Toyota, Lexus & Denso Low-Pressure Fuel Pumps
Low-Pressure Fuel Pump’s Failure Which Can Lead To Unexpected Stalling and Engine Shutdown Alleged In Class Action Lawsuit Against Toyota and Denso Corporation
Kehoe Law Firm, P.C. is making consumers aware that on April 20, 2020, a class action lawsuit was filed in United States District Court, Central District of California, against Toyota Motor Corporation, Toyota Motor North America, Inc., Toyota Motor Sales USA, Inc., Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. (collectively, “Toyota”), Denso Corporation, and Denso International America, Inc. (collectively, “Denso”).
695,541 Toyota and Lexus Vehicles With Denso Low-Pressure Fuel Pumps Recalled
In January 2020, Toyota, according to the class action complaint, voluntarily recalled 695,541 Toyota and Lexus vehicles which were “equipped with defective Denso low-pressure fuel pumps,” because “Toyota identified a dangerous defect in the low-pressure fuel pump which can fail and cause the vehicles identified in the [r]ecall to unexpectedly stall and suffer engine shut down[.]”
The complaint identified the vehicles affected by the recall as follows:
2018-2019 Toyota 4Runner, 2019 Toyota Avalon, 2018-2019 Toyota Camry, 2019 Toyota Corolla, 2018-2019 Toyota Highlander, 2018-2019 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2018-2019 Toyota Sequoia, 2018-2019 Toyota Sienna, 2018-2019 Toyota Tacoma, 2018-2019 Toyota Tundra, 2019 Lexus ES, 2018-2019 Lexus GS, 2018-2019 Lexus GX, 2018-2019 Lexus IS, 2018-2019 Lexus LC, 2018-2019 Lexus LS, 2018-2019 Lexus LX, 2019 Lexus NX, 2018-2019 Lexus RC, 2018-2019 Lexus RX.
Expanded Recall Of Additional 1,122,428 Toyota and Lexus Vehicles With Low-Pressure Fuel Pumps
In March 2020, Toyota, according to the complaint, “submitted an amended defect information report to NHTSA . . ., expanding the [r]ecall from 695,541 to 1,817,969 of its most popular Toyota and Lexus vehicles.[]” Toyota, according to the relevant defect information report, allegedly “states that the additional 1,122,428 vehicles have the same Fuel Pump Defect[.]”
The complaint identified the vehicles affected by the expanded recall as follows:
2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner, 2018-2019 Toyota Avalon, 2018-2019 Toyota Camry, 2018-2019 Toyota Corolla, 2014 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2018-2019 Toyota Highlander, 2014-2015 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2018-2019 Toyota Sequoia, 2017-2019 Toyota Sienna, 2018-2019 Toyota Tacoma, 2018-2019 Toyota Tundra, 2018-2019 Lexus ES350, 2018-2019 Lexus GS300, 2013-2014 and 2018-2019 Lexus GS350, 2014-2015 Lexus GX460, 2014 Lexus IS-F, 2017 Lexus IS200t, 2018-2019 Lexus IS300, 2014-2015 and 2018-2019 Lexus IS350, 2018-2019 Lexus LC500, 2018-2019 Lexus LC500h (Hybrid), 2013-2015 Lexus LS460, 2018-2019 Lexus LS500, 2018-2019 Lexus LS500h (Hybrid), 2014-2015 Lexus LX570, 2015 Lexus NX200t, 2018-2019 Lexus RC300, 2017 Lexus RC200t, 2015 and 2018-2019 Lexus RC350, 2017-2019 Lexus RX350, and 2018-2019 Lexus RX350L.
According to the complaint:
The [r]ecall captures only a portion of 2013-2019 Toyota and Lexus vehicles equipped with Denso low-pressure fuel pumps and fuel pump assemblies that begin with part number prefixes 23220- and 23221-. However, the same dangerous condition is present in all 2013-2019 Toyota and Lexus vehicles equipped with Denso low-pressure fuel pumps and fuel pump assemblies that begin with part number prefixes 23220- and 23221- (“Class Vehicles”). For example, Toyota submitted [a third defect information report] to [the] NHTSA in order to add another 42,300 Lexus vehicles equipped with Denso low-pressure fuel pumps and fuel pump assemblies that begin with part number prefixes 23220- and 23221- to the [r]ecall. [Emphasis added.]
The third defect information report, according to the complaint, “expanded the number of Lexus GS vehicles subject to the [r]ecall to include 2018-19 Lexus GS300 vehicles produced from October 13, 2017 through January 18, 2019, and 2013-2015 and 2018-2019 Lexus GS350 vehicles produced from September 2, 2013 through February 21, 2015 and from October 3, 2017 through January 31, 2019.”
Allegedly, the fuel pump defect in the subject “Class Vehicles,” is an issue which
exposes occupants and others to extreme danger, or even death. A vehicle that stalls or suffers engine shutdown is at heightened risk for collision. A vehicle that stalls or suffers engine shutdown causes drivers to react to remove themselves from danger, typically by exiting the road. Drivers stranded on the side of the road experience a heightened risk of danger, whether it is from other vehicles, remoteness or weather elements. [Emphasis added.]
Kehoe Law Firm, P.C.
