— A Honda CR-V infotainment lawsuit alleges the display screens freeze, go dark, blind drivers by going into full bright mode and cause dangerous distractions to CR-V drivers.
According to the infotainment display screen class action lawsuit, 2017-2019 Honda CR-V, CR-V EX, CR-V EX-L and CR-V Touring SUVs are equipped with the defective screens.
Filed by three plaintiffs, the lawsuit alleges the screens go wacky without warning while the CR-Vs are in motion, causing owners and lessees to file complaints to the government and to CarComplaints.com.
"Every once in a while, say a few times a month. the brightness control will come up by itself. It beeps, and brings up the brightness settings as if I touched it. Then it goes off, and comes back again, beeping and flashing incessantly. It’s as if a kid is messing around and touching the brightness button over and over. The only way to stop it is to pull over and turn off the engine. Resetting by holding down the volume button doesn’t work. It is SO ANNOYING! Especially if you’re on the freeway and can’t fix it right away."
"Same as the first complaint. Like a kid repeatedly messing with the brightness controls on the center display unit. Annoying, and there is no near-term solve for it. Can really pose a problem if you become distracted by it while driving highway speeds."
The plaintiffs who filed the class action claim their CR-Vs suffered from infotainment display screen problems, but no matter how many dealerships were contacted Honda couldn't do anything to repair the screens.
What is advertised as a system to make driving easier and safer is allegedly nothing more than dangerous when the display screens go fully bright or completely dark while driving.
According to the lawsuit, the 7-inch touch-sensitive display screens should provide hands-free calling, communications, rear-view camera images, radio and music plus multiple other features. But the plaintiffs say all those features are lost once the screens act up.
Plaintiff Tony Woo claims his 2018 Honda CR-V EX display screen "repeatedly and unexpectedly switched to an elevated brightness setting and then went dark, and the Display Screen continued this behavior, rendering Infotainment Features inoperable and uncontrollable, until the Display Screen stopped the cycle by itself or until Woo stopped the car and restarted it."
Plaintiff Daniel Rifkin's 2017 Honda CR-V EX also "repeatedly and unexpectedly switched its brightness setting and then went dark, and the Display Screen continued through such reboot cycle rendering Infotainment Features inoperable and uncontrollable, until Rifkin stopped the car and restarted it."
Plaintiff Douglas P. Schwert’s 2018 Honda CR-V Touring "repeatedly and unexpectedly went dark, or the Display Screen’s buttons froze, rendering radio, navigation, and other Infotainment Features inoperable, while the vehicle was in motion, causing Schwert great distraction and aggravation."
And according to the plaintiffs, their complaints and experiences match numerous other CR-V customers who suffer through the same problems with their infotainment screens.
Honda allegedly has known about the display screen problems since at least January 2019 when it issued a Tech Line to dealerships entitled, “Display Audio Screen Dims or Goes Dark by Itself.”
“We’re getting reports of the Display Audio screen dimming or going dark by itself. We’re currently investigating this issue and have traced its probable cause to a capacitive touch panel sensor issue. At this time, there’s no fix for this, so don’t replace the center display unit. Current parts stock may have the same issue. As a temporary measure, pressing the Day/Night icon will restore the screen. Be sure to pass this on to the service advisors so they can inform their customers.” - Tech Line Summary Article
Although the automaker told dealer employees about the infotainment display screen problems, the lawsuit alleges consumers haven't been warned about the screens and how Honda has no idea how to repair the problems.
The Honda CR-V infotainment display screen lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California - Woo, et al., v. American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
The plaintiffs are represented by Lemberg Law, LLC.
Read complaints sent to CarComplaints.com about Honda CR-V SUVs.