— A Honda VTC actuator lawsuit that began as a nationwide class action was whittled down to two states, then a jury verdict said only certain vehicle owners in Illinois were affected by the alleged defects.
Apparently only certain Honda owners in Illinois are affected by defective VTC actuators, but the same models in the remaining U.S. states don't have the problems.
Honda variable valve timing control (VTC) actuator 14310-R44-A01 allegedly causes engines to rattle a few seconds on cold starts of these vehicles.
- 2012 Honda Accord (L4 engine)
- 2012-2014 Honda CR-V (2.4-liter engine)
- 2012-2015 Honda Crosstour (L4 engine)
Originally, two Honda owners in California and one in Illinois filed the class action lawsuit. One California owner (Mary Quackenbush) said her 2012 Honda CR-V engine rattled on engine startup in 2020.
She filed the class action because she paid for a VTC actuator repair when her vehicle had nearly 100,000 miles on it.
Owner Anne Pellettieri purchased a new 2014 Honda CR-V from a dealer in 2014 and allegedly first heard a rattle one to two years after purchase. She says the engine rattle upon startup got worse in three to five years but never had the vehicle inspected by any mechanic.
The rattle disappeared when as part of the lawsuit, her actuator and serpentine belt were replaced.
Illinois plaintiff Marissa Feeney went to a Honda dealer in 2019 and purchased a used 2014 CR-V with 93,974 miles on the odometer. Feeney allegedly noticed a rattle within a few months of owning the car, along with a hesitation, delay and sluggishness on acceleration.
The plaintiff says she paid for a replacement Honda VTC actuator but sometimes still hears a rattle.
The VTC actuator lawsuit alleges the vehicles are dangerous and the engine rattle can destroy the engine, but Honda argues the VTC actuator rattle is nothing more than a “fleeting noise” which does not affect safety.
According to technical service bulletin (TSB) 09-010 issued to Honda dealers regarding VTC actuator 14310-R44-A01:
- TSB Title: "Engine Rattles at Cold Start-Up"
- Symptom: At cold start-up, the engine rattles loudly for about 2 seconds.
- Possible Causes: The variable valve timing control (VTC) actuator is defective.
- Corrective Action: Replace the VTC actuator.
Honda took the VTC actuator lawsuit to a California jury which ruled in favor of specific Illinois Honda owners.
The “Illinois Repair Class” consists of all "consumers who purchased a new or used class vehicle equipped with a VTC actuator from an authorized dealer in Illinois, and who paid to have their VTC repaired by a Honda dealer in Illinois."
According to court documents, those Illinois customers may receive $544 each.
Attorneys representing the Illinois plaintiff will receive $5,569,214.43.
The Honda VTC actuator lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California: Quackenbush, et al., v. American Honda Motor Company, Inc., et al.
The plaintiffs are represented by Greenstone Law APC, and Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP.