Last Updated on November 2, 2023
Honda owners are raising a class action lawsuit against the automaker, alleging that Honda has been selling 2018-2021 models with an engine defect that causes excessive oil dilution. The plaintiffs claim that the defect reduces performance and drivability, and may even lead to engine failure. If you own a MY2018-2021 Honda with the “Earth Dreams” 1.5L turbo direct injection engine, you may want to consider joining the class action lawsuit.
Read on for more information about the Honda oil dilution lawsuit and what it could mean for affected owners.
Honda 1.5LT Oil Dilution Problems
Owners allege that model year 2019-2021 CR-V, Civic and 2018-2021 Accord vehicles are experiencing fuel contamination of the engine oil. Also known as crankcase dilution, it is a process where fuel is leaked into engine oil when it travels towards the crankcase. While this process occurs in every engine, excessive amounts of fuel leaking into the engine contributes significantly to engine wear. In the case of the Honda 1.5L turbo engine, oil dilution results in the oil level rising, failure of engine bearings and other internal engine components. This may result in catastrophic engine failure and even stalling while driving.
Owners have also alleged that when taking their vehicles to Honda for repair, they are told that the level of engine oil dilution is considered normal. As a result, they are denied warranty coverage and forced to pay out-of-pocket for repairs.
Despite Owner Complaints, Honda Failed to Repair Vehicles Adequately
The suit claims Honda has been long aware of the oil dilution problems. Yet despite knowledge of this defect, Honda has failed to adequately repair vehicles affected by the engine defect. Even with numerous consumer complaints it has received, and information received straight from dealerships, Honda continued to conceal the issue.
Additionally, owners whose vehicles are within the warranty period allege Honda has done nothing to address the engine defect. Honda America has instead blamed owners for not driving their vehicles for longer distances.
Vehicles Affected
The following vehicles are affected by this class action lawsuit:
- 2018-2021 Honda Accord
- 2019-2021 Honda CR-V
- 2019-2021 Honda Civic
Status of the Honda Oil Dilution Class Action Litigation
This is an active class action lawsuit. This suit has been brought on behalf of the Plaintiffs and a class of current and former Honda vehicle owners and lessees.
Mackie er al. v. Amercan Honda Motor Company Inc., Case No. 0:22-cv-00736, was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota.
Oil Dilution Class Action Lawsuit FAQs
Did Honda Fix the Oil Dilution Problem for 2021 Models?
Despite various claims of software updates resolving oil dilution issues, the problem has not been resolved with the MY2018-2021 Accords, 2019-2021 CR-V’s, or 2019-2021 Civics with the 1.5L turbo engine.
Did Honda Recall CR-V’s in China for Oil Dilution?
Reuters reported in February that Honda had announced a recall of 350,000 CR-V’s in China for what appears to be a similar issue.
Which Honda CR-V has an Oil Dilution Problem?
Model year 2019 to 2021 CR-V’s with the 1.5L “Earth Dreams” engine.
What are the Symptoms of Diluted Oil?
There are quite a few signs to watch for. A check engine light illuminated, gas-filled cabin that makes drivers nauseous and dizzy, and engine misfires.
How do I Know if my Car Has a Turbo 1.5-liter Earth Dreams Engine?
2019 Honda CR-V, the EX, EX-L and Touring trim levels came standard with the 1.5L Earth Dreams engine, but the LX trim came standard with a 2.4L Earth Dreams engine. For the 2020-2021 model years, the EX, EX-L, Touring and LX trim levels all came standard with the 1.5L Earth Dreams engine.
For the 2019-2021 Honda Civic, the EX, EX-L, Touring and Sport Touring trim levels came standard with a 1.5L Earth Dreams engine, while the LX and Sport trims came standard with the 2.0L Earth Dreams engine.
For the 2018-2021 Honda Accord, the LX 1.5T, Sport 1.5T, EX 1.5T and EX-L 1.5T trim levels came standard with the 1.5L Earth Dreams engine, while the Sport 2.0T, EX-L 2.0T and Touring 2.0T trims came standard with the 2.0L Earth Dreams engine.
Honda Owner Voices
Strong odor of gasoline in the engine and rising oil level. Car doesn’t even have 200 miles on it! this is not what I had expected from a Honda.
I have the oil dilution problem with my 2018 cr-v. I bought the car in march of this year, brand new. I currently have 9000 miles and had to have the oil changed four times due to gas mixing with the oil, strong gas odor and oil over full. I have also had an issue with all the warning lights coming on at once and cycling over and over, this has happened at least three times. I contacted Honda America and was told this was a normal occurrence and no harm will come to my engine. I did not know this was an issue until the check engine light came on.
After driving a short distance on a city street, I noticed a gas smell in the cabin. upon additional research, I learned that other CR-V owners have experienced the same situation with oil dilution (gas getting mixed in with oil). When I checked the oil, the level was over what is should be and the dipstick smelled of gas.
To view more Honda owner complaints, be sure to checkout the vehicle problem trends analyzer.
Questions About This Lawsuit?
MyCarVoice.com is not counsel or the settlement administrator in this class action lawsuit. Our goal is to inform owners of these vehicles of the recent lawsuit. This post will be updated when/if new suit information is released.
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Have you owned or leased a vehicle manufactured by Honda and experienced oil dilution problems? If so, add your voice to this post in the comments below 👇
Managing Editor
Christopher is an automotive technical writer. When he’s not at the local autocross event, he can often be found working on one of his cars. Specializes in automotive class action law, industry trends, and automotive maintenance. Email me direct, or learn more about us
Mark Ristuccia
April 8, 2024 at 4:42 pm2019 Honda CRV ex
I purchased this vehicle new in August 2019. Since then, I’ve been dealing with a fuel contamination problem. My only solution has been to change the oil every 4 months to prevent it from becoming so diluted that it fails to properly lubricate the engine. When I change the oil myself, I fill it up to the halfway mark on the dipstick. However, by the time 4 months have passed, the dipstick reads at the full mark due to fuel contamination. The strong odor of fuel is noticeable every time I change the oil. Most of my driving is on the highway and I only drive approximately 8,000 miles per year. Unfortunately, this will be the last Honda I ever purchase.
Christopher Rossen
April 10, 2024 at 3:30 pmMark, that’s the best approach at this point – changing the oil sooner than the manual recommends.
TED RAVER
March 20, 2024 at 12:29 amI have this problem on my 2019 Civic, how can I get in on the class action?
Christopher Rossen
March 20, 2024 at 7:27 amHi Ted. Nothing you need to do, as this class action covers all qualifying owners. I would recommending subscribing to this post for news alerts.
NKP
February 9, 2024 at 5:12 pmHONDA CRV SPORTS 2020,
Inspected and found the oil level very high as always. I have Oil dilution problem since the beginning. Replaced oil, and filters and checked the battery but still doesn’t start the car.
jerald e. jenkins
December 12, 2023 at 12:26 pmI have the same problem’ I have a 2016 honda crv with the 1.5 turbo earth dream engine I have almost 25.000 miles on the vehicle.I drive my old chvy hhr around town for short trips.I have fuel in the oil.I have contacted the proper government agency. I have filled out a form to the Attorney general of Missouri. I have stated the problem I am having with my crv..
Christopher
September 5, 2023 at 10:12 pmI bought a 2021 Honda CR-V in April 2023 with a little less than 6000 miles, checked the oil level at 8000 miles and dipstick was over the full range also the oil smells of gas all the time
Jason
April 18, 2023 at 4:03 pmI have a 2022 Honda Accord Sport SE with the 1.5 turbo that only has about 2200 miles on it. I had heard of the oil dilution issues shortly after I bought the car so I decided to check the oil and oil level a couple of days ago. The oil had a definite fuel smell and was over the maximum limit. I contacted my local dealership to ask some questions and was told that they had not seen any cars with this problem. Just wanted to let people know that Honda has done nothing to fix the oil dilution problem and are also actively trying to hide the issue from the consumer.
Eric
March 11, 2023 at 8:01 pmI live in Atlanta Ga. where the weather in the winter is mild compared to the northern states.
I have a 2019 CRV that has a strong smell of gas in the oil before I need to change the oil. It stays overfilled all the time. I can lite the oil easily with a match. This is not the condition the oil should be in for any engine. The oil can’t possibly do a good job protecting the cylinder walls or rings. The dealer said it should only happen in colder climates and that it doesn’t happen much in the Southern states. BS to all of this. Funny thing they made Honda recall 350,000 for the same problem or as they claim a similar problem. That covering the ol’ ass of responsibility. Honda should do Americans better than this. A class action suit on this should be a slam dunk.
Benny Nation
January 4, 2023 at 7:42 pmI just noticed today how my 2020 Accord 1.5 turbo is making so much noise. Going to the Dealer tomorrow.
Joanne
December 21, 2022 at 2:42 pmSo I purchased a 2019 Honda CRV and the first winter I had this issue. Free oil change. Then again in 2020, I could smell the odor again and the engine was noisy. Took it in in June and I was told it needed a new engine. So I traded it in for a 2021 CRV because I was told it wouldn’t be until August that it would get fixed. Funny thing was, after I traded it in, it was fixed and sold within the month.
Fast forward to Dec 2021, same issue with my new CRV. Noisy and smell of oil/gas. Told they needed to replace the top half of the engine and see how it goes. Seemed fine until lately. Took it in for another oil change and it’s doing the same thing. Told to drive it in S as it will warm up faster and not put heater above 26. I live in Manitoba. We’ll see how this goes in the next year.
Vlad
December 2, 2022 at 12:42 pmI am currently having the same exact issue with my 2019 civic si. I love the car so I don’t want to see it go. It would be fantastic if Honda would own up to it and apply a fix. My current symptoms are increased oil on the dipstick, and a powerful gasoline scent, I am currently at 80,000 miles.
Beth Huston
November 11, 2022 at 7:21 amMy husband and I decided it was time to buy our first new car back in February of 2018. We have always loved Honda’s especially the Accords, (him & I both first cars were accords 1990& 1993) so we stopped by the closest dealer and signed on the line for a new 2018 Accord sport 1.5t in pearl white! We love that car! Took it to every maintenance it needed and paid for whatever it needed even down to changing the tires early (keeping the good one’s). We kept every single receipt. The car now has 66,172 miles on it & is showing signs of oil dissolution problems. We had the oil changed as regularly scheduled…. just this past Tues. My husband asked me to check the oil after having it done so I pulled over after leaving dealership shut the engine off waited about 10 minutes checked it….it was fine. Drove (normally) the 40 miles back home….rechecked oil again before picking our son up from school a few hours later & the dipstick showed a whole quart over fill line! My husband and I thought the dealership somehow overfilled the oil. I took the car to the local oil change and had the man drain it down to just below the fill line. My husband came home from work and noticed it was up over the orange plastic dipstick read part about 1/4 over fill line….he took it back to the local oil change and they drained to half on the dipstick. (Now 2 days after oil change) this morning he checked it before going to work & it is at the top fill line again from the half mark just as he suspected it would be. The oil has had a smell of gas for some time, but him being what I call a mechanic from experience said that it could be normal to smell some gas in oil that has been in the engine for awhile. However, it isn’t normal when you’ve drained oil and the oil keeps going up the dipstick after a fresh oil change being put into the engine & still smells like gas! (It is now Friday 3 days since oil change) That means there is infact fuel getting into the oil. We have had an experience in the recent past where the dealership said they changed our oil & the car was ready when it in fact wasn’t changed because we noticed it never left the spot in the bay! We had a window looking over towards the garage doors & could clearly see our car from the waiting area….it never was moved! Honda needs to get their sh*t together! While they might have a high crash safety rating, their engines are going down hill! I feel like every one of us who purchased these cars should be reimbursed or at least pay off our cars and help us get another vehicle because after all we are hard working Americans just trying to live the dream while living paycheck to paycheck to take care of our families. Do the right thing Honda & do something! It’s wrong and you know it! Wouldn’t you rather be known for your honesty & kindness than for being a scrooge?! I am a business owner myself a small town beekeeper & if my customers aren’t happy I make it right! I don’t make near as much money as your company. It’s called being a good person!
Melissa Nesspor
November 2, 2022 at 2:04 amI purchased a 2020 Honda CRV and at around 3,000 miles the gasoline smell inside the cabin when I idled or drove was literally killing me. I am highly sensitive to gas and my eyes would burn and my chest would hurt even up to a day after I would drive the car. Honda said several times they would not find the issue when I took it in to the dealer. The smell was sickening. I suffered health issues and monetary issues when I was forced to trade it for more money again – thousands down and lost and I ended up upside in the car and had to drive a car I didn’t want that was more money a month, higher Insurance for some reason and they took away my miles-12,000 to 10,000. It was horrible. There was also leaks from the front passenger side when I would idle. They tried to say it was normal but I have never seen that in any Honda car I leased and I am on number 6.
J guadalupe medina
November 5, 2022 at 11:33 pmCause they don’t know how I buy a Honda 2018 accord take it 4 times to the dealer they said that Honda says it’s normal b.s. it took me 18 months to find out what was wrong but now no more gas in the oil benn runnig 20 k miles no more gas
Beth Huston
November 11, 2022 at 7:24 amHow did you fix it? Did you spend the money yourself? I thought the engine would need replaced to fix this problem?
John zeitler
October 27, 2022 at 9:08 amI have the same problem why won’t they fix it
J g Medina
November 5, 2022 at 11:43 pmThey don’t fixed cause they don’t know how it took me 16 months to find out what was wrong with my 2018 accord I took it 4 times to dealer they just pissed me off but now no more gas in the oil since 20k miles I have 43k
Frank Pizzurro
September 2, 2023 at 3:30 pm” but now no more gas in the oil since 20k miles I have 43k”
Please let me know what did you did to remedy the problem. I would like to do the same. Thank you in advance.
Christopher
September 11, 2022 at 7:27 amIt’s still happening I just bought a brand new 2022 Honda Civic sport touring hatch 6 months ago and about a week ago first oil change and before I took the vehicle in mind the dip stick was reading over by a half a quart and a strong smell of gas went Ahead and change the oil at the dealership I work for mind you a week later gas back in the oil
Eugene Stump
July 22, 2022 at 11:43 amI purchased a new 2018 crv 1.5 t and my oil has a gasoline odor.
While I was purchasing this car Honda dealership ( independence Honda)never mentioned the gasoline seepage to the oil pan.
I contacted Honda corporate several times and was lied to frequently. Very upset with Honda.
Michael Spaulding
March 30, 2023 at 11:42 pmI literally just bought a pre owned civic2020 si still within manufacturers warranty I would like a buy back and to switch to a 2.0L engine. Unacceptable
Eugene Stump
July 11, 2022 at 9:24 amI purchased a 2018 crv (1.5turbo) and during my transaction, nothing was ever mentioned about the oil dilution .
I finally found out when my crv was acting powerless and missing erratically and notified independence Honda dealership and they still never mentioned the oil dilution.
Jaime
April 19, 2022 at 1:06 pm2018 Accord Sport 1.5t Earth Dreams Motor
Same Issue with the oil dilution. Everytime I would check the oil it was over the full mark & you can smell the gas. Brought it to Honda and they said everything was normal but they will check it. When I left the car and came back hours later it was in the exact same spot. I know the car never moved bcuz after I left the car it started to rain hard. When I got back the car was bone dry underneath took a pic and showed the guy and he basically lied and said it was checked and nothing was wrong with the car. So I brought the rag I wiped the dipstick with and said “I guess its normal to smell gasoline after checking your oil”. He just shook his head and said nothing.
Sean Smith
April 5, 2022 at 7:33 pmI have. 2019 Honda Civic with the 1.5 litre turbo engine. I have experienced numerous symptoms of oil dilution. Honda Inc I made aware of the recall for 2016-2018 1.5 litre oil dilution issue. I’m being told costs are on me and currently Honda has not admitted fault. The dealer and Honda Canada conflict one another. I am from Canada and wish to receive guidance of being added to the 2019-2021 lawsuit.
Steve cox
March 23, 2023 at 9:07 pm2018 CRV with all symptoms of oil dilution dealer wanted to replace injectors at a cost of 2k for their faulty engine. I’m not done…
Rosanna
August 10, 2023 at 3:55 pmMe too so
If u find out how we can get in on this class action lawsuit please let me know. I’m in Canada and drive a 2019 civic with turbo engine and I’m having issues with oil consumption as well. We also had loss of power to the car just a few days ago. It’s currently in the shop and they are sending car home again for the 3rd time to do another oil consumption test.
Jay
April 4, 2022 at 7:02 pmI have a 2018 CR-V with the 1.5t and never had a check engine light but kept having software issues. I took it in as I guess there is a recall Honda never let me know for the fuel issues. Well they wanted to take the valve cover off because they stated sludge on the dipstick ( I checked the dipstick and it was just dirty with no sludge or metal bits) well after 10 days of holding my CR-V they sent me a video of shiny metal bits and no sludge underneath my valve cover. Stated a P0299 code and I need a new turbo and engine. My oil has always had a strong solvent odor after every change but Honda told me my CR-V is not part of the fuel oil issues even when other mechanics stressed it when working on my CR-V prior to this new problem. Has anyone else had the same oil or turbocharger issues? They stated oil or sludge got into the turbo and it exploded in the engine. Will never buy or tell anyone else to buy a Honda if they are that bad on a newer vehicle engine.
Funny part I just hit over the 60,000 because of all the highway miles and drove perfectly prior to going to the dealership so I guess turbo exploded in the engine at the dealership so I have to tow it if I can not afford a new engine and turbo charger.
Ayaa T
December 17, 2022 at 2:45 pm2018 1.5t Accord
Constant Misfires, Fuel injectors changed under warranty, new sparks and coils.
Jerking, loss of power. strong smell of gas occasionally. Blinking engine light indicating misfire has disappeared. Stuck with no codes but a car that is not properly functioning