to turn it off every time you drive the vehicle… Car is approx. 2.5 years old…”
Article Type: LawsuitTopic: Automobile
Most Recent Case Event
Honda, Acura Auto-Idle Stop Feature Often Fails to Restart Engine Complaint
January 9, 2023
Honda Motor Company, Ltd. and American Honda Motor Company, Inc. have introduced an interesting feature to some of their vehicles, intended to improve fuel efficiency. It’s called Auto-Idle Stop (AIS) and it is meant to stop the engine when the vehicle is stopped, for example at a red light. But the complaint for this class action alleges that it often fails to restart the engine, leaving vehicles stranded and inoperable in sometimes dangerous places.
Honda, Acura Auto-Idle Stop Feature Often Fails to Restart Engine ComplaintCase Event History
Honda, Acura Auto-Idle Stop Feature Often Fails to Restart Engine Complaint
January 9, 2023
Honda Motor Company, Ltd. and American Honda Motor Company, Inc. have introduced an interesting feature to some of their vehicles, intended to improve fuel efficiency. It’s called Auto-Idle Stop (AIS) and it is meant to stop the engine when the vehicle is stopped, for example at a red light. But the complaint for this class action alleges that it often fails to restart the engine, leaving vehicles stranded and inoperable in sometimes dangerous places.
Honda, Acura Auto-Idle Stop Feature Often Fails to Restart Engine Complaint