On November 26, 2019, a couple from Galveston filed a complaint in the Harris County District Court against American Honda Motor Co., Inc. and one of its Dallas automotive dealerships. They allege that their Acura, idling in their driveway, started to spill smoke and burst into flames shortly after, also causing other damages.
On January 13, 2019, the Galveston woman, returning home from a short trip with her two young children, left her 2017 Acura MDX idling in her driveway while she quickly went inside to retrieve a few items. Upon return, however, she noticed white smoke coming under the hood of the Acura. She immediately removed her children from the Acura, and seconds after the smoke turned into fire and consumed the vehicle. Before the fire department was able to subdue the flames, the fire had already caused significant damage to the couple’s home and to their vehicle parked next to the Acura.
The couple is seeking recovery alleging res ipsa loquitor, breach of implied warranty, failure to warn, manufacturing defect, negligence, and gross negligence. The res ipsa loquitor action is based on the couple’s claim that a vehicle spontaneously combusting into flames is not the kind of act that would occur in the absence of negligence. Further, the couple alleges that Honda and its dealership breached the implied warranty of merchantability, also failing to warn regarding the dangers of the Acura, rendering it defective and unreasonably dangerous. The couple also alleges that due to Honda’s quality control and production errors the Acura leaked, heated up, and exploded. Finally, the couple maintains that Honda was negligent in designing, manufacturing, marketing, distributing, selling, and supplying the Acura. Such negligence is alleged to be by way of failing to, among others, design and manufacture the Acura in a condition that would allow it to operate safely, properly test the vehicle, implement a safer alternative design and quality control procedures, and provide reasonable and adequate warnings to suppliers, purchasers and users of the Acura to alert users of its dangerous conditions.
The couple seeks monetary relief of up to $1,000,000 for damages to their real and personal property, exemplary damages, attorneys’ fees, pre-judgment interest, etc.
If you or someone you know has been injured by the use of a dangerous product, contact an attorney at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner by calling (713) 222-7211 or toll free at 713-222-7211.