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Toyota Highlander Fuel Tank Defect Class Action Lawsuit Overview:
- Who: Samuel J. and Belinda A. Prince filed a class action lawsuit against Toyota Motor Sales, USA.
- Why: The Princes claim Toyota fails to disclose that the fuel tanks in its 2020-2021 Toyota Highlander vehicles are defective.
- Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in New Jersey federal court.
Toyota sells model year 2020-2021 Toyota Highlander vehicles with defective fuel tanks that can’t be filled to their advertised capacity, a new class action lawsuit alleges.
Plaintiffs Samuel J. and Belinda A. Prince claim the alleged fuel tank defect increases emissions, alters the vehicle’s promised driving range and increases risk of overflow while gassing up.
Toyota fails to disclose the alleged fuel tank defect to consumers prior to them purchasing the vehicles, the class action lawsuit alleges.
The Princes claim that, despite the 2020-2021 Toyota Highlander vehicles having an advertised fuel tank capacity of 17.1 gallons, gas pumps will automatically shut off at between 12 to 14 gallons when filling up an empty tank.
Toyota has acknowledged that only approximately 14.2 gallons of the fuel tank are usable even though the fuel tanks technically have a capacity of 17.1 gallons, according to the class action lawsuit.
“Consumers can attempt to force the tank to accept more fuel by slowly adding gas after the automatic shut-off has been triggered, but many have reported gas then spilling out of the vehicle well before the tank has actually been filled to the advertised capacity of 17.1 gallons,” the class action lawsuit states.
Toyota Highlanders Don’t Reach Promised 615 Miles, Class Action Says
The Princes claim the alleged fuel tank defect causes the Toyota Highlander vehicles to fall below their advertised driving range of 615 miles on a full tank.
Further, they argue Toyota continues to advertise that the vehicles have a 17.1 gallon fuel tank capacity despite knowing that not all of the space is usable.
The Princes claim Toyota is guilty of breach of express warranty and breach of implied warranty of merchantability, and in violation of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act.
They want to represent a New Jersey class of consumers who purchased or leased a 2020-2021 Toyota Highlander equipped with a hybrid powertrain.
Plaintiffs are demanding a jury trial and requesting declaratory relief along with compensatory, statutory and exemplary damages for themselves and all class members.
A similar class action lawsuit was filed last June by consumers in California who claim Toyota failed to disclose that the fuel systems in its 2020-2021 Toyota Highlander vehicles are defective.
Have you purchased or leased a model year 2020-21 Toyota Highlander? Let us know in the comments!
The plaintiffs are represented by Simon B. Paris and Patrick Howard of Saltz Mongeluzzi & Bendesky, PC, and Daniel E. Gustafson, David M. Goodwin and Ling S. Wang of Gustafson Gluek PLLC.
The Toyota Highlander Fuel Tank Defect Class Action Lawsuit is Prince, et al., v. Toyota Motor Sales, USA, et al., Case No. 2:22-cv-01682, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
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114 thoughts onToyota Class Action Alleges Highlander Fuel Tanks Don’t Fill All The Way
I purchased my 2021 Highlander Hybrid in January and knew immediately that something was wrong with the gas tank. Will only hold at most 15 gallons. I do get 33-36 mpg because I learned to drive the car differently, but I’m furious about not getting the 2 extra gallons per fill up. Add my name.
Same problem tank shuts off at 12 to 14 gallons can’t get the mileage toyota claims Toyota says not to top iff the tank but i drive this car to Florida and when a car only takes 12 gallons and we tow a trike on a trailer so i have to make a lot of unnecessary stops. Not a happy customer
2020 highlander hybrid with the same issue. Noticed at my first fill up.
I just got my car 2 weeks ago same issue. Full tank only can travel 600km istead 900km as dealer said.
just bought a 2022 toyota Highlander. Same freakin’ problem, miles to empty is way off as well, Was told by a service person it takes about 9 fill ups befreo gas numbers are transitioned.
2021 Highlander L. Never get over 18.6 mpg. Full tank only holds 14 gallons. 296 miles on a full tank of gas. Please add my info too!
Add me please. 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. Will only hold about 13 gals. Very annoying.
Same here in North Carolina. Purchased a 2020 and can’t put more than 13 gallons in.
Recently purchased 2022 Highlander XLE, 13 gal, 325 miles till empty. Where can I join?
Have a highlander on order
2022 will look for this problem!!
Same here. Have never been able to fill as advertised
Same issue with the 2021 Highlander XLE in NJ