Acura Dealership Sues Honda After ZDX Breaks Down at 400 Miles, Rendering It Inoperative | Carscoops

      The ZDX has remained at the dealership despite a new battery pack being installed.

      Eight hours ago, Brad Anderson reported that the dealer purchased the Acura ZDX for $69,207 and is now suing Honda for damages. The electric vehicle ceased charging after 400 miles, leading to a complete battery replacement. The dealer alleges that Honda ignored requests for support, resulting in the SUV being unusable for eight months.

      Purchasing a brand-new car is meant to evoke excitement, not the lingering anxiety of a significant issue before the odometer even registers four digits. However, for one unfortunate Acura ZDX owner, that feeling of new-car joy lasted only 400 miles (643 km) before things took a turn for the worse.

      A customer from Criswell Acura in Annapolis, Maryland, was informed that their 2024 Acura ZDX required a completely new battery pack. Now, the dealership is suing American Honda Motor Company to recover its losses from this situation.

      According to the lawsuit, Criswell Acura acquired the ZDX wholesale for $69,207 in May 2024, subsequently selling it to a customer shortly thereafter. Just 400 miles into ownership, the new owner found that the electric SUV could no longer fully charge. Following the report of the issue, the dealership complied with Acura's recommendation and ordered a replacement battery pack. However, while awaiting the replacement, the situation worsened, and the ZDX ultimately stopped charging entirely, rendering the doors inoperable.

      One Fix Leads to Another

      The dealership installed the new battery pack, but problems persisted. After the installation, a rear wheel sensor malfunctioned, and even after its replacement, an error code continued to appear. Acura's technical support instructed the dealer to install a new harness from its inventory, but despite following these directions, the error code remained, as reported by Auto News.

      Criswell Acura asserts that subsequent requests for assistance from Honda have been largely overlooked. Nearly eight months later, the ZDX still resides at the dealership, unable to be driven. While the exact cause of the issues is unclear, the dealer suspects they are due to "bad design, manufacturer's defect, installation, or pre-delivery damage."

      Per the dealer agreement, Honda is expected to be accountable for any claimed manufacturing or design defects in Acura products. The lawsuit contends that this responsibility has not been fulfilled. The vehicle is described as "completely undriveable and unable to be repaired."

      Criswell Acura is pursuing damages for breach of contract and unjust enrichment. The dealership claims it has incurred a complete loss on the SUV, lost profits from the sale to a customer, paid licensing and registration fees, and faced significant repair expenses.

      This case underscores the potential challenges dealers encounter as electric vehicles become increasingly complex, particularly when manufacturer support is lacking.