Carlos Ayala Perez vs. American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

On June 17, 2024, the jury awarded the plaintiffs $64,486.82 in damages against American Honda. Additionally, they imposed a $120,000 civil penalty for Honda's willful failure to repurchase or replace the defective vehicle.

Case Background

The lawsuit was filed on December 22, 2021 by Plaintiff Carlos Ayala Perez and Francisco Alcantar Vargas in the California State, Fresno County, Superior Court (Case number: 21CECG03781) and was presided over by the Judges Tyler Tharpe, Jeffrey Y. Hamilton, Jr., Kimberly Gaab, Kristi Culver Kapetan and Stephanie Negin. The plaintiffs, filed a Lemon Law lawsuit against American Honda Motor Co., Inc. for violations of the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act.

Cause

On October 19, 2019, Carlos Ayala Perez and Francisco Alcantar Vargas, residents of San Jose, California, purchased a 2020 Honda Pilot (VIN: 5FNYF6H90LB013215) from an authorized Honda dealership. The vehicle came with express and implied warranties from American Honda Motor Co., Inc., a California corporation with its registered office in Los Angeles. The plaintiffs used the vehicle primarily for family and household purposes, qualifying it as "consumer goods" under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Shortly after purchase, the Honda Pilot developed significant defects and nonconformities within the warranty period. The plaintiffs diligently delivered the vehicle to authorized Honda repair facilities multipl