Santa Clara, C: A proposed defective products class action brought by consumers against Honeywell International can move forward, US District Judge Berle M. Schiller of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania stated this week. The class action asserts that Honeywell TrueSTEAM humidifiers were defectively designed and inadequately covered by warrantee.
According to the complaint, the humidifiers are unreliable, difficult to maintain, and prone to malfunction and deterioration.
Judge Schiller wrote in his memorandum, "According to plaintiffs, Honeywell is aware of the problems with its humidifiers, but uses an 'overly burdensome warranty claims process that is designed to, and does, deter customers from making claims under their warranties." And, "Honeywell's remedy to repair fails of its essential purpose because Honeywell simply replaces defective humidifiers with 'the same defectively designed humidifiers that are prone to the problems complained of by plaintiffs and members of the classes.'"
The plaintiffs also allege they were told their defective units would not be serviced until technicians inspected them. They are seeking recovery for the related removal and repair costs, since they claim Honeywell promised that each unit would be free from defect, and if it wasn't, the company would repair the unit.
"According to the amended complaint, however, that promise was false. Instead, plaintiffs were required to satisfy Honeywell, through an authorized technician and/or a contractor's inspection, that the humidifier actually was defective," Schiller wrote. "Thus, Honeywell placed an additional burden upon plaintiffs seeking to repair or replace their defective unit."
The judge wrote that the plaintiffs have adequately alleged that the humidifiers were defective five years after the purchase date as the warranty promised, and that Honeywell failed to replace the units as it expressly warranted.
The plaintiffs asserted breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty, unjust enrichment, and other claims. They are represented by Charles Schaffer of Levin, Fishbein, Sedran & Berman.
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Need information to be added to this class action suit. Unit shows damage from very hot water and has started to leak.
Posted by Mike Shipway
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I purchased a 9 gallon one. This product is garabage. First night leaked water everywhere. The locking mechanism leaks. Constant flashing service. Serivce guys shows up and resets unit works for 5-6 hours goes back onto code. Junk. Include me in the masses that were ripped off.
Posted by Tom Saporita
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I am the owner of a manufacturing company that makes custom air conditioning equipment. I purchased this product assuming I was buying a well know name brand. Much to my schgrin the humidifier never worked properly from day one.
The holding tank never filled because the fill valve does not seat properly. Once this was overcome the output never brought the humidity levels up to desired set point even after running for days. Every time I cleaned the unit I had to wrestle with the fill valve again. This year I finally thought I overcame the usual none but low and behold the heater element overheats. They claim it needs to be cleaned. I just cleaned it a week earlier. The element is not replaceable.
I don't have time or energy to fight with this product and am terribly disappointed. I certainly don't want a replacement.
Posted by NotWellHoney, No TruSteam!
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How could I participate in this class-action suit? I wasn't ever notified of any of this! Thanks!
Posted by Wayne Kulcheski
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I have 2 of these pieces of garbage and nobody will even work on or go near them to service. They always fault, don't work and cant be cleaned properly. How can I be added to this. Cant believe I didn't see this sooner. How can i be a part of this lawsuit.
Posted by Michael Regimbald
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We bought and had our HMB512W1005 unit installed several years ago. It started to fail quickly, mineral build up and an error or fault we could not fix. Honeywell was useless and the techs that installed it could not help either. Due to busy schedules at the time we left it thinking it was no use until we decided to investigate again to find out there are plenty of people dis-satisfied with their TrueSteam products. We live in Canada if that makes any difference.
Posted by Chris Shaffer
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I have a defective trusteam, and I scalded my arm last winter because of the built up scale.
How can I be added to this suit?
Posted by William Edwards
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I bought two of these units 2 years ago. One was defective (bad power supply) and had to be replaced before it was even installed. The distributor obliged and immediately sent a replacement unit. However, the replacement unit had a different fault, with the "GO" button. The "GO" button never worked from the first day it was placed in service. I contacted Honeywell a few times to try to get the unit replaced and got nowhere. I guess they couldn't believe that I got two defective units from them. After reading all of the complaints from various consumers, I feel somewhat vindicated. Honeywell can pound salt.
If the "GO" button on the front panel is not pressed, then the unit starts on its own after about 30 seconds. I have been running the unit like this for 2 heating seasons now and this year (3rd season) the unit with the broken "GO" button does not work at all.
When the units work, they work well. For the money they cost, these units should work trouble free for years. It seems like Honeywell raced these to market without working out the bugs.
I cleaned both units very carefully, which takes 2 weeks (to allow the vinegar solution to dissolve mineral deposits) and only got one unit working. I would definitely agree that the True Steam units are problematic and are cumbersome to clean. I miss my old Sears evaporative humidifier. I would change the sponge pad in the Fall (in 10 minutes) and it would be up and running for the full heating season. It worked for 10 years no problem. I put a new furnace in the attic (which is not conditioned space) so I couldn't use an evaporative unit anymore. I guess I am stuffed... like my nose will be with all the head colds I will get all winter with dry air.
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