Toyota class action lawsuit overview:
- Who: Plaintiff James LeBoutheller filed a class action lawsuit against Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc., Toyota Motor North America Inc. and Toyota Motor Corporation.
- Why: LeBoutheller claims Toyota knowingly sold and leased vehicles with defective UA80 eight-speed automatic transmissions.
- Where: The Toyota class action lawsuit was filed in Texas federal court.
A new class action lawsuit alleges Toyota knowingly sold and leased vehicles equipped with defective UA80 eight-speed automatic transmissions that are prone to premature failure and unsafe driving behavior.
LeBoutheller claims he purchased a new 2020 Toyota Camry XSE and later experienced abnormal transmission noise. He says Toyota agreed to provide a replacement transmission but refused to cover installation costs, allegedly leaving LeBoutheller with thousands of dollars in expenses.
According to the complaint, Toyota was aware for years that the transmission assembly and related software contained defects but failed to disclose those issues to consumers, continued marketing the vehicles as reliable and refused to provide adequate repairs once problems emerged.
The class action lawsuit claims consumers overpaid for vehicles that lost value and required costly transmission replacements.
LeBoutheller argues two interrelated defects affect the transmission assembly. The first is a mechanical defect that causes excess heat buildup inside the transmission, burning transmission fluid and accelerating internal wear.
The second alleged defect involves defective software that forces premature upshifts and torque-converter clutch engagement, placing excessive stress on transmission components and causing them to deteriorate faster than expected.
“The UA80 transmissions have been known to be an issue for several years,” the Toyota class action lawsuit says, adding that Toyota nevertheless “continue[d] to market and advertise that their vehicles and Transmission Assemblies are safe.”
The class action lawsuit asserts Toyota knew the defective transmission would reduce vehicle longevity and resale value but failed to warn buyers before purchase.
Toyota class action says automaker ignored years of warnings
The Toyota class action lawsuit alleges the automaker ignored years of internal data, consumer complaints, dealership reports and government safety submissions warning that UA80 transmissions were failing prematurely.
According to the complaint, Toyota had known of the defect through pre-sale durability testing, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration complaints and numerous technical service bulletins addressing transmission noise, harsh shifting and failure.
Despite this knowledge, the class action lawsuit claims Toyota failed to issue a recall, offer a permanent fix or reimburse consumers for repair costs. The complaint further alleges Toyota prioritized fuel efficiency over durability by adopting software programming that accelerated transmission wear.
Instead, LeBoutheller alleges Toyota routinely told owners their vehicles were operating as intended or denied warranty coverage once vehicles exceeded mileage limits, even when problems were reported earlier.
LeBoutheller seeks to represent a nationwide class of current and former owners and lessees of affected Toyota and Lexus vehicles, as well as an alternative Nevada subclass.
He demands a jury trial and seeks damages, restitution, injunctive relief and an order requiring Toyota to repair, recall or replace defective transmissions.
A class action lawsuit filed in early this year alleges Toyota failed to disclose to consumers who purchased or leased model year 2024 Toyota Corolla vehicles.
Do you believe Toyota concealed known transmission defects from consumers? Let us know in the comments.
The plaintiff is represented by Bruce W. Steckler and Austin P. Smith of Steckler Wayne & Love PLLC and Stephen R. Basser and Samuel M. Ward of Barrack, Rodos & Bacine.
The Toyota class action lawsuit is LeBoutheller v. Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc., et al., Case No. 4:25-cv-01389, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.
Don’t Miss Out!
Check out our list of Class Action Lawsuits and Class Action Settlements you may qualify to join!
Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:
- Danone recalls So Delicious frozen dessert over foreign material concerns
- Class action claims Avène products falsely advertised as ‘0% preservative’
- Class action claims Zappos secretly shared shoppers’ data with Meta without consent
- Class action alleges True Religion’s sitewide ‘limited-time’ sales never end
Legal help for mental harm caused by social media addiction in young users
February 20, 2026 | social media
133 thoughts onClass action alleges Toyota sold vehicles with defective UA80 transmissions
My 2019 toyota camry, needs a new transmission. I have less than 100k
Purchased my 2020 tacoma trd sport as a CPO 100k/7yr power train warranty 38k i paid cash for this truck first vehicle ive ever done that to. Truck had 22k miles i Noticed a slight shudder at low rpm. Took the vehicle back in explained what was going on was told by the service tech its normal that it was a toyota thing I just needed to adapt to driving it. So I did as told and it gradually got worse around 36k miles I took it back in explained once again my case they said thats normal for those trucks just apply more fuel and kinda laughed it off. Around 43k miles I had enough took it back in and got a little heated was charged Around $300 for a transmission flush and fill was told it was 4.5q low from factory but it should be good to go so for a few months to about 45k miles it drove fine no problems then it started jerking and shuddering worse then it ever had with my work schedule and life i kept driving the vehicle to the point I couldn’t handle it any more I scheduled a vacation day at work and took the truck back to the dealer. This point it had 98k 700 miles they came out to tell me the fluid was burnt torque converter was going out and it needed a new transmission they had contacted warranty department and they agreed to replace the transmission under warranty with a new one but there is 158 on back order and there is no time frame on when it would be in. They did the famous software update and told me to drive the vehicle till it arrived. I asked what to do if the new transmission starts having those same problems and I was met with the answer to simply have the fluid flushed every 40k miles instead of 60 to 80k miles. At this point id rather be paid back out for the vehicle and purchase another brand!
Toyota like a lot of car companies started playing the low maintenance game extended oil changes and using synthetics in other fluid systems like transmissions claiming maintenance free. Most people ignore changing fluids anyway like transmission fluids until they experience issues. These days that might be too late. I have a 2021 Rav4 AWD and have changed the fluid in the transmission. Toyota under standard recommended service interval recommends no trans fluid changes. Unless you use an extreme condition. Even with synthetic oils transmissions produce a lot of heat and the cooling design may not be ideal either. Get the fluid changed at least every 60k and in hotter climates consider a better cooling system for transmission.
My 2019 with 92,000 miles . Althea transmission started slipping. Sure enough in bew a replacement transmission. The extended warranty covers a uses tranny with 66,0000 miles. I need help to know my next step
In mid-January 2026, I began noticing a faint whining sound while driving my 2018 Toyota Camry XLE. The car currently has 81,000 miles. After further evaluation, I was convinced it was most likely a failing transmission.
I purchased this vehicle in 2020 from Big Two Toyota in Chandler, Arizona, with approximately 14,000 miles. Since purchase, I have consistently serviced the vehicle every 5,000 miles and have routinely accepted and completed recommended maintenance and repairs at the Toyota dealership. At no time during routine maintenance visits was I notified of any transmission concerns, known issues with this model, or preventative measures that could have been taken to avoid a failure.
When I brought the vehicle in regarding the transmission issue in January 2026, I was quoted approximately $7,500 for repair. I was also informed that I was approximately 6,000 miles over my extended warranty coverage. I later learned that extended warranties were commonly placed on transmissions in these models, allegedly due to known failure patterns. However, at no point was I proactively notified of any risk or advised to monitor or service the transmission to prevent failure.
Immediately following the repair estimate, I contacted Toyota Corporate to request Goodwill Assistance. My request was denied on the basis that the vehicle was “too old,” despite my consistent maintenance history and brand loyalty.
I then requested an internal review through the dealership. After review, the dealership agreed to cover half of the transmission cost. My out-of-pocket expense was approximately $5,500 for what I was told would be a rebuilt transmission with only a one year warranty.
After authorizing the repair, I followed up three days later to check the repair status. At that time, I was informed that the repair would take over three months due to transmission availability and/or rebuild timing.
I requested rental car assistance to allow me to commute to work and transport my children to school. That request was denied. I was told that the dealership would not cover a rental for that length of time and that arranging transportation was my responsibility.
I contacted the general manager and he told me it is safe to drive my car while we wait for the part to arrive and then I don’t need a rental car. This is extremely unsafe!!
Impact
I purchased a Toyota Camry specifically because of Toyota’s reputation for reliability and long-term durability. I have maintained this vehicle responsibly and in good faith.
Instead, I am now:
• Paying $5,500 out of pocket for a rebuilt transmission
• Without reliable transportation for an estimated three months
• Receiving no rental assistance
• Feeling that a known issue was never disclosed or monitored during routine service
Given these circumstances, I feel deeply disappointed and let down by Toyota and the dealership. This experience has significantly impacted my confidence in the brand and will strongly influence my future purchasing decisions.
My 2018 Chr had major transmission problems