Class Action Filed Over Alleged Problems with Honda Odyssey, Pilot 'Infotainment' System [UPDATE]

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A proposed class action lawsuit filed in California against American Honda Motor Co., Inc. alleges that model years 2018 and 2019 Honda Odyssey vehicles and model year 2019 Honda Pilots come equipped with defective “infotainment” systems. According to the case, the vehicles’ “infotainment” system, which is responsible for features such as navigation, radio, hands-free phone, and the rearview camera, frequently freezes or crashes and renders some of the cars’ functions inoperable.

The plaintiffs, an Ohio couple, claim their Honda Odyssey’s “infotainment” system began malfunctioning only a month after the car was purchased and would fail to play any audio while displaying the message “radio unavailable.” According to the lawsuit, many other Odyssey and Pilot drivers have reported problems with the system, to the point that Consumer Reports supposedly downgraded its rating of the 2018 Odyssey to “No Longer Recommended” due to “much-worse-than-average reliability, with problems including the infotainment display freezing and losing all functionality.” 

Perhaps worse, the lawsuit points out that the alleged defect also presents a safety hazard because it disables certain safety features, such as the rearview camera, and often occurs while the vehicle is in motion, causing drivers to become distracted.

The plaintiffs claim Honda is fully aware of the vehicles’ defective system yet has provided no remedy to consumers. The couple, the suit says, has attempted to repair their Odyssey a staggering eight times only to continue experiencing the same problems.

“…Honda has not found a solution to the infotainment system defect,” the complaint reads. “Instead, Honda simply replaces defective parts with equally defective parts, thereby leaving consumers caught in a cycle of use, malfunction, and replacement.”

The case argues that the plaintiffs and other Odyssey and Pilot drivers “have incurred and will continue to incur significant expenses” due to Honda’s alleged failure to disclose and repair the apparent defect.