Imagine hitting the road, and unbeknownst to you, your Tundra’s fuel line is silently dripping gasoline, courting danger with every mile. For owners of the 2022-2023 Toyota Tundra, this isn’t just a hypothetical – it’s a startling reality. So what do owners need to know about the alleged Toyota Tundra fuel line problems?
A recent class action lawsuit claims 2022-2023 Toyota Tundras have a concerning defect related to their fuel lines. Allegedly, these fuel lines rub against the brake lines, leading to fuel leakage. The release of fuel presents a danger when exposed to an ignition source.
As one can imagine, this not only poses a significant fire hazard, with both gasoline vapor and liquid being highly flammable, but also a pressing environmental concern. The leaking gasoline means wasted fuel, translating to fewer miles per tank for consumers.
Considering this defect has the potential of affecting an estimated 170,000 vehicles, the cumulative wastage could amount to millions of gallons of unused gasoline.
The lawsuit, Murphy v. Toyota Motor North America Inc., has been filed that aims to bring relief for owners of the 2022-2023 Toyota Tundra with defective fuel lines.
Let’s dive into the concerns surrounding the Tundra’s “Fuel Line Defect” and what this potential fire hazard means for all 2022-2023 Tundra owners.
Owners Allege Fuel Line Rubs Against Brake Line Causing Fuel Leakage
Class members allege that the MY2022 and MY2023 Toyota Tundras contain a fuel line defect that stems from improper internal routing, inadequate fastening, or complications with plastic fuel tube.
As NHTSA has reported, 2022-2023 Tundra vehicles are equipped with a plastic fuel tube that is held in place by a clamp. It’s then routed near metallic brake lines at the top of the fuel tank.
The problem here is that the clamp allows the fuel tube to move into contact with the brake line under certain driving conditions. Over time, driving and other induced vibrations may cause the fuel tube to rub against the brake line.
For reference, all vehicles experience a range of vibrations. These include low-frequency road-induced motions (1-20 Hz) medium-frequency engine and drivetrain disturbances (20-200 Hz), to high-frequency aerodynamic and component-related vibrations (200 Hz and above).
The result – the fuel tube wall begins to wear through resulting in a potential fuel leak. A few symptoms owners should keep an eye on:
- A fuel smell while driving and or while parked
- Leaking fuel may be observed near the right rear wheel area of the truck
Generally, the alleged defect might arise from a combination of the aforementioned issues. But it’s primarily the plastic fuel tube rubbing against the brake line that leads to the fuel leak situation.
Further complicating the issue, the Tundra features tightly packed, fastener-less fuel and brake lines within a limited space. Due to this compact arrangement, Toyota’s proposed solution of fastening may lead to similar issues of rubbing and part failures.
According to the complaint, Toyota is accused of designing pathways that are too narrow for the fuel and brake lines. Additionally, they reportedly improperly fastened these lines, leading to issues with fuel leaks.
Didn’t Toyota Issue a Recall For This Problem?
Yes, Toyota issued a voluntary recall to address the fuel line problem. The recall fix involved adding a protective shield and additional fasteners.
However, the solution does not seem satisfactory to the class members. Generally, the recall’s main focus was to install a fastener to prevent the fuel line from rubbing against the brake line.
Class members argue that this measure does not provide a comprehensive fix to the problem. As such, class members are skeptical about the recall’s efficacy in ensuring the permanent resolution of the Toyota Tundra fuel line problems.
Should Toyota Tundra Owners be Concerned?
Owners concerned about potential fuel line defects with their MY2022-2023 Tundra should check for recalls, contact their local Toyota dealer, and regularly inspect their truck for signs of fuel leaks.
Be sure to document any issues you experience. If a fuel line problem is identified (typically towards the rear), get the vehicle to a Toyota dealership as soon as possible.
Owners Voices
The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Tundra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V566000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, there was an abnormal gasoline odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stated that after arriving to the residence, there was an abnormally strong gasoline odor coming from the passenger’s side rear wheel well. The contact stated that the following day she noticed that there was a pool of gasoline underneath the rear passenger’s side wheel well. VIN tool confirms parts not available. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000.
NHTSA Number: 11543431
The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Tundra. The contact received notification of Manufacturer Safety Recall Number: 23TA09 (INTERIM 23TB09; NHTSA Campaign Number: (PENDING); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
NHTSA Number: 11538684
Toyota Tundra Models Affected
The following Toyota vehicles are affected by this alleged defect:
Please note, this issue effects Tundras equipped with either the base 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 or the 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 hybrid.
Status of the Toyota Tundra Fuel Line Class Action Litigation
This is an active class action lawsuit.
Murphy v. Toyota Motor North America Inc., Case No. 9:23-cv-00145, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.
Filed by the law firms of: Provost Umphrey Law Firm, LLP & Poulin | Willey | Anastopoulo, 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. This post will be updated when/if new suit information is released.
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Are you driving a MY2022 or MY2023 Toyota Tundra and experienced fuel line problems? If so, add your voice to this post in the comments below.
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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
