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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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37 thoughts onToyota Class Action Lawsuit Alleges RAV4 Fuel Tank Defect
I purchased a RAV4 hybrid XLE three weeks ago. I am having the same issues with the gas tank. I am only able to put around 8-9 gallons of gas in the tank. I also feel like the gas tank indicator drops down quickly towards empty. I am constantly filling up. I am only averaging 33 MPG which is very disappointing since the gas mileage is one of the main reasons why I purchased a hybrid.
After two weeks of owning the car, I contacted the dealership about the issues I am having. After looking at my vehicle they told me I could either replace my gas tank or wait for Toyota to come up with a fix. They told me it was a 50/50 chance that a new gas tank would fix the problem.
I have the same problem .Took it back to the dealer . We been told that they are waiting for the fix (parts) from Toyota. How long ? How to joint the class action law Sue ?
Yo compre mi rav4 hibrida xle en September del 2019 Miami problems solo le caben 10 galones sue es lo que tengo que hacer???
Same issue here! I purchased a 2020 Rav4 Hybrid XSE a little over a week ago with 27 miles on it….drove it to 353 miles and it said I had less than 40 miles to empty (37 I believe) but yet the tank wouldn’t take anything more than 10 gallons. I asked the manager of the dealer I purchased from and he claimed to have heard nothing about it and had sold the same vehicle to several friends and family members none of whom reported any type of issues to him.
I too have had the same issue with the limit being 10 gallons in any fill up starting from ‘near empty’. I purchased my 2020 RAV4 Hybrid in Cincinnati in January. The salesmen claim no knowledge of the problem. The service manager was aware of the inconsistency. No known fix.
Having the same issues here in Canada – Tank only fills up to 40 Liters, but it is advertised at 55 Liters on the Toyota Website Toyota Rav4 Hybrid Limited 2020 model.
Hi KD. My wife RAV4 has this issue. We are in Ontario. Any Canadian participation in this law suite that you know of.
GB
We bought a 2020 Rav4 Hybird in January in Oregon. Having the same issues with fuel capacity. Fuel rage said I could only to 65 miles to empty and yet to only put in 9.1 gallons of fuel. I contacted T]the dealer where the vehicle was purchased,. I said nothing about the lawsuit. He told me that that was normal, it was leaving room for fuel to expand when it warms up. I CALL BULLSHIT!!!! I purchased this vehicle so I could drive more than 500 miles on a tank. I drive 200 miles a week for work, I was so excited to not have to fill up every week.
I purchased my Toyota Rav 4 hybrid in May 2019. I have never been able to fill the tank. The most I can get is 3/4s of a tank. Toyota dealership in Orleans, MA said it was my fault. I must be pumping gas incorrectly. Obviously I had the tech there try to fill my tank and he was unable to. I have had no satisfaction from Toyota at all. I want to have the problem fixed, be compensated or receive a Rav 4 hybrid that is not defective.
Same issue here in California. Bought mine in October 2019, a 2019 XSE fully loaded. I can only fuel up to about 9 gallons and get around 36-37 mpg, not the 39-40 stated.
My 2019 XSE has the same problem. Can’t fill it up all the way. Annoying. And considering the price tag, it sucks that it doesn’t function properly and I only average 33 mpg on the highway.
We have a 2020 Rav4 Hybrid. We can never put more than 10 gallons in the tank. Toyota knew about this with their 2019 model yet did nothing about it. We were never told about this issue when we bought it. Where’s the integrity?
I bought my LE 2020 Rav$ Hybrid last Friday 02/07/2020. I drive a lot and if I run it at 65 miles per hour, I get close to the advertised MPG of 38, but if I push it to the speed limit in South Dakotas of 80, it drops down to 24. I get it, it is a small engine and it is bitter cold here so that won’t help.
My problem with is that, whenever I fill up, I can only get 10 gallons in the tank. Thats 2/3 of the advertised. I have run this car to the point that the Miles Until Empty show 6 miles, so I know it is damn near empty.
I talked to the dealership – Rudy Luther in Golden Valley, MN – and they claimed they never heard about this issue, although I know a memo was sent from Toyota to all dealerships.
Being the Rav4 the best seller hybrid from Toyota, I would think they have enough people to get this law suit going!