Toyota 4Runner Rust Defect Challenged in New Lawsuit

A South Carolina man has filed a class action lawsuit against Toyota, alleging the company’s 4Runner vehicles have a severe rust defect that could pose a serious danger on the road.

New Toyota 4Runner Rust Class Action Lawsuit

In his class-action lawsuit, plaintiff Gary W. alleges that 4Runners’ frames rust and corrode both prematurely and severely, something the plaintiff maintains is caused by insufficient rust protection, affecting the structural integrity of the vehicles and making them “unsafe to drive and a hazard on the roadways.”

The Toyota 4Runner rust defect may cause a litany of problems including alignment issues, uneven tire wear, unusual noises, shaking, uneven shock, suspension wear and potential structural damage.

According to the lawsuit, in 2005 Gary purchased a new Toyota 4Runner Sport and the SUV has since had significant rust corrosion. Despite Toyota’s previous issues with rust corrosion on other models — including paying more than $3 billion in a previous settlement — the company has refused to replace the frame on Gary’s 4Runner even though it has a “severe and excessive” amount of rust on the undercarriage. The problem with Toyota 4Runner rust specifically were not included in the previous rust defect lawsuit or settlement.

4Runners were also not included in Toyota’s Customer Support Program issued over the rust defect, which only included Tacomas, Sequoias and Tundras that experienced the same issue. By failing to include the 4Runner in this program, Gary claims that Toyota has both endangered its customers and failed to fully address the rust corrosion issue affecting its vehicles.

Gary alleges that Toyota was aware of the rust corrosion defect, but failed to warn consumers. Had he known about the Toyota 4Runner rust defect, Gary says he would either not have purchased the vehicle at all or have paid less for it.

The Toyota 4Runner rust lawsuit was filed on December 6, 2018, in the U.S. District Court for the Charleston Division of the District of South Carolina.

2016 Toyota Rust Defect Settlement

This is not the first time Toyota has been accused of selling vehicles with severe and dangerous rust defects. In March 2015, a class-action lawsuit was filed over  the car maker’s Tacoma, Tundra and Sequoia vehicles alleging inadequate protection from rust. The suit claimed that the major rust and corrosion occurred prematurely and posed a safety hazard. Approximately 1.5 million Toyota trucks were reported to have been affected by the rust and corrosion defect. Toyota agreed to settle the litigation with a $3.4 billion payout.

However, the previous lawsuit—and subsequent settlement agreement—did not include the Toyota 4Runner as an affected model. This new lawsuit seeks to hold Toyota responsible for all of the vehicles affected by this serious defect.

Filing a Toyota 4Runner Rust Lawsuit

If you own a Toyota 4Runner from model year 2005 or newer, and your vehicle has developed rust problems to the undercarriage, you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation. Top Class Actions can connect you with an experienced attorney that can help you determine if you have a claim.

The Toyota 4Runner Rust Lawsuit is Case No. 2:18-cv-03294-RMG, in the U.S. District Court for the Charleston Division of the District of South Carolina.

Join a Free Toyota 4Runner Rust Defect Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you own a Toyota 4Runner that has been impacted by excessive rust on its undercarriage, you may qualify for this Toyota 4Runner class action lawsuit investigation.

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