Toyota Class Action Lawsuit Alleges RAV4 Fuel Tank Defect

A Toyota driver has filed a class action lawsuit claiming that RAV4 Hybrid vehicles possess a defect that prevents their fuel tanks from being filled to capacity.

The Toyota hybrid class action lawsuit was filed by Ken Ly who says he experienced the defect almost immediately after purchasing his RAV4 Hybrid.

Ly claims that the first time he tried to fill his tank with fuel, he noticed that despite having a 14.5 gallon tank, he was unable to fill it with more than 10 gallons of gas.

Ly states that he took the vehicle to Toyota twice for diagnosis and repair, but this effort was unsuccessful.

The RAV4 tank defect class action lawsuit explains that Toyota began selling the vehicles in 1996 as a cross-over, and since then, the vehicle has become Toyota’s best-selling vehicle in the Untied States.

Toyota began marketing the fifth generation of the vehicle in 2018, which included the 2019 model-year cars. Allegedly, this generation included hybrids, which were offered in four grades — LE, HV, XLE HV, XSE HV and Limited HV.

According to the Toyota gas tank defect class action, several design changes were made in the fifth generation of the vehicles, including a change to the fuel tank’s shape.

The Toyota class action lawsuit explains that the vehicles are advertised as possessing a 14.5 gallon fuel tank, that is used to power the vehicles in conjunction with their electric capacity.

Ly argues that consumers are willing to pay more for a hybrid vehicle than they would for a traditional vehicle because the hybrids are more convenient and require fewer trips to the gas station. Additionally, many consumers allegedly favor hybrid vehicles because they are better for the environment. 

The plaintiff says that Toyota advertises the capacity of the RAV4 hybrids to have a long driving range while maintaining fuel economy. Ly points to advertising statements like Toyota’s statement “Go farther. Go faster” with the vehicle. Toyota reportedly says that consumers “might be surprised just how far it takes you.”

However, the Toyota fuel tank class action lawsuit argues that the 2019/2020 RAV4 Hybrid tanks possess a defect that prevents them from holding more than 10 gallons of gas, at which point the pump automatically shuts off.

According to Ly, this inconveniences consumers and requires them to fill the tank more often than they would if the defect were not present.

Allegedly, the problem reduces the convenience of the vehicle, and poses an economic injury because had consumers known the vehicles’ tanks do not work as advertised, they might not have purchased the vehicles or paid as much as they did for them.

The plaintiff argues that he and many other drivers were financially injured by the problem, and seeks damages on behalf of himself and all other similarly affected individuals.

Have you experienced problems with a Toyota gas tank? Share your story in the comment section below.

Ly is represented by Timothy G. Blood, Leslie E. Hurst, and Jennifer L. MacPherson of Blood Hurst & O’Reardon LLP; and Ben Barnow, Erich P. Schork and Anthony L. Parkhill of Barnow and Associates PC.

The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Gas Tank Defect Class Action Lawsuit is Ly v. Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc., et al., Case No. 5:20-cv-00640, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

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