Is your Toyota or Lexus experiencing a rough idle, hard starts or stalling at low speeds? If so, you may be affected by a recent class action settlement over defective Denso fuel pumps found in various Toyota and Lexus vehicles.
The fuel pumps in question were manufactured by Denso and installed in certain Toyota and Lexus models made between 2013 and 2020. The fuel pumps have a tendency to crack and degrade, triggering the vehicle to stall and increasing the risk of a crash while driving at higher speeds. As such, causing a safety risk to drivers and passengers on the road.
While Toyota hasn’t admitted any wrongdoing for the fuel pump defects, they have agreed to a settlement.
This settlement is good news for all Toyota or Lexus drivers. Not only will they receive reimbursement for out-of-pocket repairs, but Toyota has also agreed to an extended warranty, a customer support program, loaner and towing coverage.
Read on to find out more.
Massive Toyota Fuel Pump Recall Lead to Class Action Lawsuit
Back in 2020, Toyota announced a recall over faulty fuel pumps. In the official recall notice, Toyota identified a dangerous defect in the low-pressure fuel pump which can fail and cause vehicles to suddenly stall and cause the engine to shut down.
The recall report sited a defective impeller, which when exposed to excessive fuel absorption could deform. As such, an impeller that deforms could interfere with the fuel pump body, thus triggering the check engine light and warning indicators.
Toyota and Lexus owners have reported various levels of fuel pump failure, from a rough idle to engine no start situations, to even vehicles stalling at speed.
However, the recall only covered roughly 700,000 vehicles at the time. Despite other Toyota vehicles exhibiting the same fuel pump problems, many were not included in the recall. As a result, customers were forced to pay out-of-pocket for fuel pump repairs.
The Japanese automaker eventually expanded the recall to cover more models. And when the recall dust had finally settled, the total number of vehicles needing a fuel pump replacement would eventually exceeded 5 million.
However, questions regarding when Toyota first became aware of the faulty fuel pumps, and their overall handling of the recall, resulted in several class action lawsuits against the automaker.
Customers Claim the Automaker Was “Extremely Reckless”
Vehicle owners took legal action against the automaker arguing that Toyota knew about the fuel pump defect long before any recall was issued. And despite customer complaints, refused to cover repairs under warranty.
As a result, Toyota drivers were forced pay for costly fuel pump repairs out-of -pocket. In fact, plaintiffs claim that Toyota was “extremely reckless” for not including all vehicles in the initial recall.
Symptoms of the Defective Toyota and Lexus Fuel Pump
Faulty fuel pumps may cause a hard start, rough idle, and even result in the engine suddenly and unexpectedly turning off. Some have even reported vehicles shutting off while at speed.
Status of the Toyota Fuel Pump Class Action Lawsuit
Cheng, et al. v. Toyota Motor Corp., et al., Case No. :20-cv-00629-WFK-JRC in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. This lawsuit is now settled.
Under the terms of the settlement, class members can receive reimbursement for out-of-pocket repairs, an extended warranty, a customer support program, loaner and towing coverage.
Extended Warranty Details
Under the settlement’s extended warranty, all future fuel pump repairs will be covered at no cost to the customer. The extended warranty covers fuel pumps for 15 years or 150,000 miles – whichever comes first.
Class members who receive repairs under the extended warranty will also receive coverage for loaner vehicles, and towing expenses.
Cash Payments
Cash reimbursements are also provided for out-of-pocket repairs, extended warranty, and a customer support program that includes a loaner vehicle and towing coverage.
Toyota and Lexus Models Affected
The following Toyota and Lexus models are affected by this settlement:
- Subject vehicles covered by recall
- Additional vehicles equipped with Denso fuel pumps
- Special service campaign vehicles
Verify your vehicle qualifies for settlement benefits:
What Action Toyota and Lexus Owners Need to Take?
If you currently or previously owned or leased a certain Toyota and Lexus vehicle in the United States, you may be entitled to benefits afforded by the class action settlement.
- Verify your vehicle qualifies for settlement benefits by checking your vehicle VIN number.
- If your vehicle qualifies, submit a valid claim by no later than March 14, 2023.
Questions About This Settlement?
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 settlement.
This post will be updated when/if new settlement information is released. Please considering subscribing to this post for updates.
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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
