Toyota Breach of Warranty Class Action Claims Defective RAV4 Batteries

Toyota sold its popular SUV, the RAV4, equipped with defective batteries for model years 2013 through 2018, according to a Michigan woman who lodged a class action lawsuit against the carmaker yesterday. 

Lead plaintiff Juliet Murphy says in her nationwide class action that she leased a 2015 RAV4 that same year and went on to purchase the vehicle in 2018. Murphy claims that after she had some regular servicing done to her vehicle in 2020, she began experiencing problems with her RAV4 due to excessive corrosion of the battery and terminals, resulting in the replacement of the battery. 

Murphy alleges that the problems she experienced with her RAV4 were due to a battery defect that Toyota failed to disclose. 

“At no time prior to the replacement of the battery, which was performed at Plaintiff’s expense, had Toyota informed Plaintiff of the risk of catastrophic failure of the battery, leading the automobile to lose electrical power, vehicle stalling, and potentially a fire originating in the engine compartment, in her vehicle,” alleges the lawsuit. 

The class action lawsuit points out that Toyota has not issued a recall on the RAV4 vehicles with the allegedly defective batteries. Murphy says she is concerned and even fearful of the battery system in her vehicle. 

“Had Plaintiff Murphy known of the Battery Defect at the time she leased, and later purchased, the Vehicle she would not have leased or purchased it or would have paid substantially less for it,” states her lawsuit. 

If you own a vehicle that’s been affected by a safety defect that was not part of a recall, you may be able to join a free class action lawsuit investigation. 

This class action lawsuit cites a recent investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration into the alleged RAV4 battery defect, noting that the agency has also issued an early warning about the problem. Murphy claims that, prior to the NHTSA investigation, Toyota was aware of consumer complaints about RAV4’s stalling, overheating, and experiencing other issues — all related to the alleged defect. 

The class action lawsuit accuses the carmaker of breach of warranty and for violations of Michigan consumer protection laws. Murphy hopes to recoup damages on behalf of a nationwide class and Michigan subclass. 

Do you own or lease a 2013-2018 Toyota RAV4? Are you concerned about the alleged battery defect? Let us know in the comments below!

The lead plaintiff, Juliet Murphy, and proposed Class Members are represented by Bruce W. Steckler, L. Kirstine Rogers, Austin P. Smith and Paul D. Stickney of Steckler Wayne Cochran Cherry PLLC, Kimberly A. Justice, Jonathan M. Jagher and Douglas A. Millen of Freed Kanner London & Lillen LLC, Peter A. Muhic of LeVan Muhic Stapelton LLC, Katerina Carroll and Edwin J. Kilpela of Carlson Lynch, LLP, and Richard D. McCune, David C. Wright, Steven A. Haskins and Mark I. Richards of McCune Wright Arevalo, LLP.

The Toyota RAV4 Battery Defect Class Action Lawsuit is Juliet Murphy v. Toyota Motor Corporation, et al., Case No. 4:21-cv-00178, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas Sherman Division.

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