Honda has made a proposed settlement to the class action suit in regard to oil filter related fires in 2003 - 2006 Elements and 2002 - 2006 CR-V

MDL Docket No. 06-1737 (CAS)

Lead Case CV 06-01305

Honda will establish a re-plenished $500,000 fund to cover losses incurred and not covered under insurance and deductible. Of course the lawyers will get $750,000 and up to $250,000 in court costs.

Plaintiffs will get $7,500.

www.crvclassactionsettlement.com

Interesting... I definitely remember the snit about this from several years back, but don't recall any mentions of an E being flambéed on account of this assembly bug.

http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/showpost.php?p=590032&postcount=12

Tanks. Honestly didn't remember that one.

I got my notice in the mail today. Never had fire that I recall....:rolleyes:

I would think that you would have a lot of smoke first and you would probably stop and investigate rather then just keep driving down the road till it catches fire. You would then remember that you just changed the oil or you just had it done and get a clue as to what the smoke problem was. That is how my mind works. Now the people who let their engine catch fire, I wonder what their situation was.

Got mine today, too. I can not remember a single (other than the post above) Element on fire.

On the other hand, what does it hurt to register, just in case.

I just got mine today. I haven't heard of the engine fires in the E's yet. I read about the CR-V one a while ago. Sounds like people not being clean or careful when changing their oil. I wonder if the other K-series engines have had similar problems?

I got my notice in the mail about it as well. It's going in the recycle bin - the way I read it, if you've not had the fire, you can't register as part of the class.

the way these class action suits are constructed makes you a plaintiff by default. You DO NOT need to register. If you own one of the Es in question and have had fire damage related to the oil filter you are automatically a litigant. If you believe the lawsuit is frivolous or does not provide adequate compensation you need to opt out.
I have been a part of about 10 of these things over the years. I have intentionally opted out of most. I found the lawsuits to be frivolous and felt obligated to make a statement.

got my notice too - now i am all freaked out. :confused:

got my notice too - now i am all freaked out. :confused:
Don't be.

My guess is you're on at least your third (or fourth, fifth or 10th!) oil filter by now. This was a specific problem related to the first oil change only. It was due to a filter gasket that would stick to the engine block from the filter applied at the factory and then not be detected by the technician changing the filter at the first servicing.

Enter the lawyers and now the whole mess is blown way out of proportion.

I hit 100k a few months ago and dont think Ive had a fire

the way these class action suits are constructed makes you a plaintiff by default. You DO NOT need to register. If you own one of the Es in question and have had fire damage related to the oil filter you are automatically a litigant. If you believe the lawsuit is frivolous or does not provide adequate compensation you need to opt out.
I have been a part of about 10 of these things over the years. I have intentionally opted out of most. I found the lawsuits to be frivolous and felt obligated to make a statement.

Thanks for this explanation. I got my notice today and was wondering about it.
I have never had a problem and I'm past my 1st oil filter.

Thanks Again,
jurn

Did anyone else receive a panphlet stating That there is a lawsuit for anyone who owns specific elements?

yes,mine came in the mail today. 2003-2006 elements and crv's were listed.

Yea...is said blah blah blah, legal mumbo jumbo, blah blah blah, legal mumbo jumbo. I looked at it briefly and then tossed it aside :rolleyes:

I actually read it but I don't qualify becaus emy E behaves but if you read it they have a case with the way honda built the engeeeen its just beggin for a fire

mine came in the mail today.

I got one also today. Figured I'd stop in here to find out what it was all about. Plus gives me a chance to say hi to ya'll again. I'm still Lovin my E ! :D:D:D Hope you all are too.

I did have an issue once about 3 oil changes ago. The tech didn't clean up like he should have after changing the filter. Now...I know it's a really bad spot for the filter... but they know this... and should have used more precaution in diverting the used oil away. Anyway as I was driving back to work after the service, I noticed smoke whiffing up from around the hood edges and had a bad oil burning smell. This really got my attention quick!!! I pulled right over and got out to check the situation at hand more closely. There was oil all over the heat shield by the exhaust manifold and all over the under carriage. I was pretty P.Oed at the situation because it could have been prevented, plus, the fact it was a little scary for a minute. Also thankful it wasn't a real fire. As far as I could tell the filter was tight and the plug "was in" so I continued to work after the heat shield oil burned off. Once there I used paper toweling and got under there myself and cleaned it up real good. Rechecked the oil level and it was fine. The filter itself was tight and there was no further leaking. (I remember hearing about the double gasket) I was so hot yet so thankful that I didn't even bother calling the dealership up to give them an earful. It was the the first time I ever had a problem there and the next couple of oil changes went without a hitch.

Please people if you ever see or smell smoke coming from your E or any vehicle, pull over right away and get out. It could really be a serious problem and it could in fact save your life.

Peace Out !!

I got mine today, but no issues so far...

Besides the cracked windshield and rattly drivers seat.:rolleyes:

Got my notice today also. I have 2 Elements, a 2003 which is mentioned in this litigation and a 2007 which is not mentioned. Not sure why the '07 is not mentioned. I change the oil in both cars and the filter location, and everything else looks the same to me. The filter is located in a difficult place. I try to wipe up any loose oil when I am done installing the new filter, but some areas (like above the rubber boot) is hard to see. I just do the best I can in those areas, by feel mostly.

Dave

i got mine today. and its just going in the stack of papers i have in my files about my car. i keep everything, never know when im going to need stuff like
my insurance card from 3 years ago :rolleyes:

I too received my frivolous class action law suit a few days ago. My feeling is that this is legal extortion by some greedy unscrupulous cork suckers that should be shot on the first day of the revolt! :x

(Boy, that felt good to vent :D)

Ya, I probably opt out too. In all seriousness, unless many Elements are turning into mobile Hibachi grills, I'm not worried.

Love my Element and this site!

Had mine sitting in the mailbox when I got back from CA last night. Can't recall any fires happening over the last 5.5+ yrs and 125,000+ miles... tossed that into the trash.

I actually had 2 fires in mine but fortunately after I heard about the fire scare (and before both fires) I had a sprinkler system installed in my engine compartment. Both times as soon as the fires started the sprinklers went off and put out the fire. The fire dept had a hard time finding me the second time as I was on vacation and unfamiliar with the area. The fire system has an auto dispatch thing for the FD but I was out of range of enough cell towers that they couldn't triangulate my position so they had to call me and I directed them in. Nice buncha guys.

Got my notice in yesterday's mail. Am a little freaked out.

I haven't received mine yet because I just bought my E a month ago, but my girlfriend's dad has an '05 CRV and he showed me his letter. I read through the whole thing but I'm not sure I understand all the legal crap. Is anyone who owns a qualifying vehicle considered a plaintiff (unless they opt-out) or is it only those who have a qualifying vehicle AND experienced an engine fire?

I haven't received mine yet because I just bought my E a month ago, but my girlfriend's dad has an '05 CRV and he showed me his letter. I read through the whole thing but I'm not sure I understand all the legal crap. Is anyone who owns a qualifying vehicle considered a plaintiff (unless they opt-out) or is it only those who have a qualifying vehicle AND experienced an engine fire?

Everyone who owns a qualifying vehicle is a plaintiff. Having a fire is not part of qualification. I don't have it in front of me, but I think the time frame to collect monies is as follows:

2003's have until Jan 2011
2004's have until Jan 2012
2005's have until Jan 2013
2006's have until Jan 2014

You have to have a fire before these dates to be able to collect any money from this settlement.

Yes, Larry is right. I read mine this morning. There is a form on the back of the pamphlet that you fill out if you ever have an oil fire in the engine compartment. The paperwork is pretty simple and it is worth holding onto just in case. Basically what the lawsuit says is that Honda designed the engine poorly with regards to placing the filter on the side of the engine with the exhaust manifold creating a potential fire hazard if the seal on the filter fails.

Great, let's blame the engineers for something that should be standard practice for an oil change... Check the mating surface to ensure it's clean and obstruction free...

Yah, I'll probably save the paperwork, knowing my luck, anything bad can and will eventually happen. But still, I feel kinda dirty contemplating doing this. After all it ain't no Pinto!

Great, let's blame the engineers for something that should be standard practice for an oil change... Check the mating surface to ensure it's clean and obstruction free...

Yah, I'll probably save the paperwork, knowing my luck, anything bad can and will eventually happen. But still, I feel kinda dirty contemplating doing this. After all it ain't no Pinto!

Agreed! Unfortuantely COMMON sense is slowly disappearing. Me and my buds see other things at times that are just "common sense", yet THOSE people just don't have it. I really feel sorry for the 30 somethings and younger. No courtesy or common sense. Then they blame some one else for their misfortune.......

Just another reason to do it myself.....

The Jammeress & I received our notices yesterday. We put them in the file. If we ever have a fire (not caused by collosion--read the fine print,) we will know who to contact. If we lose the file, we are heading directly to this website.

Just one fewer fire can really improve your day.
G.J.

I got mine for my 2006 Element. I was freaked out at first (no surprise), but it sounds like there's nothing to worry about...?

So just to verify:

1. There's no advantage to "opting out" -- just keep the paperwork on file in case something happens.

2. The fire issue at hand isn't really something to be concerned about.

Is that pretty much all correct? Or is there an actual threat here?

It's not like we should start considering getting rid of the car, right?

Thanks for the help! :)

Correct, the fire issue is really only a concern with sloppy oil changes when the oil filter is not installed or removed correctly.

There is no need to opt out. File the paperwork away for the "just in case" and go about your day.

On a side note, this is a great time to suggest purchasing a fire extinguisher for the car!!! We have discussed this before on this forum but this is a good place to remind everyone. If you can stop a fire in it's infancy then you may save the car!!!

Everyone who owns a qualifying vehicle is a plaintiff. Having a fire is not part of qualification. I don't have it in front of me, but I think the time frame to collect monies is as follows:

2003's have until Jan 2011
2004's have until Jan 2012
2005's have until Jan 2013
2006's have until Jan 2014

You have to have a fire before these dates to be able to collect any money from this settlement.

K. That's how I understood it but I wanted to make sure. Thanks for clarifying.

I was driving on the penna turnpike going to dorney park on july 3rd and smoke started pouring out of my vents I pulled over and checked after smoek wnet away nothign else happend :rolleyes: wow what a climax =P

Someone drove home, parked in the garage, entire garage caught fire. Connected to house. Big big big mess. 2 1/2 years, $$$,$$$ to fix.

I was driving on the penna turnpike going to dorney park on july 3rd and smoke started pouring out of my vents I pulled over and checked after smoek wnet away nothign else happend :rolleyes: wow what a climax =P

Did you have the AC on then turn it to vent only? Steam comes out if you do that on a hot day.

perhaps :D

the way these class action suits are constructed makes you a plaintiff by default. You DO NOT need to register. If you own one of the Es in question and have had fire damage related to the oil filter you are automatically a litigant. If you believe the lawsuit is frivolous or does not provide adequate compensation you need to opt out.
I have been a part of about 10 of these things over the years. I have intentionally opted out of most. I found the lawsuits to be frivolous and felt obligated to make a statement.

I agree and am intending on doing so. However what burns (pun intended) my butt is that to opt out I now have to spend time writing a letter and gathering info as well as mail stuff at MY EXPENSE. Maybe we need a class action lawsuit AGAINST the lawyers of the class action lawsuit?

The way I see it the fund only lasts until 2013 for our model year. I keep my cars longer than 10 years so then if the fire occurs in 2015 I have no more legal rights! TOTAL BS!

Hi all,

I'm new to this site - I wish I had found it before.

Anywho, my 2005 Element caught fire in my garage this past Saturday morning. It was awful! Thankfully, I was home and not in my E at the time, but was alerted to the fire by smoke detectors. I loved that car - it only had 74k on it and I planned on driving it into the ground! It was a manual too.

This is the first I have heard of the lawsuit. A lawyer actually told me about it - go figure. I never received notice from Honda. The fire chief said "arcing" caused the fire. Is this lawsuit still applicable to me?

Thanks to all that can help educate me!

Interesting... I definitely remember the snit about this from several years back, but don't recall any mentions of an E being flambéed on account of this assembly bug.

Hi, Mike - Should I be concerned with my 2003? Would it do any good to object to the proposed settlement before it is heard in October...to the lawyers and the judge in question? This proposal does nothing really for the owners. A fair settlement might be to reposition the oil filter...

Are we driving cars potentially waiting to catch on fire?

Pat - MUZK BX

Hi, Pat. It's been a while.

No, don't worry about it. Throw the notice in a drawer somewhere for the amusement factor when you clean house ten years from now, "Huh... what is this?" :D

Like I said above, this is much ado about nothing, something all blown out of proportion by lawyers. It stems primarily from a factory engine unit assembly problem for 2005 CR-V's that slopped-over to a handful of E's. If a "bad oil filter location" problem alone was something that we could win a lawsuit over, there are millions and millions and millions of cars that would qualify.

no smoke, life is good.

dont worry about it prob 2 in 10 will catch fire and if it does u will get money

Got my notice in the mail today. Guess this means the price of all Honda vehicles is going to go up because of the lawsuit now :mad:

Thanks again, lawyers.