Toyota Sienna minivan class action lawsuit overview:
- Who: A federal judge largely denied a motion to dismiss filed by Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc. and Toyota Motor North America Inc.
- Why: The judge found the plaintiffs in the case plausibly claimed Toyota failed to repair defective second-row seat rails within a reasonable time.
- Where: The class action lawsuit is pending in California federal court.
A California federal judge has largely denied Toyota’s motion to dismiss claims it failed to timely repair defective second-row seat rails in the 2025 Toyota Sienna minivan.
Five consumers from five states, led by plaintiff Adam Hamblin, filed the Toyota class action lawsuit in April, claiming a welding defect increases the risk of injury in a collision.
According to the court order, Toyota’s internal testing in the summer of 2025 found seat rail welds that were not fully penetrated. As a result, the seats could lose structural integrity in certain high-speed crashes.
Toyota issued a safety recall report in October 2025 and advised owners not to use the second-row seats or child restraints while driving.
The plaintiffs claim Toyota had not repaired a single vehicle when they sued on April 1. They also allege its loaner vehicles lacked the Sienna’s features or seating capacity. Each owner says they bought the minivan for its seating capacity.
U.S. District Judge Hernán D. Vera ruled that the plaintiffs plausibly claimed Toyota’s repair-only warranty failed. He cited allegations that Toyota took more than five months to begin repairs and required owners to leave their vehicles unattended at dealerships.
“That is more than enough to adequately plead that the 2025 Toyota Sienna warranty failed of its essential purpose by not providing the repair or replacement of the vehicle within a reasonable time,” the order says.
Toyota class action lawsuit moves ahead despite recall defense
According to a Law360 report, Toyota argued a supplier may have improperly welded the seat rails in some 2025 Sienna hybrids. The company said the welds met federal safety standards but fell short of its internal engineering requirements. Toyota also said it voluntarily recalled the vehicles, replaced seats for free and offered loaner cars, according to the report.
Judge Vera declined to weigh whether Toyota’s repair timeline was reasonable, noting the question is typically one for a jury.
He also dismissed the unjust enrichment claim because the plaintiffs cannot pursue it while also arguing a written warranty governs the dispute. He allowed the plaintiffs to amend one owner’s Ohio warranty claim.
The five plaintiffs want to represent a class of individuals who purchased or leased a Toyota Sienna minivan equipped with defectively manufactured second-row seat rails sold and warranted by Toyota.
Do you own a 2025 Toyota Sienna minivan affected by the seat rail recall? Let us know in the comments.
The plaintiffs are represented by Trinette Gragirena Kent and Stephen F. Taylor of Lemberg Law LLC.
The Toyota class action lawsuit is Hamblin, et al. v. Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc., et al., Case No. 2:26-cv-03458, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
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:
- Crate & Barrel faces class action alleging sales emails violate Washington’s CEMA
- Class action lawsuit claims Walmart sells underweight Great Value shrimp with ice glaze
- Starbucks faces class action lawsuit over allegedly unlawful sugar-free claims
- Four California fashion retailers hit with TCPA class action lawsuits
