Honda Stops Some Civic Sales Because of Seat Defect
» Posted June 23, 2023 • Resources | Share This Post
Honda has ordered its network of dealers to stop selling a certain high-performance hatchback version of the popular Civic over a defect that the company says poses a safety risk.
Faulty welds in the driver's side seat cushion frame are to blame for the snafu, according to the Japanese automaker.
“The front driver seat frame weld is insufficient,” Honda said in a notice posted to the automaker’s website. “As a result, repeated loads or a sudden significant load can cause the seat’s cushion frame to break.”
“If the vehicle is involved in a collision, the weld could break and prevent the driver from being properly restrained, increasing the risk of an injury.”
The stop-sale order covers about 640 Honda Civic Type R from model year 2023. The company is also recalling those vehicles over the issue.
Honda told federal regulators that the company received four warranty claims from owners stemming from the seat cushion frame problem. The company said it was not aware of any accidents or injuries resulting from the defect.
Honda plans to notify owners of recalled vehicles by May 8, the company said in a notice filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Owners will be asked to bring their vehicles to local dealers for inspection and repair.
“Owners who have paid to have these repairs completed at their own expense will be eligible for reimbursement, in accord with the recall reimbursement plan on file with NHTSA,” Honda added.
Lemon Law Rights for California Honda Owners
Major auto manufacturers recall millions of vehicles every year, citing a variety of defects that put everyone on the road at risk. These recalls are typically announced long after the vehicles have been sold.
Fortunately, Honda and other car owners in California have some important rights and protections when it comes to defective vehicles.
The California lemon law requires automakers to perform a variety of repairs on vehicles while the cars are under warranty. It also forces those companies to buy back cars that they cannot or simply refuse to properly fix. That includes covering the purchase price, financing fees and other related expenses.
An auto manufacturer can instead offer to replace the vehicle under the lemon law. It is up to the owner, however, to accept or reject this alternative arrangement.
There is no specific number of repair requests or attempts that must happen before the buyback or replacement requirement kicks in. That is one reason why it is important to consult an experienced lemon law attorney. The law requires manufacturers to pick up the tab for certain legal fees incurred by owners enforcing their rights.
Talk with a California Lemon Law Attorney
If you have been stuck with a defective or malfunctioning vehicle, a California lemon law attorney at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help you fight back.
Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a California lemon law attorney.
