Honda speakers are making popping and crackling noises thanks to alleged defects in 2020 and newer Honda models’ infotainment systems. According to a new Honda infotainment lawsuit, these intermittent and unpredictable popping or crackling noises interrupt important systems such as navigation, audio, video, hands-free phone systems, back up sensor systems and other systems that use audio cues.
Honda created a new infotainment system with its operation based on a modified Android operating system, phasing out the proprietary “HondaLink” system in previous Honda models. This infotainment system was introduced in the 2018 Honda Odyssey, and was later implemented in the 2019 Honda Pilot and 2019 Honda Passport. As its implementation became more widespread, Honda faced multiple class action lawsuits claiming that this infotainment system was defective.
As it turns out, our Honda lemon law client wasn’t the only one reporting popping noises from the speaker of his 2020 Honda Pilot. This Honda popping noise lawsuit alleges that a defect in Honda’s infotainment systems produces an “intermittent, unpredictable, and loud popping and/or crackling noise from the speakers” of certain 2020 or newer models, among other issues.
If your Honda infotainment system is malfunctioning in your 2020 or newer Honda Pilot, Passport, or Odyssey, you may be included in one or more class action lawsuits.
Honda Infotainment Defect: Affected Vehicles
The Honda Infotainment popping noise lawsuit represents past and present owners of these Honda vehicles:
- 2020–2022 Honda Pilot (except LX)
- 2020 Honda Passport (except Sport)
- 2021–2022 Honda Passport
- 2020–2022 Honda Odyssey
The 2020–2022 Honda Pilot LX and 2020 Honda Passport Sport are not included in the infotainment lawsuit.
This lawsuit represents Ohio owners and lessees of the affected vehicles. However, California owners and lessees (as well as those from other states) may also experience recurring issues with their infotainment systems.
These Honda and Acura vehicles are included in Honda infotainment defect lawsuits that have already reached settlement:
- 2018–2019 Honda Odyssey*
- 2019 Honda Pilot vehicle**
- 2019 Honda Passport***
- 2019–2020 Acura RDX
*Elite, EX, EX-L, EX-LNR or Touring trim
**2EX-LNR, 2TRG, 2TRG 7P, 4Elite, 4EX, 4EX-L, 4EX-LNR, 4TRG or 4TRG 7P trim
***2EX-L, 2TRG, 4Elite, 4EX-L, or 4TRG trim
Inclusion in currently existing class action lawsuits or settlements may affect your ability to file an individual auto defect claim for your Honda vehicle. Call us for a consultation at 833-208-8181 if you have any questions about your legal rights to file in California.
What causes the Honda infotainment popping noise defect?
Honda’s technical service bulletins attribute the popping or crackling noise and audio cuts to loose connections in the bus network of the Media Oriented System Transport (MOST). Honda instructed its dealers to install the FAKRA connector set and the MOST service cords.
Through its TSBs, Honda instructed the dealership technicians to ensure the harness is routed correctly to prevent connection issues. If a connector was damaged, Honda recommended that the entire harness be replaced.
The Honda infotainment lawsuit claims that these repairs do not work and that Honda dealerships merely replace the components with equally defective parts. As a result, the crackling or popping noise issue persists.
How has Honda tried to fix the infotainment problems?
Honda issued several technical service bulletins (TSBs) to its dealerships with instructions on addressing the infotainment popping or crackling noise.
Honda issued a “ServiceNews Articles” for 2018–2019 Honda Odyssey, 2019 Pilot and 2019 Passport vehicles titled “Popping or Crackling from the Speakers? Check the MOST Bus Network.” It said the popping or crackling noises were caused by a connection issue in the MOST bus network and that most reported cases happened after a previous repair was made to the system.
Honda later issued TSB 20-058, which stated that “there is a loose connection in the MOST bus network” and instructed dealers to install the FAKRA connector set and the MOST service cords. This TSB was revised several times to include extra repair instructions and include all 2019-2021 Honda Passport and Honda Pilot vehicles. It referenced a warranty extension that was announced for certain 2018–2020 Odyssey, 2019–2020 Passport, and 2019–2020 Pilot to 5 years or 60,000 miles from the purchase date.
Honda TSB 21-013 instructs dealerships to respond to reports of popping or crackling noises from the speakers by installing the FAKRA connector set and the MOST service cords. It mentions a warranty extension for 2018–2020 Honda Odyssey vehicles to 5 years or 60,000 miles from the purchase date, only applicable to MOST bus network connector issues. This TSB was later revised to advise installing the FAKRA connector set only.
What were the Honda infotainment lawsuit settlements?
In the spring of 2022, Honda also offered warranty extensions as part of two class action settlements. The first class action lawsuit alleged infotainment defects in 2018–2019 Honda Odyssey and 2019 Honda Pilot and Passport vehicles. The Honda infotainment defects included frequent freezes, crashes, failure to boot or shut down, failure to connect to devices and parasitic battery draw. As part of the settlement, Honda offered a warranty extension that added two years or 24,000 miles to vehicles within five years or 60,000 miles of the original purchase or lease.
The second class action lawsuit alleged that the 2019–2020 Acura RDX had software or hardware defects in its infotainment systems. The Acura infotainment issues were broadly similar to those in the Honda infotainment lawsuit. As part of the settlement, Honda offered a warranty extension of two years or 24,000 miles to vehicles within six years or 74,000 miles of its original purchase or lease.
These settlements do not include the vehicles in the currently existing Honda infotainment class action lawsuit.
Has Honda issued a recall for the popping noise?
No. However, Honda issued a recall in June 2023 for approximately 1.2 million vehicles for Honda infotainment issues. This recall addressed the issue of the rearview camera image not displaying on the screen and covered the following vehicles:
- 2018–2023 Honda Odyssey
- 2019–2022 Honda Pilot
- 2019–2023 Honda Passport
The recall stated that the rearview camera image problem was due to a faulty MOST communication coaxial cable connector.
According to technical service bulletin 23-047, the terminal was not properly manufactured. This caused poor communication in the MOST bus network. Recall documents state that the poor connection occurs between the audio display unit and the vehicle cable connector.
This same MOST bus network was mentioned in the technical service bulletins Honda issued to its dealerships to address the popping noise. However, no solution was found that permanently fixed the crackling speaker noise problem.
Honda’s Crackling Speakers Can’t Be Fixed? Here’s What To Do!
If your Honda speakers keep making popping or crackling noises, take your Honda vehicle to the nearest dealership for warrantied repairs. If your vehicle is still within the warranty period, your repairs may be automatically covered by the manufacturer. When you bring your vehicle into the dealership for a repair visit, save all the documents provided to you. These documents are called “work orders” or “repair orders,” and they record the concerns you reported to the technician, the repairs they performed on your vehicle, and itemized costs.
These repair orders create a paper trail of your vehicle history. This is especially important if you suspect your Honda vehicle is defective. Under the California Lemon Law, your vehicle may be considered defective if a manufacturing issue that impacts your vehicle’s use, value or safety has not been remedied after a “reasonable” number of repair visits to the dealership. Whether you met the benchmark for “reasonable” will depend on the nature of your vehicle issue. It’s best to consult a lemon law attorney to discuss the specifics of your situation.
If your vehicle has still not been repaired after multiple repair visits, it’s time to talk to a Honda lemon law attorney. Under the California Lemon Law, you may be eligible for cash compensation, a replacement vehicle or a repurchase of your vehicle for the vehicle’s initial purchase price (NOT your vehicle’s current worth, which naturally depreciates over time). This repurchased will be calculated according to the California Lemon Law’s buyback formula.
Both legal representation and initial consultations are free. We only get paid if you win; our attorneys’ fees and costs would be compensated by the manufacturer as part of the final settlement.
Call our Honda lemon law attorneys at 833-208-8181 for a free consultation or sign up with our free form below to have a lemon law agent reach out to you.
Lemon Law Help by Knight Law Group is an automotive lemon law firm that exclusively practices in California. If you are a California resident who purchased or leased a defective vehicle from a licensed dealership in California, we may be able to help you get rid of your potential lemon and recover significant cash compensation. Model year restrictions apply: 2020–Present vehicle models only.
However, we cannot help those who reside outside of California or purchased their vehicle outside of California unless they are active duty members of the Armed Forces, nor will we be able to refer those to a lemon law firm in their states.
To learn more about the California Lemon Law and your legal rights, visit our guide on the California Lemon Law for more information.
