Class action lawsuit against Honda: Acura’s Bluetooth system is defective

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A class action lawsuit filed Wednesday by a group of plaintiffs alleges that the Acura HandsFreeLink Bluetooth system is dangerous and puts a strain on vehicles’ electrical systems.

Plaintiffs filed this class action lawsuit in federal court in California hoping to represent a group from across the United States, or alternatively from California, Arizona, Delaware, Missouri, New Hampshire and Virginia, in their allegations against Honda, the manufacturer of Acura vehicles.

The lawsuit alleges that Honda was the first company to offer Bluetooth technology in its vehicles, allowing drivers to pair their phones with the car for hands-free calls.

Honda’s 2004 Acura vehicles were the first models of that year to feature this device, known as HandsFreeLink.

According to the complaint, Honda failed to develop a feature for the Bluetooth device that turns it off when not in use. The device is constantly in the “on” position when not in use and even after the car’s ignition is turned off.

“Once turned on, the HandsFreeLink unit creates a constant and significant parasitic electrical load on the electrical system, resulting in dead batteries, recurring battery replacements, and premature failure of other critical electrical components such as alternators,” the class action lawsuit states.

Due to the discharge of the battery, the vehicles could no longer be started after a short period of non-use and the vehicle’s electrical systems often fail while driving, the lawsuit states.

“Although Honda has been aware of the problem with its HandsFreeLink since at least 2005, over the years the company has only issued internal service bulletins to its dealers informing dealers of the problem but not offering any meaningful solution, warranty coverage or recall,” the plaintiffs state.

The proposed nationwide class action lawsuit brings seven counts against Honda, including fraud by concealment, breach of express and implied warranties, violation of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, unjust enrichment, and violation of California laws, including violation of the California Consumer Legal Remedies Act and violation of the California Unfair Business Practices Act.

In addition, additional lawsuits have been filed in six other alternative classes based on state laws similar to those in the California class.

In addition to seeking class action certification for a nationwide class and for state subclasses, plaintiffs are also seeking injunctive relief in the form of a recall or free replacement program for a HandsFreeLink system that does not place a strain on the vehicle’s electrical system.

The plaintiffs also seek damages, which include aggravated compensatory damages, punitive damages, costs and disgorgement in an amount to be determined, attorneys’ fees and expenses, pre- and post-judgment interest, and any other relief the court deems appropriate.

A similar The planned class action lawsuit has also been filed against Honda about the Acura Bluetooth system in June of this year.

The plaintiffs are represented by Shana E. Scarlett and Steve W. Berman of Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP; Christopher A. Seeger, Scott Alan George and Daniel R. Leathers of Seeger Weiss LLP; James E. Cecchi of Carella, Byrne, Cecchi, Holstein, Brody & Angello, PC; and Roland K. Tellis and Mark P. Pifko of Baron & Budd, PC.

The Class action lawsuit due to Bluetooth defect at Honda Acura Is Ron Alul et al. v. American Honda Motor Company Inc., Case No. 3:16-cv-04384, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.