Toyota class action alleges automaker falsely advertises RAV4 Prime vehicles

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Toyota RAV4 Prime class action overview:

• Who: A Toyota Rav4 customer sued the company for false advertising.
• Why: The plaintiff says Toyota sells some RAV4s with stickers that falsely advertise the presence of adaptive headlights.
• Where: The class action was filed in a California federal court.

Toyota sells some RAV4 vehicles with stickers that falsely advertise the presence of adaptive headlights, a new class action lawsuit alleges. 

Plaintiff Sharlene Shu filed the class action lawsuit against Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc. and Toyota Motor North America Inc. on Aug. 12 in a California federal court, alleging violations of state and federal consumer laws. 

This case concerns certain 2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime vehicles, including XSE and XSE Hybrid models sold in the United States, that have Monroney stickers contain false representations, Shu says in the Toyota class action.

She says she purchased a 2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE AWD SUV from a Toyota dealership in January. The vehicle she purchased had a Monroney sticker representing that the vehicle had “optional” equipment, including adaptive headlights, the lawsuit claims.

Adaptive headlights are a valuable safety feature to prospective consumers, Shu says. When they detect a change in the vehicle’s direction, they activate a cornering light and adjust the direction of the beam to illuminate more of the road around corners and curves, according to the Toyota class action.

However, Shu says while the headlights are represented on the Monroney sticker, the cars don’t actually have them. 

Toyota class action claims company offered no refund following misrepresentation

Eight months after her car purchase, Shu says Toyota informed her that the information provided on the Monroney sticker affixed to the RAV4 she purchased was false, and that the vehicle she purchased was not equipped with the Adaptive Headlights. 

“Other than informing her of the misrepresentation, Toyota offered nothing—i.e., no refund or repair,” the Toyota class action alleges. 

Therefore, Toyota’s advertisements concerning the RAV4 vehicles were false, misleading and directed at inducing customers to purchase the RAV4 vehicles at higher prices than they would otherwise have paid, the lawsuit states.

Shu looks to represent anyone who purchased or leased a 2022 Toyota RAV4 vehicle where the Monroney label affixed to the vehicle falsely stated it included adaptive headlights.

She sued for fraud, breach of warranty, negligent misrepresentation and false advertising and seeks certification of the class action, damages, fees, costs and a jury trial.

Meanwhile, Toyota recalled more than 4,000 vehicles, including 2022 gasoline-powered RAV4, RAv4 Hybrid and RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid vehicles and 2023 Subaru Solterra and Toyota bZ4X vehicles, due to airbag and wheel detachment issues.

Are you affected by the allegations in this Toyota class action lawsuit? Let us know in the comments! 

The plaintiff is represented by Seth A. Safier, Marie A. McCrary and Anthony J. Patek of Gutride Safier LLP.

The Toyota class action lawsuit is Sharlene Shu v. Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc., et al., Case No. 3:22-cv-04661, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

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