Sammelklage in USA gegen Honda

[manager]

In einem USA-Forum wird berichtet ?ber eine Sammelklage, eingereicht im Namen aller GL1800-Besitzer in den USA im US District Court in Los Angeles, wegen Lenkerschlagens, und des Vers?umnisses von Honda, den Mangel ausreichend bekannt zu machen, diesen zu beheben, welches dazu f?hrt, da? Besitzer unn?tigerweise neue Reifen kaufen und ?hnliches.



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Hier der Text, ?bernommen aus Riders Rally:



Press Release

Honda Litigation



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Honda?s Popular Gold Wing Motorcycle Target of Nationwide Class-Action Lawsuit Alleging Design Defects

Suit alleges GL1800 Gold Wing riders encounter excessive wobble at low speeds



July 24, 2006





LOS ANGELES (July 24, 2006) - A Honda (NYSE: HMC) Gold Wing motorcycle owner filed a proposed nationwide class-action suit today on behalf of thousands of owners, claiming that the popular motorcycle has a flawed design which puts riders at risk of crashing.



The suit, filed in US District Court in Los Angeles, alleges that Honda Motor Company's popular Gold Wing GL1800 motorcycle has design defects that cause the vehicle to wobble at specific speeds, and that while the company is aware of the problem, it has failed to warn riders or fix the problem.



Honda's Gold Wing motorcycle debuted in 1975, and introduced the GL1800 in 2001. According to the complaint, the design defect exists in every model year of GL1800 production.



According to the complaint, riders report that the GL motorcycle can begin to sway and oscillate at speeds between 25 and 40 mph. In those occurrences, the motorcycle becomes more difficult to control which can lead to accidents.



When at least one consumer complained to Honda, the company responded that "the wobble is not a defect but a characteristic of the Honda 1800," according to the complaint.



Steve Berman, managing partner of Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro, the Seattle-based law firm representing the proposed class, said their research has shown that while many GL1800 owners are experiencing the problem, many are unaware it is widespread.



"We know that many GL1800 owners across the country are spending money unnecessarily buying new tires, shocks and other parts in an effort to solve what they see as a very serious safety issue," Berman said. "Honda has an iron-clad responsibility to alert the motorcycling public of the issue, and then solve the problem."



Berman added that consumers have long questioned Honda dealers and the parent company about wide-spread occurrence of the oscillation, but the company has steadfastly refused to accept responsibility for the alleged defect.



Rather than fix the flaw when consumers began to express widespread complaints about the GL1800's tendency to wobble at low speeds, the complaint states that Honda concealed the defect and refused to pay for needed repairs, passing the cost of replacing or repairing the defective product along to the owners.



According to Dennis Gribbins, the named plaintiff, his motorcycle developed a wobble when driving at speeds between 35 to 45 mph, after just 5,978 miles. Over the next four years, Gribbins took his motorcycle to numerous dealers and repair shops, but none could fix the problem. Honda refuses to pay Gribbins for the hundreds of dollars spent on repairs.



When Gribbins wrote to Honda regarding the wobble on his GL1800, he received a response back from the company advising him to "keep both hands on the handlebars, two handle bars - use two hands."



Allegations against Honda include violations of unfair competition law, untrue and misleading advertising, violations of consumers legal remedies act, and breach of express and implied warranties.



The proposed class-action suit includes all persons residing in the United States, who purchased a GL1800 Gold Wing motorcycle manufactured by American Honda Motor Company, Inc. since January 1, 2001.



For additional information regarding this suit, visit



http://www.hbsslaw.com.