Toyota Sienna Sliding Door Defect Class Action Settlement

Toyota car owners have secured a settlement resolving class action allegations that Toyota Sienna’s power sliding rear doors are defective.

If you owned or leased a 2011 to 2018 Toyota Sienna, you could get your vehicle inspected, repaired and have out-of-pocket expenses paid from this class action settlement.

According to the Toyota class action lawsuit, the sliding doors in Toyota Sienna vehicles fail to latch because of a defect — presenting a serious safety concern.

“Doors sliding open while the van is in motion can result in passengers (especially young children) falling out of or being ejected from a moving vehicle,” the Toyota Sienna class action lawsuit states.

Several plaintiffs pointed to a safety advisory issued by Toyota, as well as several complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration from other car owners regarding the defect.

“Toyota not only knew of the NHTSA complaints, it had received 399 additional direct reports of the condition through warranty claims and field reports,” the Toyota defective door class action lawsuit claims.

The Toyota class action lawsuit claimed that the defect in the Toyota Sienna door affected vehicles as far back as 2011. The plaintiffs said that they and others had to pay for repairs and other expenses as a result of the defect.

“While Toyota knew about the Defective Doors and the dangers they present for over a decade, Toyota continued to manufacture, market, sell, lease, and warrant its Siennas in order to reap profits, without disclosing that the power sliding doors were inherently defective, dangerous and created a grave risk of bodily harm and death,” the Toyota class action lawsuit states.

In October 2017, plaintiffs Dillen Steeby and Paula McMillin, among others, were added as additional plaintiffs after raising similar claims in a separate Toyota class action lawsuit.

Toyota agreed to settle the class action lawsuit in December 2018. The car maker has agreed to provide free inspections, repairs, and loaner vehicles to Class Members through a “Customer Confidence Program.”

Under the terms of the program, Class Members can bring their 2011 through 2018 Toyota Sienna to a Toyota dealer to get it checked out at no cost.

Class Members can also claim reimbursement for repair costs associated with the alleged defect accrued before March 1, 2019. Proof of expenses are required to make a claim for reimbursement, including proof of ownership and invoices.

The deadline for Class Members to make claims for out-of-pocket expenses is 60 days from the final approval hearing scheduled for June 4, 2019 or Aug. 2, 2019.

The deadline for Class Members to object or exclude themselves from the Toyota Sienna door class action settlement is May 3, 2019.

Who’s Eligible

Class Members include those who owned or leased a 2011 through 2018 Toyota Sienna who either experienced sliding door problems or suspect problems.

Potential Award

Inspection, repair, out-of-pocket expenses.

All Class Members can take advantage of the “Customer Confidence Program” at any Toyota dealership, including a free inspection, repair, and loaner vehicle if necessary.

Class Members who accrued out-of-pocket expenses related to the sliding door on their Toyota Sienna before March 1, 2019 can make a claim for reimbursement.

Proof of Purchase

Proof of ownership and related expenses are required for Class Members making out-of-pocket claims.

Claim Form

CLICK HERE TO FILE A CLAIM »

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

Claim Form Deadline

08/02/2019

Case Name

Simerlein, et al. v. Toyota Motor Corporation, et al., Case No. 3:17-cv-01091-VAB, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut

Final Hearing

06/04/2019

Settlement Website

ToyotaSiennaDoorSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

Simerlein, et al. v. Toyota Motor Corporation, et al., (D. Conn.)
c/o Heffler Claims Group
PO Box 230
Philadelphia, PA 19105-0230
1-833-305-3915

Class Counsel

W. Daniel “Dee” Miles III
BEASLEY ALLEN CROW METHVIN PORTIS & MILES PC

Demet Basar
WOLF HALDENSTEIN ADLER FREEMAN & HERZ LLP

Adam J. Levitt
DICELLO LEVITT & CASEY LLC

Defense Counsel

John P. Hooper
KING & SPALDING LLP