Widespread Toyota ‘Echo Defect’ Renders Bluetooth Calls Unusable, Claims Class Action

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Toyota ‘Echo Defect’ Class Action Lawsuit Overview:

• Who: A Florida resident has lodged a class action lawsuit against Toyota. 
• Why: A hardware and/or software defect allegedly causes an overwhelming echo, which prevents certain Toyota drivers from using the hands-free system.
• Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in Florida federal court.

Toyota is under fire for continuing production of a hands-free phone system that contains an “echo defect,” despite knowing about the problem since 2007. The defect has made phone calls impossible when using the Bluetooth system, claims a class action lawsuit filed in Florida federal court Friday.

The lead plaintiff, Sharon Menzel, is filing the class action lawsuit on behalf of herself and other Florida Toyota owners and lessees. Vehicles with the Toyota echo defect include Tundras, 4Runners, Avalons, Camrys, Highlanders, Priuses, Siennas, Tacomas, and Yarises. 

Toyota ‘Echo Defect’ A Problem Since 2007

The “echo defect” causes the person on the other end of the call, not the Toyota driver, to hear an echo of their own words. This is not the first Toyota echo defect class action lawsuit to be filed by angry consumers. 

In her lawsuit, Menzel claims the “echo defect” renders phone conversations impossible, meaning the plaintiff and Class Members purchased or leased vehicles with “virtually unusable hands-free phone systems.”

Toyota has known about the “echo defect” since at least 2007, claims the class action lawsuit pointing out that Owner’s Manuals from that year reference the issue. 

Toyota customers have also lodged complaints in online forums and social media, which Toyota’s Chief Information Officer said in 2013 that the company uses to identify any insights. 

Toyota has also issued several “Tech Tips” related to the “echo defect” in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020, acknowledging that it was a persisting issue, alleges the class action lawsuit. 

No Universal Fix In Sight for Toyota Bluetooth ‘Echo Defect’

Toyota has recommended customers mitigate the issue by turning the volume down on the phone, which poses further difficulties for the driver, including distracted driving and being unable to hear the call, points out the plaintiff. 

Certain 2019 Toyota models and all 2020 models were fitted with Apple CarPlay hardware and software, which has been known to eliminate the echo defect, says Menzel. Earlier Toyota models with the defect may be retrofitted with Apple CarPlay if the car owner purchases Apple CarPlay and has it professionally installed out of pocket. 

The class action lawsuit claims that Toyota has violated ethical business practices by leading customers to believe its vehicles were equipped with dependable hands-free systems, failing to fix the defect across these vehicles, and profiting off of the withholding of information about the defect. 

The class action lawsuit demands compensatory damages, a requirement for Toyota to take corrective action regarding the defect, and attorneys’ fees and costs, among other demands

Have you purchased a Toyota vehicle with the Bluetooth echo defect? What was the experience like? Tell us about it in the comments section below!

The plaintiff is represented by Jacob Phillips, Edmund A. Normand, and Amy L. Judkins of Normand PLLC; Mark C. Goldenberg, Thomas P. Rosenfeld, and Kevin P. Green of Goldenberg Heller & Antognoli, P.C.; Richard S. Cornfeld and Daniel S. Levy of the Law Office of Richard S. Cornfeld, LLC; and Mike Arias of Arias Sanguinetti Wang & Torrijos, LLP. 

The Toyota ‘Echo Defect’ Class Action Lawsuit is Menzel v. Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., et al., Case No. 3:21-cv-00781-MMH-PDB, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida Jacksonville Division. 

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