diff --git a/docker/api/container.py b/docker/api/container.py
index 72c5852d..953a5f52 100644
--- a/docker/api/container.py
+++ b/docker/api/container.py
@@ -997,19 +997,16 @@ class ContainerApiMixin(object):
         self._raise_for_status(res)
 
     @utils.check_resource
-    def start(self, container, binds=None, port_bindings=None, lxc_conf=None,
-              publish_all_ports=None, links=None, privileged=None,
-              dns=None, dns_search=None, volumes_from=None, network_mode=None,
-              restart_policy=None, cap_add=None, cap_drop=None, devices=None,
-              extra_hosts=None, read_only=None, pid_mode=None, ipc_mode=None,
-              security_opt=None, ulimits=None):
+    def start(self, container, *args, **kwargs):
         """
         Start a container. Similar to the ``docker start`` command, but
         doesn't support attach options.
 
-        **Deprecation warning:** For API version > 1.15, it is highly
-        recommended to provide host config options in the ``host_config``
-        parameter of :py:meth:`~ContainerApiMixin.create_container`.
+        **Deprecation warning:** Passing configuration options in ``start`` is
+        no longer supported. Users are expected to provide host config options
+        in the ``host_config`` parameter of
+        :py:meth:`~ContainerApiMixin.create_container`.
+
 
         Args:
             container (str): The container to start
@@ -1017,6 +1014,8 @@ class ContainerApiMixin(object):
         Raises:
             :py:class:`docker.errors.APIError`
                 If the server returns an error.
+            :py:class:`docker.errors.DeprecatedMethod`
+                If any argument besides ``container`` are provided.
 
         Example:
 
@@ -1025,64 +1024,14 @@ class ContainerApiMixin(object):
             ...     command='/bin/sleep 30')
             >>> cli.start(container=container.get('Id'))
         """
-        if utils.compare_version('1.10', self._version) < 0:
-            if dns is not None:
-                raise errors.InvalidVersion(
-                    'dns is only supported for API version >= 1.10'
-                )
-            if volumes_from is not None:
-                raise errors.InvalidVersion(
-                    'volumes_from is only supported for API version >= 1.10'
-                )
-
-        if utils.compare_version('1.15', self._version) < 0:
-            if security_opt is not None:
-                raise errors.InvalidVersion(
-                    'security_opt is only supported for API version >= 1.15'
-                )
-            if ipc_mode:
-                raise errors.InvalidVersion(
-                    'ipc_mode is only supported for API version >= 1.15'
-                )
-
-        if utils.compare_version('1.17', self._version) < 0:
-            if read_only is not None:
-                raise errors.InvalidVersion(
-                    'read_only is only supported for API version >= 1.17'
-                )
-            if pid_mode is not None:
-                raise errors.InvalidVersion(
-                    'pid_mode is only supported for API version >= 1.17'
-                )
-
-        if utils.compare_version('1.18', self._version) < 0:
-            if ulimits is not None:
-                raise errors.InvalidVersion(
-                    'ulimits is only supported for API version >= 1.18'
-                )
-
-        start_config_kwargs = dict(
-            binds=binds, port_bindings=port_bindings, lxc_conf=lxc_conf,
-            publish_all_ports=publish_all_ports, links=links, dns=dns,
-            privileged=privileged, dns_search=dns_search, cap_add=cap_add,
-            cap_drop=cap_drop, volumes_from=volumes_from, devices=devices,
-            network_mode=network_mode, restart_policy=restart_policy,
-            extra_hosts=extra_hosts, read_only=read_only, pid_mode=pid_mode,
-            ipc_mode=ipc_mode, security_opt=security_opt, ulimits=ulimits,
-        )
-        start_config = None
-
-        if any(v is not None for v in start_config_kwargs.values()):
-            if utils.compare_version('1.15', self._version) > 0:
-                warnings.warn(
-                    'Passing host config parameters in start() is deprecated. '
-                    'Please use host_config in create_container instead!',
-                    DeprecationWarning
-                )
-            start_config = self.create_host_config(**start_config_kwargs)
-
+        if args or kwargs:
+            raise errors.DeprecatedMethod(
+                'Providing configuration in the start() method is no longer '
+                'supported. Use the host_config param in create_container '
+                'instead.'
+            )
         url = self._url("/containers/{0}/start", container)
-        res = self._post_json(url, data=start_config)
+        res = self._post(url)
         self._raise_for_status(res)
 
     @utils.minimum_version('1.17')

diff --git a/tests/unit/api_container_test.py b/tests/unit/api_container_test.py
index 6c080641..abf36138 100644
--- a/tests/unit/api_container_test.py
+++ b/tests/unit/api_container_test.py
@@ -34,10 +34,7 @@ class StartContainerTest(BaseAPIClientTest):
             args[0][1],
             url_prefix + 'containers/3cc2351ab11b/start'
         )
-        self.assertEqual(json.loads(args[1]['data']), {})
-        self.assertEqual(
-            args[1]['headers'], {'Content-Type': 'application/json'}
-        )
+        assert 'data' not in args[1]
         self.assertEqual(
             args[1]['timeout'], DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_SECONDS
         )
@@ -63,25 +60,21 @@ class StartContainerTest(BaseAPIClientTest):
         self.client.start(**{'container': fake_api.FAKE_CONTAINER_ID})
 
     def test_start_container_with_lxc_conf(self):
-        def call_start():
+        with pytest.raises(docker.errors.DeprecatedMethod):
             self.client.start(
                 fake_api.FAKE_CONTAINER_ID,
                 lxc_conf={'lxc.conf.k': 'lxc.conf.value'}
             )
 
-        pytest.deprecated_call(call_start)
-
     def test_start_container_with_lxc_conf_compat(self):
-        def call_start():
+        with pytest.raises(docker.errors.DeprecatedMethod):
             self.client.start(
                 fake_api.FAKE_CONTAINER_ID,
                 lxc_conf=[{'Key': 'lxc.conf.k', 'Value': 'lxc.conf.value'}]
             )
 
-        pytest.deprecated_call(call_start)
-
     def test_start_container_with_binds_ro(self):
-        def call_start():
+        with pytest.raises(docker.errors.DeprecatedMethod):
             self.client.start(
                 fake_api.FAKE_CONTAINER_ID, binds={
                     '/tmp': {
@@ -91,22 +84,18 @@ class StartContainerTest(BaseAPIClientTest):
                 }
             )
 
-        pytest.deprecated_call(call_start)
-
     def test_start_container_with_binds_rw(self):
-        def call_start():
+        with pytest.raises(docker.errors.DeprecatedMethod):
             self.client.start(
                 fake_api.FAKE_CONTAINER_ID, binds={
                     '/tmp': {"bind": '/mnt', "ro": False}
                 }
             )
 
-        pytest.deprecated_call(call_start)
-
     def test_start_container_with_port_binds(self):
         self.maxDiff = None
 
-        def call_start():
+        with pytest.raises(docker.errors.DeprecatedMethod):
             self.client.start(fake_api.FAKE_CONTAINER_ID, port_bindings={
                 1111: None,
                 2222: 2222,
@@ -116,18 +105,14 @@ class StartContainerTest(BaseAPIClientTest):
                 6666: [('127.0.0.1',), ('192.168.0.1',)]
             })
 
-        pytest.deprecated_call(call_start)
-
     def test_start_container_with_links(self):
-        def call_start():
+        with pytest.raises(docker.errors.DeprecatedMethod):
             self.client.start(
                 fake_api.FAKE_CONTAINER_ID, links={'path': 'alias'}
             )
 
-        pytest.deprecated_call(call_start)
-
     def test_start_container_with_multiple_links(self):
-        def call_start():
+        with pytest.raises(docker.errors.DeprecatedMethod):
             self.client.start(
                 fake_api.FAKE_CONTAINER_ID,
                 links={
@@ -136,21 +121,15 @@ class StartContainerTest(BaseAPIClientTest):
                 }
             )
 
-        pytest.deprecated_call(call_start)
-
     def test_start_container_with_links_as_list_of_tuples(self):
-        def call_start():
+        with pytest.raises(docker.errors.DeprecatedMethod):
             self.client.start(fake_api.FAKE_CONTAINER_ID,
                               links=[('path', 'alias')])
 
-        pytest.deprecated_call(call_start)
-
     def test_start_container_privileged(self):
-        def call_start():
+        with pytest.raises(docker.errors.DeprecatedMethod):
             self.client.start(fake_api.FAKE_CONTAINER_ID, privileged=True)
 
-        pytest.deprecated_call(call_start)
-
     def test_start_container_with_dict_instead_of_id(self):
         self.client.start({'Id': fake_api.FAKE_CONTAINER_ID})
 
@@ -159,10 +138,7 @@ class StartContainerTest(BaseAPIClientTest):
             args[0][1],
             url_prefix + 'containers/3cc2351ab11b/start'
         )
-        self.assertEqual(json.loads(args[1]['data']), {})
-        self.assertEqual(
-            args[1]['headers'], {'Content-Type': 'application/json'}
-        )
+        assert 'data' not in args[1]
         self.assertEqual(
             args[1]['timeout'], DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_SECONDS
         )

Passing host_config parameters in start() overrides the host_config that was passed in create()?
I had a `host_config` with `extra_hosts` defined. I used this `host_config` to create a container. When starting container, I passed extra volumes_from parameter. However, this lead to `extra_hosts` seemingly not doing their job. 

After I moved `volumes_from` from `start()` to `create_host_config` everything started working OK. 

I figured, I should report this, since I spent a couple of hours figuring this out. IMO, start() should override the necessary parts of host_config(and not the whole thing). Or raise an exception.

tests/unit/api_container_test.py::StartContainerTest::test_start_container tests/unit/api_container_test.py::StartContainerTest::test_start_container_privileged tests/unit/api_container_test.py::StartContainerTest::test_start_container_with_binds_ro tests/unit/api_container_test.py::StartContainerTest::test_start_container_with_binds_rw tests/unit/api_container_test.py::StartContainerTest::test_start_container_with_dict_instead_of_id tests/unit/api_container_test.py::StartContainerTest::test_start_container_with_links tests/unit/api_container_test.py::StartContainerTest::test_start_container_with_links_as_list_of_tuples tests/unit/api_container_test.py::StartContainerTest::test_start_container_with_lxc_conf tests/unit/api_container_test.py::StartContainerTest::test_start_container_with_lxc_conf_compat tests/unit/api_container_test.py::StartContainerTest::test_start_container_with_multiple_links tests/unit/api_container_test.py::StartContainerTest::test_start_container_with_port_binds
tests/unit/api_container_test.py::StartContainerTest::test_start_container_none tests/unit/api_container_test.py::StartContainerTest::test_start_container_regression_573 tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_empty_volumes_from tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_privileged tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_with_added_capabilities tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_with_aliases tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_with_binds tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_with_binds_list tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_with_binds_mode tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_with_binds_mode_and_ro_error tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_with_binds_ro tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_with_binds_rw tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_with_cgroup_parent tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_with_cpu_shares tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_with_cpuset tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_with_devices tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_with_dropped_capabilities tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_with_entrypoint tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_with_host_config_cpu_shares tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_with_host_config_cpuset tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_with_labels_dict tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_with_labels_list tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_with_links tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_with_links_as_list_of_tuples tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_with_lxc_conf tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_with_lxc_conf_compat tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_with_mac_address tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_with_mem_limit_as_int tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_with_mem_limit_as_string tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_with_mem_limit_as_string_with_g_unit tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_with_mem_limit_as_string_with_k_unit tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_with_mem_limit_as_string_with_m_unit tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_with_mem_limit_as_string_with_wrong_value tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_with_multiple_links tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_with_named_volume tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_with_port_binds tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_with_ports tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_with_restart_policy tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_with_stdin_open tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_with_stop_signal tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_with_sysctl tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_with_tmpfs_dict tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_with_tmpfs_list tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_with_unicode_envvars tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_with_volume_string tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_with_volumes_from tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_container_with_working_dir tests/unit/api_container_test.py::CreateContainerTest::test_create_named_container tests/unit/api_container_test.py::ContainerTest::test_container_stats tests/unit/api_container_test.py::ContainerTest::test_container_top tests/unit/api_container_test.py::ContainerTest::test_container_top_with_psargs tests/unit/api_container_test.py::ContainerTest::test_container_update tests/unit/api_container_test.py::ContainerTest::test_diff tests/unit/api_container_test.py::ContainerTest::test_diff_with_dict_instead_of_id tests/unit/api_container_test.py::ContainerTest::test_export tests/unit/api_container_test.py::ContainerTest::test_export_with_dict_instead_of_id tests/unit/api_container_test.py::ContainerTest::test_inspect_container tests/unit/api_container_test.py::ContainerTest::test_inspect_container_undefined_id tests/unit/api_container_test.py::ContainerTest::test_kill_container tests/unit/api_container_test.py::ContainerTest::test_kill_container_with_dict_instead_of_id tests/unit/api_container_test.py::ContainerTest::test_kill_container_with_signal tests/unit/api_container_test.py::ContainerTest::test_list_containers tests/unit/api_container_test.py::ContainerTest::test_log_following tests/unit/api_container_test.py::ContainerTest::test_log_following_backwards tests/unit/api_container_test.py::ContainerTest::test_log_since tests/unit/api_container_test.py::ContainerTest::test_log_since_with_datetime tests/unit/api_container_test.py::ContainerTest::test_log_streaming tests/unit/api_container_test.py::ContainerTest::test_log_streaming_and_following tests/unit/api_container_test.py::ContainerTest::test_log_tail tests/unit/api_container_test.py::ContainerTest::test_log_tty tests/unit/api_container_test.py::ContainerTest::test_logs tests/unit/api_container_test.py::ContainerTest::test_logs_with_dict_instead_of_id tests/unit/api_container_test.py::ContainerTest::test_pause_container tests/unit/api_container_test.py::ContainerTest::test_port tests/unit/api_container_test.py::ContainerTest::test_remove_container tests/unit/api_container_test.py::ContainerTest::test_remove_container_with_dict_instead_of_id tests/unit/api_container_test.py::ContainerTest::test_rename_container tests/unit/api_container_test.py::ContainerTest::test_resize_container tests/unit/api_container_test.py::ContainerTest::test_restart_container tests/unit/api_container_test.py::ContainerTest::test_restart_container_with_dict_instead_of_id tests/unit/api_container_test.py::ContainerTest::test_stop_container tests/unit/api_container_test.py::ContainerTest::test_stop_container_with_dict_instead_of_id tests/unit/api_container_test.py::ContainerTest::test_unpause_container tests/unit/api_container_test.py::ContainerTest::test_wait tests/unit/api_container_test.py::ContainerTest::test_wait_with_dict_instead_of_id