Sarah Mirando  |  December 31, 2012

Category: Consumer News

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Toyota acceleration settlementUPDATE: Judge approves Toyota Unintended Acceleration Class Action Lawsuit Settlement.

Toyota Motor Corp. has agreed to pay more than $1 billion to settle a bevy of class action lawsuits filed after Toyota initiated a series of recalls over unintended acceleration in 2009 and 2010. An estimated 16 million Toyota, Lexus and Scion vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the class action lawsuit settlement. It is reportedly the largest in U.S. history involving automobile defects.

Toyota owners sued the automaker following a massive recall of millions of vehicles due to a dangerous defect that caused some vehicles to experience “sudden unexpected acceleration.” Owners alleged their car and truck values plummeted following the recalls.

The cases were consolidated in 2010 as In Re: Toyota Motor Corp. Unintended Acceleration Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation.

The proposed deal was filed Wednesday and received preliminary approval from U.S. District Judge James Selna on Friday. It does not cover claims involving injury or death; the first trial involving those lawsuits is scheduled for February.

Under the Toyota economic loss class action settlement, Toyota will offer cash payments to eligible owners who sold vehicles or turned in leased vehicles between September 2009 and December 2010. Nearly 16 million current owners will receive supplemental warranty coverage for certain vehicle components. Toyota will also retrofit about 3.2 million vehicles with a brake override system designed to ensure the car stops when the brakes are applied, even if the accelerator pedal is pushed down.

The Toyota acceleration class action lawsuit settlement will also establish additional driver education programs and fund new research into advanced safety technologies.

“In keeping with our core principles, we have structured this agreement in ways that work to put our customers first and demonstrate that they can count on Toyota to stand behind our vehicles,” said Toyota vice president and general counsel Christopher Reynolds.

Plaintiffs’ attorneys spent two years deposing Toyota employees, going over thousands of documents and reviewing software code.

“We are extraordinarily proud of how we were able to represent the interests of Toyota owners, and believe this settlement is both comprehensive in its scope and fair in compensation,” said Steve Berman, a lawyer representing Toyota owners.

Details on how to file a claim for the Toyota Unintended Acceleration Class Action Lawsuit Settlement are not yet available. Current and former Toyota owners are expected to receive a Settlement Notice in coming months.

Keep checking Top Class Actions for up-to-date information on the Toyota economic loss settlement, or sign up for our free weekly newsletter to get these updates delivered to your inbox. More information is also available at www.ToyotaELSettlement.com.

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11 thoughts on$1 Billion Toyota Unintended Acceleration Class Action Settlement Preliminarily Approved

  1. betty darrisaw says:

    i have a 2007 lexus and i would like to be included in the lawsuit

  2. Deonne Paul says:

    Today, I received a postcard with claim # and pin from ToyotaELsettlement.com because my Scion was identified as having the defect.
    After entering claim # and pin, I received a confirmation of settlement eligibility and and was awarded $125.00. The car is totaled, my daughter wa driving, but not on policy, so no insurance coverage. But lucky for me, Toyota says because I still OWN the vehicle, I get the $125.
    Thanks Toyota!!!

  3. Lagara says:

    In 2008 my ES 300 I was in a bad accident because of the acclerator wires and brakes! I almost got killed

  4. Anna Dillingham says:

    Problem with brakes when applied pressure to stop, causing unintended accerleration at a high speed, and drove through a block wall. Vehicle was determined to be a total loss.

  5. Anna Dillingham says:

    I had a frightening accident with my Lexus ES 330, brakes malfunctioned, and caused unintended acceleration at a high speed, drove through block wall. Vehicle was determined a total loss.

  6. tanya benoudiz says:

    iwould like to be included in the lawsuit

  7. tanya benoudiz says:

    i had a problem with a gas pedal the dealership did fix it ,but it very stressful.Iwuold like to be included inthe lawsuit.Thank you.

  8. tanya benoudiz says:

    i would like to be included in the lwasuit

  9. Sardev Sidhu says:

    Not only acceleration issues, they have break problems too. Called, called after changing, with in an year by the advise of Toyota service dealer.
    Changed tires with less than 33,000 miles.
    I bought as it is interst free buying in 2010.a lot of issues, tired of calling. No help, and bad customer service.
    I paid the full amount very early, though there is no interest.
    called several times, no response. It is very strssful.

  10. Melinda says:

    I would like to be included in the lawsuit.

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