Some Honda models are having problems with the battery called a parasitic drain. Batteries that have a parasitic drain continue to drain power as the vehicle is left unattended/parked. The following models have been affected by this battery drain:

• 2013-2017 Honda Accord
• 2011-2019 CR-V

Honda is aware of this issue as they have released multiple technical bulletins (TSB) with potential fixes for the battery problems. Unfortunately, those fixes have only worked on certain 2012-2017 models, meaning that if you have a newer model, you might continue to suffer from this parasitic battery drain. Honda has investigated vehicles being brought in for weak or dead batteries, and yet consumers are being told by service technicians that their vehicles are working properly. In some cases, they will continue to replace your battery instead of fixing the problem.

VSA Battery Drain

CR-Vs may see this issue more often as the vehicle stability assist (VSA modulator) seems to continue to draw battery power as the vehicle is off. The VSA software logic may not shut down properly when the electronic parking is applied or held for 3 to 4 seconds. Service technicians at Honda have been instructed to perform a software update to the VSA modulator, which might work for certain 2017 CR-V vehicles. Honda says this problem can be avoided by setting the electric brake before turning the ignition off.

Soon after, Honda announced TSB 17-03265 to dealerships to inform them of this parasitic issue. In 2018, Honda released a battery collection program for 2017-2018 CR-V models. A year later, they announced TSB 19-039, cautioning that certain models will not turn on after being parked an extended time.

A/C Battery Drain

An electrical short and a malfunctioning resistor causes the A/C relay to remain open and drain the battery by the multiplexing system. The multiplex system sends current to various parts of the vehicle, and if it remains on, your batter will die.

Defective Alternator

As your vehicle engine is on, the alternators job is to charge the battery. CR-V’s sometimes have a problem with undercharging or overcharging the battery, causing the vehicle not to work accordingly, or the battery to die.

Does the Parasitic Drain Mean Your Vehicle is a Lemon?

Just because you have battery problems does not automatically mean that your car is a lemon. California lemon law has strict criteria that must be met in order to obtain a refund or replacement for a defective vehicle. Importantly, the vehicle must still be under the original manufacturer’s warranty at the time the defect arises. The nonconformity must also be an issue that substantially impairs the vehicle’s value or safety. In general, four unsuccessful repair attempts are sufficient to demonstrate that a vehicle is a lemon — but only two are necessary if the defect is one that poses a danger to the driver or others on the road.

A vehicle might also be a lemon if it remained in the repair shop for a total of 30 days or more, regardless of whether repair attempts were actually made. There is also a legal presumption in California that a vehicle is a lemon if the nonconformity surfaced within the first 18,000 miles the car was driven or in the 18 months following its delivery. In such cases, the burden of proof shifts to the manufacturer to establish that the vehicle is not a lemon, rather than the owner being required to prove it is one.

Contact an Experienced Southern California Lemon Law Attorney

If you purchased a Honda Accord or CR-V, or other vehicle, that failed to conform to its warranty, you may have bought a lemon. A knowledgeable lemon law attorney can assess your claim and advise you regarding your legal rights and remedies. At the Ledbetter Law Firm, we provide dedicated representation and committed advocacy to help our clients secure the compensation to which they are entitled in their lemon law claims.

The Ledbetter Law Firm represents clients throughout Southern California who have purchased lemon vehicles and assists them with obtaining a replacement or refund from the manufacturer. With offices conveniently located in Torrance and San Diego, California, telephone and video conferencing options are also available. Call (310) 878-0067 to schedule a consultation with a California Lemon Law attorney today.