Sarah Mirando  |  February 16, 2012

Category: Legal News

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Honda Hybrid IMA Battery Defect Class Action Lawsuit

By Mike Holter

 

Honda The legal troubles plaguing Honda’s Hybrids haven’t stopped with their allegedly low mileage performance. A federal class action lawsuit claims Honda won’t back up its warranty for the defective Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) batteries in its 2006-2008 Civic Hybrids.

The class action lawsuit claims the IMA batteries in Honda Civic Hybrids prematurely deteriorate. The alleged IMA battery defect “manifests as erratic performance and safety issues, including loss of power, sluggishness, inability to accelerate from a stop, inability to drive uphill, failure to start after being turned off, total failure to deliver adequate power to the wheels, and poor fuel economy,” the Honda Civic Hybrid class action lawsuit states.

Unfortunately, because the symptoms are erratic and often non-detectable through the diagnostic systems provided at Honda dealerships, owners who complain of these symptoms  are “frequently told that there was nothing wrong with their car,” the class action lawsuit says.

“The IMA battery defect was, however, well known to Honda,” the class action lawsuit says, as evidenced by a July 2009 recall notice to install software it designed to address the problem. Subsequent software updates, installed in connection with routine maintenance, and described as non-recall “improvements,” have followed.

However, these software installations do not solve the Civic Hybrid’s IMA battery defect or satisfy Honda’s warranty obligations, the class action lawsuit says. They are, in fact, “an attempt by Honda to postpone or eliminate its costly obligations under its warranties and to conceal the true deteriorated state of the IMA batteries in defective Hybrids by causing its equipment to read their ‘useable capacity’ differently.”

The Honda Civic IMA battery class action lawsuit is seeking at least $5 million in damages, restitution and disgorgement of profits for a proposed class of all persons or entities who own or lease a defective Honda Hybrid.

A copy of the Honda Hybrid IMA Battery Defect Class Action Lawsuit can be read here.

The case is Jon Rego, et al. v. American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Case No. 12-cv-1193, U.S. District Court, Central District of California.

 

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Updated February 16th, 2012

 

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15 thoughts onHonda Hybrid IMA Battery Defect Class Action Lawsuit

  1. Sharon Hitselberger says:

    Our 2005 HCH had the IMA battery replaced roughly 5 years ago. We were told we were getting a new $5000 battery for free from Honda due to the lawsuit going on. Well, it turns out that was a lie! There are no NEW IMA batteries, just refurbished ones. Well, now we need another one due to the dashboard looking like a Christmas tree, causing the vehicle to fail the vehicle emissions test in MD. “Sorry, but it is not covered by warranty”. Well, I think that it should be covered for life since there was never an actual, physical, proper repair with New parts.

  2. Scott Jeffe says:

    All the concerns reported with other Civic hybrid owners we experienced with our 2008 Honda Hybird. Honda finally replaced our Hybird battery about two years ago under my extended warranty, but I refuse to sell the car knowing problems exist that could cause death, or injury to others as a result of acceleration power loss from a dead stop, driving up steep grades, or attempting to pass someone.. Not sure if this class action is open for others to join, but I feel strongly Honda should buy these defective cars back..

    1. Pam Rainey says:

      I have a 2005 Honda Accord Hybrid with the engine light and IMA light appearing after a front end collision (minor physical damage determined by collision repair folks), The car is now 12 years old. 72000 miles. Is there a way to disconnect the hybrid battery away from the operation of the car battery and anything else in the car? From your comments, you’re under the impression that if the hybrid battery is malfunctioning, it could actually work to stop the car in the middle of traffic, acceleration while driving up hills, passing, getting on the freeway, etc., You’re telling me a replacement of the hybrid battery or salvaging the car are the only solutions.

  3. Amber R. says:

    My sister and I purchased 2005 Civic Hybrids new. The IMA batteries failed in my car at 45,000 and 53,000 miles and at 50,000 and 75,000 miles in my sister’s car. Is anyone still having these issues? My latest battery replacement was July 2014; my sister’s this month. Does anyone know of an IMA class action in progress?

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