2016-2020 Honda Civics Plagued by ‘Defective’ Infotainment Systems, Class Action Alleges

New to ClassAction.org? Read our Newswire Disclaimer

A proposed class action alleges 2016-2020 model year Honda Civics are equipped with “defective” infotainment systems prone to malfunction, freeze or crash, leaving drivers without the use of the vehicles’ air conditioning, navigation, Bluetooth, backup camera and radio. 

The 50-page complaint pins the Honda Civic infotainment system problems on “improperly designed and/or programmed/calibrated software,” and alleges the issue poses an unreasonable safety hazard. The suit stresses that an inoperable or malfunctioning infotainment system can endanger drivers and others, especially if the Honda Civic’s backup camera and/or right-side blind spot camera stops working.

“A camera image that freezes is a clear-cut safety hazard—if a child were to wander in the path of the reversing vehicle after the back-up camera image had frozen, the driver would be shown a false image of the rear of the vehicle clear of any obstructions. Likewise, when the display simply goes blank, drivers continue to, out of habit, look at the blank screen for cues about blind spots and obstructions, only to realize the screen is blank and to adjust their driving behaviors in real time, disregarding the blank screen and turning around to look out of the windows. Those few seconds are of critical importance, and the need to adjust one’s habits and correct for the Defect contributes to the risk of collisions and injuries.” 

Because a Honda Civic’s infotainment system controls a number of functions, the apparent defect can cause “a wide array of failures,” the suit elaborates. For one, the problem can cause a Civic’s backup camera image and display to flicker, freeze and/or fail, display an error message stating “no device connected,” or suddenly go black, blank or blue, the lawsuit states. The issue can also cause Bluetooth and USB connections to the system to fail, preventing drivers from receiving incoming calls or making outgoing calls, the case claims. Further, the defect can cause the failure of a Civic’s in-vehicle microphone, navigation and GPS signal, and prevent a driver from adjusting the heating and cooling system, the filing says. 

According to the lawsuit, Honda has known of the infotainment system issue plaguing affected Civic models since 2015, if not earlier. Honda not only refused to disclose the problem to consumers but actively concealed, and continues to conceal, its knowledge of the defect, the case alleges.

“Defendants undertook affirmative measures to conceal Infotainment System failures and other malfunctions through, among other things, Technical Service Bulletins … issued to authorized repair facilities only.” 

The case charges that Honda, in an effort to conceal the infotainment system problem, has instructed dealers to tell consumers that their Civics are “operating normally,” or as intended, when they are not, or otherwise offer some excuse for the “sub-par performance.” By denying the existence of the defect, Honda can “play on consumers’ lack of technical expertise and avoid implementing potentially costly fixes for years, or at least until the vehicles are out of warranty,” the suit posits. 

Had Honda disclosed the Civic infotainment system problems, consumers would not have bought or leased their cars, or would have paid less for them, the case argues. 

In 2021, American Honda Motor Co. settled a proposed class action that alleged the infotainment systems in 2019-2020 model year Acura RDX vehicles were defective and prone to suddenly freeze or crash. The settlement is worth nearly $2.9 million and received final approval from the court in January of this year. 

The lawsuit looks to cover all persons and entities in the United States who bought or leased a 2016-2020 model year Honda Civic equipped with an in-vehicle infotainment system. 

Get class action lawsuit news sent to your inbox – sign up for ClassAction.org’s free weekly newsletter here.