Honda South Carolina Lemon Law Cases

Honda is heavily represented in the SC market. Most popular Honda models in SC (Pilot, Passport, Odyssey, Ridgeline, and Acura MDX) are built at Honda Manufacturing of Alabama (HMA) Lincoln — see Alabama Honda coverage for the home-state defendant context. SC consumers benefit from AL-adjacent OEM exposure when these Lincoln-built models have defects.

HMA Lincoln — Alabama-adjacent production

• Honda Pilot — midsize 3-row SUV.
• Honda Passport — midsize 2-row SUV.
• Honda Odyssey — minivan.
• Honda Ridgeline — midsize unibody pickup.
• Acura MDX — luxury 3-row SUV.

Birmingham (HMA area) is approximately 6 hours from Charleston, 4.5 hours from Spartanburg. M.D. Ala. (Opelika Division) or N.D. Ala. (Talladega Division) are the AL home venues — SC consumers may file in D.S.C. (consumer’s home district) or AL federal districts for jurisdictional / discovery advantage.

Common Honda defect categories

9-speed ZF transmission (9HP)

• Symptoms: hard 1-2 shifts, refusal to downshift on demand, transmission “search” between gears.
• TSB history: multiple Honda TSBs.
• Models affected: Pilot, Passport, Odyssey, Ridgeline, MDX (Lincoln-built).
• Pattern persists across model years despite software updates.

3.5L V6 (J35-series engine)

• VCM (Variable Cylinder Management) issues:
  • Premature oil consumption.
  • Spark plug fouling.
  • Misfires, rough running.
• VCM-related TSBs and warranty extensions for some years.

10-speed transmission (newer years)

• Symptoms similar to 9-speed — hesitation, hunting, harsh shifts.

Honda Sensing (driver-assist)

• Lane-keep assist issues — false interventions.
• Collision-mitigation false alarms.
• Adaptive cruise issues.

Infotainment

• Touchscreen freezes across multiple model years.
• CarPlay / Android Auto disconnects.
• Backup-camera failures — FMVSS 111 issue.
• Volume / audio control quirks.

A/C system in SC heat

• AC compressor failures — relevant in SC summer heat.

Ridgeline-specific

• Bed-trim issues.
• Lockable trunk mechanism issues.

Odyssey-specific

• Power sliding door failures.
• Magic Slide seat mechanical issues.
• Rear-entertainment system failures.

MDX-specific (Acura premium)

• SH-AWD (Super Handling All-Wheel Drive) failures.
• Air-suspension on Type S Advance.
• Infotainment with the unique trackpad controller.

Civic / Accord / CR-V — NOT built at HMA Lincoln

The Civic, Accord, CR-V, HR-V are built at Honda’s other US plants (East Liberty OH, Marysville OH) — not at HMA Lincoln. For these models, no AL home-state advantage applies — but federal Magnuson-Moss venue in D.S.C. remains available.

Recall and TSB history

• NHTSA recall search by VIN.
• Honda service portal for TSBs.

Documented patterns include:

• VCM-related warranty extensions (older Pilot / Odyssey).
• 9-speed transmission software updates.
• Honda Sensing software calibrations.
• Backup-camera-related recalls.
• Airbag-related recalls (Takata legacy).

Procedural considerations

• BBB Auto Line is Honda’s certified IDS — mandatory under § 56-28-60.
• Written notice to American Honda Motor Co. customer service triggers customer-relations engagement.
• Federal venue: D.S.C. divisions or M.D./N.D. Ala. for HMA-built vehicles.

SCUTPA exposure

Honda cases have SCUTPA exposure for:

• 9-speed transmission “fixed” representations — when updates don’t cure.
• VCM “normal operation” representations — when oil consumption is documented above industry norms.
• Honda Sensing capability claims — feature performance vs. actual.
• Fuel economy claims vs. actual.

Bottom line

Honda cases for Pilot / Passport / Odyssey / Ridgeline / MDX in SC are AL-adjacent OEM cases — HMA Lincoln is the home-state defendant. The 9-speed ZF transmission and V6 VCM defects are the most common patterns. For Civic / Accord / CR-V (built outside Alabama), standard Lemon Law + SCUTPA + Magnuson-Moss strategy applies without home-state advantages.

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