Toyota Faces Legal Battle Over Critical Coolant Bypass Valve Defect in RAV4 and Corolla Models

In a recent class-action lawsuit, Toyota is under fire for a latent defect affecting the coolant bypass valve in their 2019-2023 RAV4 and Corolla models.

This defect, allegedly concealed by Toyota despite their long-standing knowledge, poses serious risks to vehicle owners, including engine overheating, stalling, and potentially catastrophic engine failure.

This article delves into the details of the defect, the affected models, and the significant impacts on vehicle safety and performance.

Understanding the Toyota Coolant Bypass Valve Defect

The class action lawsuit, initiated by plaintiffs Geri Barrientos and Michael Foerst, highlights a critical flaw in the design and manufacturing of the coolant bypass valve in the specified Toyota models.

This defect allegedly leads to premature failure of the valve, causing coolant to leak from the closed-loop system.

Coolant, also known as antifreeze, is a liquid that helps regulate the temperature of a car’s engine. It circulates through the engine, absorbing excess heat and carrying it away to the radiator, where it is cooled down.

This prevents the engine from overheating, which can cause damage. Coolant also helps protect the engine from freezing in cold weather by lowering the freezing point of the liquid inside.

Here’s why this defect is particularly concerning:

1. Engine Overheating:
   • The leaking coolant prevents the system from regulating the engine’s temperature effectively, leading to overheating.
   • Overheating can cause severe wear on engine components and, in extreme cases, catastrophic engine failure.
2. Increased Emissions:
   • The defect can lead to improper engine temperature regulation, resulting in higher emissions, which is not only harmful to the environment but also affects the vehicle’s compliance with emission standards.
3. Component Damage:
   • Leaking coolant can corrode surrounding engine components, including the electrical system.
   • The corrosion can damage the coolant bypass valve sensor, causing it to malfunction and either remain stuck open or closed, further impeding the engine’s performance.
4. Safety Hazards:
   • A malfunctioning coolant system can lead to unexpected engine stalls, putting drivers and passengers at risk, especially in high-traffic or hazardous conditions.

Toyota’s Awareness and Response

The class action complaint details how Toyota has allegedly been aware of the defect for some time, based on customer complaints, internal testing, and data from the NHTSA.

Despite this, the company has not adequately addressed the issue, leaving many owners to cover the costs of repairs themselves. The lawsuit argues that Toyota should have disclosed the defect and offered repairs under warranty. Instead, many customers were left with substantial out-of-pocket expenses.

Toyota Models Affected

• 2019 Toyota RAV4
• 2020 Toyota RAV4
• 2021 Toyota RAV4
• 2022 Toyota RAV4
• 2023 Toyota RAV4
• 2019 Toyota Corolla
• 2020 Toyota Corolla
• 2021 Toyota Corolla
• 2022 Toyota Corolla
• 2023 Toyota Corolla

What’s the Potential Consumer Impact of a Coolant Bypass Problems?

Owners of the affected Toyota models have reported numerous issues related to the coolant bypass valve defect, including:

• Persistent dashboard warnings indicating “Engine Maintenance Required.”
• High repair costs, often exceeding $500, which are not covered under warranty.
• Long wait times for replacement parts, leaving vehicles inoperable for extended periods.

Owners Voices

I got a “Engine Maintenance Required” warning message. I check with the dealer, the
dealer inspected and told about a faulty coolant bypass valve which the dealership told
us a common problem for Toyota RAV4 model year 2019,2020,2021. The dealer told
to always check if the engine temperature is shooting. They asked me to order the part
and it took close to a week to get the part and then to replace it. A faulty coolant
bypass valve risked my vehicle of a failure of the cooling system and so the engine. I
had to pay $126.25 for the part and $658.08 labor charge to replace the part. Since it is
a common problem the manufacturer has to recall and replace the faulty part and pay
the cost of the part and labor for replacing the faulty part.

NHTSA Complaint Number: 11472240

Engine maintenance required notification came on. Car is only 3 years old. Dealership
stated that the coolant bypass valve needs to be replaced and it could potentially cause
a fire. Service professional at the dealership stated that this is a common issue and most
of the time Toyota warranty doesn’t want to repair it, also said that it should be recalled.
I have also seen hundreds of people complain about this on Rav4 forums.

NHTSA Complaint Number: 11519961

The Engine Coolant Bypass Valve is a known issue across the 2019-Present RAV4
generation. We have taken our RAV4 to the dealership numerous time for the
“Maintenance Required Soon” message that comes up when the car starts. The dealer
always says that is is just a reminder for us to get our vehicle serviced at 20,000. The
service interval message is supposed to only come on at every 5,000, not every 3,000.
We took it by our local auto parts store, and the man that works there has a 2019 RAV4
that has the same problem. They had to take theirs to the dealer and have the Coolant
Bypass Valve replaced. If not addressed soon, it could cause the engine to overheat.
The man at the auto parts store said it doesn’t hurt to drive it but it is best not to prolong
it. There needs to be an investigation of a recall started on this, as it can be a very
confusing situation. It makes people think the car is just reminding you of your service
maintenance interval. But this is not what this message means. When you take it to the
dealer, they are clueless and they will give you the runaround.

NHTSA Complaint Number: 11530286

Coolant bypass valve required replacement due to faulty equipment, causing sensor to
read “engine maintenance required”. Costs $650 to replace and dealership will not
cover in warranty or admit fault. Many other Rav 4 owners are having same issue. This
should not be on the customer, but rather Toyota for having faulty equipment in vehicle.
Also “engine maintenance required” sensor will not go away. Since this is not an engine
issue, this is unsafe, false alarming.

NHTSA Complaint Number: 11531396

Status of the Toyota Cooling Bypass Defect Class Action Litigation

Barrientos et al. v. Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. et al., Case No. 3:24-cv-03282, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

Filed by the law firms of: Nye, Stirling, Hale, Miller & Sweet LLP and Sauder Schelkopf LLC.

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. However, this post will be updated when/if new suit information is released.

Please considering subscribing to this post for critical updates.

Are you driving a 2019-2023 Toyota Rav4 or 2019-2023 Toyota Corolla and experienced problems with the coolant system? If so, add your voice to this post in the comments below, or over at the MyCarVoice Community.

Final Thoughts

The coolant bypass valve defect in the 2019-2023 Toyota RAV4 and Corolla models highlights a serious issue within Toyota’s quality control processes.

As the legal proceedings continue, affected owners are encouraged to stay informed and consider their options for potential compensation or repair.

Have questions? Post it in the MyCarVoice Community