Toyota class action lawsuit overview:
- Who: Plaintiff Michael Jaffe is suing Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. and Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Inc.
- Why: Jaffe claims Toyota continued to sell Corolla and Camry hybrids with a dangerous defect days before issuing a recall.
- Where: The Toyota class action lawsuit was removed to Illinois federal court.
AA new class action lawsuit accuses Toyota of selling Corolla and Camry hybrids with a dangerous defect that exposes drivers, occupants and passengers in other cars to bodily harm, death, crash and auto damage.
Plaintiff Michael Jaffe filed the class action lawsuit against Toyota in Illinois state court on Nov. 4, alleging violations of state consumer laws.
Jaffe claims he purchased a new 2026 Toyota Camry in December 2025, only to have it become subject to a recall six days later, leaving him unable to use the vehicle until August 2026.
He argues Toyota knew about the defect before he bought his vehicle but did not disclose it, allowing dealers to sell cars that were soon to be recalled.
The plaintiff claims his car languished on a Toyota dealership parking lot for nearly six months before Toyota attempted a repair, depriving him of the enjoyment of his new car.
Toyota hybrid inverter recall allegedly left customers in limbo for months
The class action lawsuit alleges Toyota sold the affected Camry and Corolla Cross Hybrid vehicles from 2025 to 2026.
The lawsuit argues the hybrid inverter, a key component that converts power from the battery to the electric motor, was improperly torqued during manufacturing, potentially leading to the bolt detaching and causing the car to lose power, crash, short-circuit or catch fire.
Jaffe claims Toyota knew about the defect as early as November 2025 but continued to sell the affected vehicles without disclosure until a recall was issued on Dec. 16, 2025.
The recall, affecting 55,405 vehicles, was prompted by reports of vehicles failing to start due to the loose bolt, he claims. Toyota’s initial recall notice provided no immediate remedy, and a fix was not available until June 2026, more than six months after the recall was announced, the class action lawsuit claims.
Jaffe says he was forced to use a loaner vehicle during this time, and his car’s value was diminished due to sitting idle on a dealer’s lot, leading to potential damage from weather and lack of use.
He is suing for violations of state consumer laws and seeks certification of the Toyota class action lawsuit, damages, fees, costs and a jury trial.
In October, Toyota recalled more than 228,000 Sienna hybrids due to a defect in the second-row seat backs that could potentially increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Were you affected by the Toyota Corolla and Camry hybrid recall? Let us know in the comments.
The plaintiff is represented by Ilan Chorowsky and Mark Bulgarelli of Fairbridge Law LLC.
The Toyota class action lawsuit is Jaffe v. Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc., et al., Case No. 1:26-cv-13668, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
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