Auto companies hit with class actions over vehicle defects in October

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Auto class action lawsuits overview: 

• Who: Class action lawsuits have been filed this month against Honda, Volkswagen, Ford, Toyota, Audi and Hyundai. 
• Why: The class action claims revolve around price disclosure, pricing and vehicle defects. 
• Where: Consumers filed auto class action lawsuits nationwide. 

Consumers filed several class action lawsuits this month against automakers collectively accused of improperly pricing or disclosing costs, as well as manufacturing and selling vehicles containing alleged defects. 

Last week, for example, consumers accused Volkswagen of failing to provide a solution to owners of vehicles connected to 3G networks amid an ongoing phase-out of the technology. 

Consumers behind the class action lawsuit claim Volkswagen should have prepared for the phase-out, which they argue will lock vehicle owners out of being able to use important features that run on 3G-only technology. 

“All manufacturers of 3G devices have long known that 3G was ‘spectrally inefficient’ and would be phased out as early as possible,” the Volkswagen class action states. 

Toyota accused of selling RAV4 vehicles with battery-draining defect

Also this month, a consumer filed a class action lawsuit against Toyota, arguing the company knowingly sold Toyota RAV4 vehicles containing a defect that drains the car’s battery. 

The consumer behind the class action lawsuit argues the defect causes the Toyota RAV4 battery to drain even when the vehicle is not on, an issue they argue Toyota knew about before the car’s release.

“Toyota has misrepresented and actively concealed the existence, causes and consequences of the Parasitic Drain Defect,” the Toyota class action states. 

Hyundai marks up end purchase price of leased vehicles, class action claims 

Hyundai, meanwhile, faced claims this month that it unlawfully marked up the end purchase price of its leased vehicles. 

The consumer behind the class action lawsuit argues Hyundai is aware, and has been for years, that its Kia and Hyundai dealers increase the price to purchase vehicles at the end of a lease. 

“If Hyundai Lease Titling Trust and Hyundai Capital America choose to have Hyundai and Kia dealers handle lease-end transactions on their behalf, they have the obligation to cause their dealer-agents to honor the lease end purchase price,” the Hyundai class action states. 

Audi, Ford accused of selling vehicles with defective water pumps

Also this month, a consumer accused Audi of selling vehicles containing defective water pumps that can allegedly lead to a catastrophic engine failure. 

The consumer behind the class action lawsuit claims the defective water pumps are present in some model year 2013-2022 Audi vehicles, causing them to overheat. 

Audi allegedly knew about the defect as early as November 2018 but, instead of disclosing it to consumers, chose to conceal it, the class action claims.

Meanwhile, a consumer hit Ford with a class action lawsuit this month, arguing that it sells vehicles containing defective water pumps that could lead to catastrophic engine failure. 

The consumer behind the class action lawsuit claims the defect poses a significant safety risk to drivers of the Ford vehicles affected by the alleged defect. 

The consumer also alleges Ford knows about the alleged defect but, instead of disclosing it, chooses to conceal it from consumers and does not cover it under its warranty. 

“Not only does Ford represent that the water pump will not need to be serviced or maintained, but the internal location of the water pump in the engine conceals it from view and inspection when other routine service is being performed on the Class Vehicles,” the Ford class action states. 

Honda faces claims it sold vehicles with defective infotainment systems, failed to show transportation charges

Also this month, a consumer accused Honda of selling model year 2016-2020 Honda Civic vehicles with allegedly defective infotainment systems.

The consumer behind the class action lawsuit claims the alleged defect causes the infotainment system in the Honda Civic vehicles to malfunction, freeze or crash, affecting the air conditioning and radio, among other things. 

“Because the Infotainment System controls myriad vehicle functions, the Defect causes a wide array of failures,” the Honda class action states. 

Honda also faced claims this month that it fails to show its customers the transportation charges for the vehicles delivered to its dealerships. 

A group of consumers behind the class action lawsuit argue Honda violates the Monroney Act by allegedly not disclosing “the true cost of transporting vehicles from the final point of manufacture to the point of sale.”

Cadillac recalls vehicles over rearview camera defect; Toyota resolves claims it sold vehicles with defective fuel pumps

While not a class action lawsuit, Cadillac made news this month after it announced it recalled an estimated 95,231 Cadillac XT5, XT6 and GMC Acadia vehicles over concerns they contained defective rearview cameras. 

“The rearview camera coaxial cable connectors may have been crimped improperly, causing the rearview camera to fail or function intermittently,” the Cadillac recall states. 

Meanwhile, Toyota agreed to a class action settlement this month to resolve claims it sold certain Toyota and Lexus vehicles containing defective fuel pumps. 

The settlement followed a November 2020 expanded recall for 2.7 million Lexus and Toyota vehicles that spanned nearly every model. 

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Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

• Hyundai recall announced for Sante Fe vehicles due to fire risk
• Kia recall announced for 71K Sportage vehicles due to fire risk
• Honda class action alleges Kronos hack led to employees not being paid correctly
• Ferrari class action alleging brake defect dismissed