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A class action lawsuit alleging Toyota switched to a soy-based covering for wires in its vehicles, which attracted rats and led them to eat through the wires, can proceed, a California federal judge ruled on May 11.
U.S. District Judge Cormac J. Carney said in the ruling that the court was bound by the Ninth Circuit’s previous findings in the case, which ruled that expressed warranty claims could progress, but California Unfair Competition Law claims remained dismissed, according to Law360.
Carney added that under the law of the case doctrine, a district court was prevented from reconsidering an issue that had been decided by the same or a higher court.
“To now dismiss plaintiffs’ implied warranty claims would contravene the circuit’s clear mandate and relitigate issues the Ninth Circuit decided either expressly or by necessary implication,” Carney wrote, adding it would be “improper” to allow the unfair competition claim to proceed after its dismissal by the Ninth Circuit.
The class action lawsuit was filed by 21 people whose vehicles were damaged by rats after Toyota switched to the soybean-based coating, and who allege the company refused to make repairs.
The case has been ongoing for five years, and in 2018 it was tossed out by U.S. District Court Judge Andrew J. Guilford, who said that the coating was a design defect not covered by express warranty, and the implied warranty could not be made to cover damage caused by “those pesky rats,” Law360 reports.
In August 2020, the Ninth Circuit revived the case saying that Guilford misidentified the rats as the problem, when the class action alleged that it was the soybean-based wired coating.
Jerusalem F. Beligan of Bisnar Chase LLP and Benjamin F. Johns of Chimicles Schwartz Kriner & Donaldson-Smith LLP, lawyers representing the group, told Law360 in a statement that they were pleased with the court’s decision, “which we view as being consistent with what the Ninth Circuit held when it revived some of our claims last year.”
The case isn’t the only class action lawsuit Toyota is facing. In March, a consumer filed a class action lawsuit against the company alleging that its popular SUV, the RAV4, was equipped with defective batteries for model years 2013 through 2018.
Have you ever had rats eat wiring inside your vehicle? Let us know in the comments section!
The plaintiffs are represented by Brian S. Kabateck and Anastasia K. Mazzella of Kabateck LLP; Brian D. Chase and Jerusalem F. Beligan of Bisnar Chase LLP; Benjamin F. Johns, Samantha E. Holbrook and Alex M. Kashurba of Chimicles Schwartz Kriner & Donaldson-Smith LLP; Robert B. Brown III of Pennekamp Law PA; and Scott C. Harris of Whitfield Bryson LLP.
Toyota is represented by Amir M. Nassihi, M. Kevin Underhill and Samantha Burnett of Shook Hardy & Bacon LLP.
The Toyota Soybean Wiring Class Action Lawsuit is Heber, et al. v. Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc. et al., Case No. 8:16-cv-01525, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
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521 thoughts onToyota Class Action Claiming Soy-Coated Wiring Attracts Vehicle-Damaging Rats Can Proceed
My 2020 CRV had a malfunction light come on, took it to the dealer yesterday and found it “rodent” damage. Quoted over $500 to repair. Not only did this soy attract mice to my car but they chewed through the rubber garage door trim to get to it. Husbands Ford pickup next to my car is just fine.
My 2008 Highlander had the wiring harness chewed by rats $5800.00 bill. Not running now because it’s been chewed again. My husband’s 2015 Tacoma just came out of the shop with wiring harness being chewed also. When is Toyota going to address this issue. We aren’t made out of many to keep replacing all these chewed wires.
My 2016 Toyota RAV4 has been in the shop three times for rodents chewing on the speed sensor harness, dash lights, and ABS . First time dealership charged me $6000.00 , second time it was $980.00, the third time I don’t know yet. It will go in the shop next week. Car rental expense is added to this problem. Toyota needs to recall and replace soybean wiring harnessing.
My 2023 toyota 4runner just had a mouse chew through harness. How can Toyota to continue to make a harness with a known issue
I have a 2019 Toyota Camry Le and my wire hardness has been damaged twice due to rodents chewing the wires
A couple of weeks ago, my Toyota 4Runner had it’s wiring harness chewed up by rodents. Toyota dealership estimated $9500 to fix it. Insurance covered most of it (minus deductible). The dealership gave me a 4Runner loaner and after a week THAT vehicle had its wiring chewed up. So it’s a big problem.
My 2017 RAV 4 was damaged by rats eating wires and plastic. I had it fixed by the Toyota dealership for an approximately $4500.00. I had to rent a car for one week, which wasn’t covered by Farmers Insurance. If this class-action suit happens I hope my case will be included. As others here have stated, I will not be buying a Toyota ever again.
My 2020 Tacoma had a check engine light come on. Took it to local Toyota dealer and they found a rat had chewed the wires to one of the camshaft position sensors. They wanted over 10k to replace the engine wiring harness. I also found out that the rat used some of the insulation from the underside of the intake cover to make a nest on top of the engine. So not only is the wire tasty but Toyota provides them with readily available nesting material.
My 2013 Toyota 4runner was chewed through by mice. My friends 2015 4runner was also chewed by mice. Very expensive repairs.
2019 toyota Camry SE, rodents have chewed the wiring harness twice. its always the same wire both times second injector from the left (looking at the motor) this will be the third time i replace it. Part Number 82125-06080 Wire, Engine, No.5.