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Toyota Motor Corporation is facing a class action lawsuit that alleges vermin are attracted to the “organic-based sheathing” used in the wiring of certain Lexus automobiles.
Plaintiffs Melinda Espineli and Mohammad Moghaddam file this class action lawsuit on behalf of themselves and all owners or lessees of any Lexus 2007-2017 RX, GX, ES, and LS models.
They allege that Toyota failed to inform them, and all those who purchased or leased these Lexus vehicles, that the electrical wiring is composed of or insulated with “biodegradable soy-based materials,” and as such, these materials are attracting vermin and rodents that chew through them.
The plaintiffs claim that “Lexus knew or should have known that the use of an organic- based sheathing on vehicle wiring components attracts vermin that cause significant damage to consumers’ vehicles.”
Moreover, the complaint states that “despite this knowledge, Lexus refuses to accept responsibility for the damage and routinely refuses to cover repairs. Instead, it places the onus on vehicle owners and lessees to pay for the repairs and confront potential vehicle malfunction and attendant safety hazards.”
Espineli and Moghaddam say they purchased a new 2017 Lexus RX350 from a dealership in Roseville, Calif. However, while driving, Moghaddam noticed a check engine light and an ABS light flash on. As he was approaching the freeway, Moghaddam says he was unable to speed up or accelerate beyond 20-25 miles per hour.
After visiting the dealership, the next day to discover what may have been happening to his vehicle, the service department allegedly notified him that the damage occurred because of a rodent infestation and that another vehicle had similarly suffered the same issue.
The repair invoice Moghaddam received was for $5,900, but when he requested that the repairs be covered by “Lexus Warranty,” they allegedly refused. The plaintiff asserts that had he known that the vehicles wiring was coated with a soy based material, he would have never purchased the vehicle.
According to the complaint, “Lexus intentionally misrepresented, either affirmatively or by omission, that its vehicles were free from defects, and took no action to adequately warn or remedy the defect, but instead concealed, suppressed, and failed to disclose the potential damage that could be caused by such materials defects.”
Moreover, despite the assertion that Lexus makes in that, “every Lexus is backed by a comprehensive warranty that should give you miles and miles of confidence,” such maintenance and repair information is inaccurate and does not correctly provide detail and information of risks incorporated in these Class vehicles.
Melinda Espineli and Mohammad Moghaddam are represented by William A. Kershaw, Stuart C. Talley, and Ian J. Barlow of Kershaw, Cook & Talley PC.
The Lexus Soy Wiring Class Action Lawsuit is Melinda Espineli and Mohammad Moghaddam v. Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc. and Toyota Motor Corporation., Case No. 2:17-at-00356, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.
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116 thoughts onLexus Class Action Alleges Soy-Based Electrical Wiring Attracts Vermin
I had a 2017 Lexus ES 350 still under warranty, I had several lights on (check engine etc) I took it in to the Lexus dealership and they told me it was not covered under warranty that a rodent had got into my main engine hiring wiring harness (over $6900). they told me to turn it in on my home owners insurance. I had to file a claim and pay $1000 ded. I did, and I got my car back and two DAYS later it happened again! I had four other cars in the driveway and the rodent did hot touch them. I sold the car.
I am now having to repair my 2013 Lexus ES-350 for the third time due to rodent infestation. I am so stressed hoping it will not happen again. The total cost is about 4700 dollars. This is just not fair to the customer.
I have a 2019 Lexus ES 350 and got EPB warning lights, only to learn that rodents had chewed through wires. Had to replace the wires and change cabin filter. Just a week later it happened again. No problem with the other car in the same garage. The advice from mechanics at the lexus dealership – put Irish Spring soap under the hood. They are the ones who told me about the soy coating and said they see it all the time.
Please include me in this lawsuit
My 2018 Lexus RX350L just got a $1000 diagnostic cost not including repairs, parts and labor caused by rodents chewing and destroying the car wires
I was en route for a medical emergency for my wife that the entire dashboard was lit up. I jumped into what i thought was the MOST dependable vehicle in my driveway and i understand that lexus doesnt control rodents or their behaviors but the fact the soy based wiring was used to atrack the rodents in UNCANY and unworthy of lexus name causing major discord and distrust. happened to me on 2018 gx460 which is manufactured in 2017; The wiring harness was destroyed causing thousands. I need Lexus to rectify the situation. This is a huge let down. This is now a known fact and there is NO bulletin, no WARNINGS or RECALLS on the wiring. This has to be addressed.
We have a Lexus 2015 IS350 Rodents have eaten the steering wheel harness 3 times. I have installed 2 devices that emit a light and sound, hooked to the battery. The 3rd time it was only 500.00 damage instead of the 5,796.00 which it was the first two times. insurance paid a lot but still had to pay over 800.00 out of pocket because I had to have two wheel alignments after the first two times.
I’ve had this happen in three storage vehicles at two different addresses. My car is currently in the shop and now the loaner vehicle is throwing all kinds of malfunction signals. This is crazy. My last vehicle had to be totaled!
This just happened to me also. I went out of town, and left my car at my friend’s house. When I got back 2 days later my car had very little power, and engine light out. I had to have it towed to the dealer, and was told it was rodent damage. If I had been informed of what these wires are made of I would have never bought a Lexus.
My car would not start and I had it towed to the Lexus dealer. They found a rodent nest in the battery compartment and water damage to the electronics and the battery. Lexus says they are not liable and the insurance company says they will not cover it because they claim it looks like flood damage. I have owned the car for four years and it was in my driveway or in the garage over that time period.
I have a 1999 Lexus Rx 300 and it is in the shop with the same issues that rodent damage has caused the ABS light and the engine light to stay on, along with me already having to replace the manifold on the muffler and brakes. The Toyota dealer has it and has kept it for almost 2 weeks. They are constantly adding more and more fees. We started a $1670.00 and within 8 days and another diagnostic fee of added $300 since 10/21/22 charge that jumped to $1948.00 within 24 hours, I am at $2300.00. This is unfair and I want to be added to this class action law suit, and I need all of this to be paid in full by Lexus.
I am experiencing the same issues with my 2022 Lexus RX350 and I am getting the same run around with my dealership. They knew about this issue long before I purchased it but failed to advise me of the issue. If I knew this ahead of time I would not have purchased the vehicle.
I just got my Lexus 2008 back from the dealership and it’s funny the only problems they are fixing is rodent damage.
First they had to replace all my electrical wiring and then they had to clean the cabin filter where the mice built a nest. Now it was the blower motor for the ac. There are many other vehicles parked at my house and mine is the only one that it happened too. They also said It was because I had food in there. But in previous owned cars I kept food in there because I travel back and forth. Or hiking trips. I just exclaimed to the dealer is there any way to spray or use anything because for some odd reason the mice only wnat this vehicle, as I stayed have you seen the rodent packs I have thrown in numerous places in my car to keep them away. How do I get involved in the class action.