Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.
Toyota has been hit with a class action lawsuit by vehicle owners who claim that the 2019 and 2020 RAV4 Hybrids have defective fuel tank systems.
The plaintiffs say that Toyota advertises the fuel tank in RAV4 Hybrid vehicles as having a capacity of 14.5 gallons, but the tank in these vehicles can only be filled to the nine or 10 gallon mark.
One of the class action plaintiffs, Cole Coleman, says he purchased a new 2019 RAV4 Hybrid for around $31,889. He argues that, based on the defendant’s reported 14.5 gallon fuel tank capacity, he was led to believe that he would have been able to go more than 500 miles on one full tank of gas.
“Some consumers, like Plaintiffs and Class members, are willing to pay more for a hybrid vehicle that offers better gas mileage and is easier on the environment than its gas-only counterpart,” the Toyota class action lawsuit says.
As a result of an alleged defect in his Rav4 Hybrid, Coleman claims that he has to refuel his vehicle more frequently that he would have to if the gas tank didn’t have the defect.
He brought his RAv4 to a local Toyota dealership and was told that there was nothing they could do about the problem until Toyota comes out with a solution, the Toyota class action lawsuit maintains. Coleman alleges that the gas tank in his RAV4 only fills to about eight to 10 gallons, even when the full light indicates that the tank is not full.
The shape of the fuel tank causes the fuel pump to shut off before reaching the purported 14.5 gallons, according to the plaintiffs.
The defect in the fuel tank reduces the total driving distance of the vehicles, the plaintiffs maintain. They state that Toyota advertises that the RAV4 can go 580 miles on a single “full” tank of gas. However, in reality, drivers can only travel 400 miles on a “full” tank, because of the defect in the fuel tank, the Toyota class action lawsuit alleges.
The plaintiffs argue that Toyota has known or should have known about this defect because of numerous complaints by consumers, pre-release testing, and feedback from dealerships.
“Without the superior knowledge Toyota possesses about the defect, unsuspecting consumers continue to purchase the RAV4, expecting to be able to fill their vehicles with 14.5 gallons of fuel and to travel the mileage range Toyota advertises,” the plaintiffs maintain.
The plaintiffs also state that Toyota has not offered an option to fix the fuel tank defect. The Toyota class action plaintiffs claim that if they had known about the defect in the RAV4, they would not have bought the vehicles or would have paid less for them.
The Toyota class action lawsuit notes that Toyota redesigned the fuel tank in the RAV4 in 2019 and, since then, vehicle owners have filed complaints with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reporting that they have not been able to fill the gas tanks on their vehicles.
A similar lawsuit was filed in January of this year by RAV4 owners who claim that they were unable to fully fill their gas tanks to the 14.5 gallon mark.
Have you encountered a problem with the gas tank in your RAV4? Leave a message in the comments section below.
The plaintiffs are represented by Lesley E. Weaver, Angelica M. Ornelas, and Joshua S. Samra of Bleichmar Fonti & Auld and Michael K. Yarnoff of Kehoe Law Firm PC.
The Toyota RAV4 Gas Tank Class Action Lawsuit is Coleman, et al. v. Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc., Case No. 3:20-cv-01663, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
ATTORNEY ADVERTISING
Top Class Actions is a Proud Member of the American Bar Association
LEGAL INFORMATION IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE
Top Class Actions Legal Statement
©2008 – 2024 Top Class Actions® LLC
Various Trademarks held by their respective owners
This website is not intended for viewing or usage by European Union citizens.
48 thoughts onToyota Class Action Says Fuel Tanks Are Defective
We own a 2020 RAV4 hybrid and have only filled the tank 3 times each time it only takes 9-10 gallons. Talked to Toyota and to Doxon Toyota what a run around Doxon Toyota the sales manager claimed he never heard about any such problem and I know for a fact they had revived notification from Toyota on November 19 2019 just before we took delivery at the end of November
Update from Toyota I recited a email that they were looking into buying my car back when I did not even request that what a bunch of robots it just goes to show you how well they listen or even care about their customers
I have a 2019 Rav4 Hybrid XLE with the same problem. I opened a case with Toyota and a complaint with the NHTSA, brought it to the dealer and was told they had no knowledge of a problem and no fix. Escalated the case within Toyota and was told they are aware of an issue but no ETA on a fix. Haven’t heard back in over 4 months. I specifically purchased a hybrid for the gas mileage and I am at the gas pump far too often. Tank won’t fill and I am lucky if I can get it to show 400 miles to empty. Most of the time it tops out at 370. It showed over 500 when I drove it off the lot. Never got close to that again. I would like to be added to the class action.
I have a 2019 Rav4 hybrid and the gas guage never shows as full. Mileage range is in the low 400’s, not the high 500’s that was advertised. Dealer says there is no fix. I have filed a complaint with Toyota but have never heard back from them.
I also have the same issue with filling the tank. I purchased the Rav 4 Limited Hybrid in July, 2019. I noticed the problem the first time I attempted to fill up the tank. Toyota claims 40 overall mpg and I expected 560 to 600 miles per tankful. Has never happened. I have asked Toyota about this problem when I brought the Rav in for service. They have acknowledged the problem but said there is no fix or recall at this time.
I can not fill my 2019 RAV4 HYBRID’s gas tank to the 14.5 gallon capacity and this limits the range to 440 miles instead of 550+ miles between gas fill ups. The Dealer say he can’t do anything until Toyota has a solution. He did a diagnostic test which didn’t prove anything.
I have a 2019 RAV4 that consistently will not allow me to fill the tank.
Sam exact problem, the most I can get in there is about 10 gallons even when empty light is on.
I have a 2019 Hybrid Toyota RAV4 and I also cannot get more than Eight or Nine gallons into the gas tank. Brought to dealer and initially told I wasn’t pumping it right. The second time I brought it in, they acknowledged their was a problem and I haven’t heard from them since. One person at the dealer told me there was a four gallon reserve for emergencies. I haven’t heard about a solution yet.
Not only has the problem not been solved but the dealer tried making me feel stupid insinuating I don’t know how to pump gas. Another dealer ignored my question all together. There math is not “adding up”
Same issue as above. Not sure what I can do to be apart of this tho. Have taken car to Toyota and was told they are “working on a solution”. Please let us know what else we can do! 2019 RAV4 hybrid