American Honda Motor Company, Inc., manufacturer of Honda and Acura automobiles, is facing a class action lawsuit for claims related to recurring battery drains in 2004 and later Acuras with HandsFreeLink® technology. In many cases, battery drain in affected Acura vehicles required battery replacement and costly repairs which were not reimbursed or covered by Honda.
Affected vehicles include:
- 2004-2008 Acura TL
- 2005-2008 Acura MDX
- 2007-2009 Acura RDX
People who owned an Acura with HandsFreeLink technology, were potentially subject to financial loss and personal risk and may be eligible for compensation.
Honda Acura HandsFreeLink® Battery Drain Issues
HandsFreeLink® is used the Honda Bluetooth pairing device installed in certain Acura vehicles. It is the technology used by Acura to allow for hands-free cell phone use. It was heavily promoted by Honda in Acura advertising campaigns and may have drawn new consumers to the vehicle brand due to advanced technology.
The HandsFreeLink® is intended to disconnect when the system is not in use, however it may get stuck in an “on” setting even when the car is turned off. This may create a parasitic drain on the battery to weaken or exhaust the battery, even while the vehicle’s ignition switch is off.
The problem may occur even if the HandsFreeLink® technology is not in use. If the battery’s state of charge goes low enough, or if the battery cables are removed, the system may reset, causing the problem to appear as if it were an intermittent issue.
Legal Action against Honda
American Honda Motor Company, Inc., is facing class action lawsuits for the HandsFreeLink® battery drain defect in Acura vehicles manufactured after 2004. Honda has been accused of knowingly manufacturing and selling a defective vehicle, failing to inform the public about known defects and failing to provide adequate repair services.
Affected vehicles include:
- 2004-2008 Acura TL
- 2005-2008 Acura MDX
- 2007-2009 Acura RDX
Seeger Weiss cofounder Christopher A. Seeger was appointed class counsel in “Lindsay Aberin, et al., v. American Honda Motor Company, Inc.” The class action Acura HandsfreeLink® Battery Drain lawsuit against Honda has been consolidated in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
Judge Jon S. Tigar of the United States District Court, Northern District of California, issued an order on February 1, 2024, preliminarily approving a settlement, certifying class, approving notice to the class, and scheduling a final approval hearing.
The date of the Final Approval Hearing is set for August 15, 2024.
Settlement Agreement for CA, KS, NY, and WA
On February 1, 2024, Judge Jon S. Tigar released an order approving the settlement.
Within this settlement, if you purchased an Acura:
- 2004-2008 TL
- 2005-2008 MDX
- 2007-2009 RDX
In the states of:
- California
- Kansas
- New York
- Washington
Before the vehicles reached 10 years or 120,000 miles, whichever occurred first, you may be entitled to benefits under the Settlement.
If the Court approves the Settlement, eligible Settlement Class Members who submit a valid and timely claim may qualify for an HFL Replacement Reimbursement and/or an HFL Disconnection Payment.
Learn more about the differences between the HFL Replacement Reimbursement and HFL Disconnection Payments here.
The last day to file a claim is May 30, 2024.
Excluded from the Settlement Class are Defendant and its parents, subsidiaries, and affiliates; all persons who properly elect to be excluded from the Settlement Class; governmental entities; and the Judge to whom this case is assigned and his/her immediate family.