Honda Lawsuit: Turbocharged Engines Allegedly Leak Coolant into Cylinders

Case Overview: A class action lawsuit claims Honda’s turbocharged engines have a design flaw that allows coolant to leak into engine cylinders, causing overheating and head gasket failure.

Consumers Affected: Owners of 2016-2022 Honda Accord, Civic, CR-V, Acura RDX, and TLX vehicles with the affected engines.

Court: U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

Six Honda owners have filed a class action lawsuit alleging the automaker knowingly sold vehicles with defective turbocharged engines that cause overheating, head gasket failure, and sudden power loss.

Plaintiff Radley Alcantara and five co-plaintiffs filed their complaint against American Honda Motor Co. Inc. and Honda Motor Co. Ltd. on July 1 in California federal court, targeting 1.5-liter and 2.0-liter turbocharged engines in popular models from 2016 to 2022.

The lawsuit claims Honda's turbocharged powerplants suffer from a design defect that allows engine coolant to leak into cylinders, creating safety hazards and expensive repair bills for unsuspecting customers.

Coolant Leak Design Flaw Affects Multiple Honda Models

The plaintiffs allege that Honda's 1.5-liter and 2.0-liter turbocharged engines contain a fundamental design defect that causes coolant to seep into engine cylinders during operation. This contamination affects Honda Accord, Civic, CR-V, Acura RDX, and TLX vehicles manufactured between 2016 and 2022 model years.

According to the complaint, the coolant intrusion leads to a cascade of mechanical problems including overheating, head gasket failure, and other serious engine damage. The lawsuit argues that this defect makes affected vehicles unreliable and potentially dangerous for daily driving.

The design flaw allegedly stems from the turbocharged engines' inability to properly manage increased heat and pressure generated during operation. These elevated operating conditions allegedly exceed the engine's design tolerances, causing seals and gaskets to fail prematurely.

Owners report experiencing symptoms including white smoke from exhaust pipes, coolant loss without visible leaks, engine overheating warnings, and reduced performance during acceleration.

Sudden Power Loss Creates Safety Hazards

The complaint emphasizes that coolant contamination can cause vehicles to lose power suddenly while driving, creating dangerous situations for Honda owners and other motorists. According to the plaintiffs, this unexpected power reduction poses substantial safety risks, particularly during highway driving or emergency maneuvers.

Engine power loss incidents allegedly occur without warning, leaving drivers unable to maintain speed or accelerate when needed. The lawsuit argues that Honda knew about these safety risks but failed to warn customers or implement adequate solutions.

The plaintiffs contend that sudden power reduction can lead to rear-end collisions, inability to merge safely, or stranding drivers in hazardous locations. These safety concerns allegedly affect thousands of Honda vehicles currently on the road.

According to the complaint, the defect creates liability risks for Honda owners who may face accidents caused by unexpected engine performance failures.

Honda Allegedly Refuses Warranty Coverage

The lawsuit claims Honda has been aware of the turbocharged engine defect but refuses to provide warranty coverage for related repairs. According to the plaintiffs, the automaker forces customers to pay out-of-pocket for expensive engine repairs that should be covered under warranty terms.

Owners allegedly face repair bills ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars for head gasket replacements, engine rebuilds, and related work. The complaint argues that Honda's warranty denial practices leave customers with financial burdens for defects the company should have disclosed and corrected.

The plaintiffs claim Honda's service departments often attribute engine problems to customer maintenance failures rather than acknowledging design defects. This alleged pattern of warranty denials forces owners to seek independent repairs or pursue legal remedies.

According to the complaint, Honda's refusal to honor warranty obligations constitutes breach of express and implied warranties provided to vehicle purchasers.

Consumer Protection Violations Alleged

The plaintiffs accuse Honda of violating multiple consumer protection laws by concealing known engine defects from prospective buyers. The complaint alleges that Honda engaged in deceptive business practices by selling vehicles with known reliability problems without adequate disclosure.

The lawsuit claims Honda violated warranty obligations by refusing to repair defective engines under coverage terms. According to the plaintiffs, this conduct constitutes breach of express warranties about vehicle quality and performance.

Additionally, the complaint alleges unjust enrichment, arguing that Honda profited from selling defective vehicles while shifting repair costs to unsuspecting customers. The lawsuit contends that Honda gained unfair advantages by concealing material defects that affected purchasing decisions.

The plaintiffs argue that reasonable consumers wouldn't have purchased affected Honda vehicles, or would have paid less for them, if they had known about the turbocharged engine defects.

Automotive Industry Faces Engine Reliability Litigation

Honda confronts multiple class action lawsuits involving different vehicle systems and alleged defects. The automaker recently defended cases over infotainment systems that allegedly produce distracting noises and malfunction in 2020-2022 Honda Pilot, Passport, and Odyssey vehicles.

Another December 2024 lawsuit targeted Honda's 1.5-liter i-VTEC turbocharged engines for similar coolant leak problems affecting Accord, Civic, and CR-V models. These parallel cases suggest systematic issues with Honda's turbocharged engine designs across multiple model lines.

In the Honda defective engine class action lawsuit, the plaintiffs want to represent all Honda owners affected by turbocharged engine defects during the relevant time period. The proposed class could include thousands of customers who purchased vehicles with allegedly defective powerplants.

The complaint seeks monetary damages to compensate owners for repair costs, diminished vehicle values, and related expenses caused by engine defects. Plaintiffs also request injunctive relief requiring Honda to properly address the design problems.

The lawsuit demands a jury trial and requests legal fees and costs for pursuing the case. Success could force Honda to implement recalls or extended warranty coverage for affected turbocharged engines.

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Alcantara, et al. v. American Honda Motor Co. Inc
• Case Number: 2:25-cv-06009
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

Plaintiffs' Attorney:

• Timothy G. Blood, Thomas J. O’Reardon II, Paula R. Brown and Adam M. Bucci (Blood Hurst & O’Reardon LLP)
• W. Daniel “Dee” Miles III, H. Clay Barnett III, J. Mitch Williams, Dylan T. Martin and Trenton H. Mann (Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles PC)

Do you own a Honda with a turbocharged engine? Share your experience below.