2018-2019 Toyota Manufactured Vehicles Equipped With Low-Pressure Fuel Pumps With Part Number Prefix 23220 Or 23221
Kehoe Law Firm, P.C. is making consumers aware that on April 10, 2020, a class action lawsuit was filed against Toyota Motor Corporation, Toyota Motor North America, Inc., Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc., and Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. (collectively, “Toyota”) in United States District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, on behalf of consumers who purchased Toyota and Lexus vehicles equipped with certain defective low-pressure fuel pumps.
According to the complaint:
On January 13, 2020, Toyota submitted a safety recall report (the “Recall Report”)[] to NHTSA voluntarily recalling nearly 700,000 Toyota and Lexus vehicles[] manufactured between August 1, 2018 through January 31, 2019 with defective low-pressure Denso fuel pumps (the “Recall”). In the Recall Report, Toyota identified a dangerous defect in the low-pressure fuel pump which can fail and cause the Recalled Vehicles to unexpectedly stall and cause engine shut down:
These fuel pumps contain an impeller that could deform due to excessive fuel absorption. . . . [i]f impeller deformation occurs, the impeller may interfere with the fuel pump body, and this could result in illumination of check engine and master warning indicators, rough engine running, engine no start and/or vehicle stall . . . .
(“Fuel Pump Defect”). Approximately 695,541 Recalled Vehicles are covered by the Recall, but the same dangerous condition is present in all 2018-2019 Toyota manufactured vehicles equipped with low-pressure fuel pumps with part number prefix 23220- or 23221- (“Class Vehicles”) that gave rise to the Recall.
Toyota concluded that the Fuel Pump Defect in Class Vehicles presents an immediate risk of physical injury when used in their intended manner and for their ordinary purpose.
Toyota has long known of the Fuel Pump Defect in the Class Vehicles, despite marketing Class Vehicles as safe and dependable. Toyota admitted in the Defect Information Report accompanying the Recall Report that it received thousands of warranty requests related to the Fuel Pump Defect in Class Vehicles.[]
The Fuel Pump Defect in the Class Vehicles 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 or weather elements.
Fuel pump failure can prevent the driver from accelerating at the necessary and anticipated pace. Diminished acceleration ability creates unexpected hazards, startling drivers of the Class Vehicles and other drivers in their proximity. Finally, once a Class Vehicle fuel pump fails, the vehicle becomes totally inoperable and will not start. [Emphasis added.]
NOTE: The class action complaint identified the “Recalled Vehicles” as follows: 2018-2019 Toyota 4Runner, 2019 Toyota Avalon, 2018-2019 Toyota Camry, 2019 Toyota Corolla, 2019-2019 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.