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Certain Toyota Prius vehicles have manufacturing defects and/or design defects that cause their windshields to unexpectedly crack under ordinary driving conditions, a Toyota class action lawsuit alleges.
Plaintiffs William Squires, Jesse Badke, Ahmed Khalil, Dominick Viscardi and Michelle Nidever filed the Prius windshield defect class action lawsuit last week in Texas federal court on behalf of a proposed Class of current and former owners and lessees of Fourth Generation Model Year 2016-2017 Toyota Prius vehicles.
The plaintiffs also seek to represent a Class of consumers who were denied warranty coverage for the repair or replacement of their Prius vehicles’ windshield within the warranty period.
The named defendants include Toyota Motor Corp., Toyota Motor North America Inc., and Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc.
“The Windshield Defect can manifest at any time, while parked or operating at highway speeds, and requires windshield replacement in order to ensure Class members can safely operate Class Vehicles,” the Toyota Prius class action lawsuit says.
The plaintiffs claim the alleged Prius windshield defect poses a substantial safety risk because windshields “are designed to contribute heavily to the overall structural integrity of automobiles,” and their structural integrity is “essential to maintaining the structure of the vehicle’s cabin during collision.”
According to the Toyota Prius class action lawsuit, the Prius windshield defect increases the risk of catastrophic injury if the vehicle is involved in a collision, especially if the windshield was already cracked or chipped.
The plaintiffs argue that the Prius windshield defect often starts as a small chip, but eventually grows and spreads to the point that it impairs visibility and affects the structural integrity of the windshield, “exposing vehicle occupants and fellow drivers to a substantial and unreasonable risk of physical harm.”
Additionally, the Prius windshield defect potentially impairs important safety features, such as the vehicles’ Safety Sense package, which includes sensory technology with a pre-collision system, automatic high beams, lane-changing alerts, and other features that require the vehicles’ front cameras to function properly.
“When the Windshield Defect manifests, the resulting chips and cracks may affect the camera’s visibility, line of sight, and perceived orientation, impairing Safety Sense features and increasing the likelihood of an accident,” the Toyota Prius class action lawsuit alleges.
The plaintiffs point to numerous complaints lodged with the NHTSA about the Toyota Prius windshield defect to show that Toyota was aware of the defect but failed to warn consumers about it.
Further, they claim that Toyota tests its vehicles’ durability and other vehicle qualities and should have learned about the Prius windshield defect.
The Toyota Prius class action lawsuit asserts claims for breach of warranty, breach of implied warranty, breach of written warranty under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, and violations of California, Washington and Rhode Island laws.
The plaintiffs are represented by William B. Chaney, Andrew K. York and Jim Moseley of Gray Reed & McGraw LLP; Daniel O. Herrera, John Scheflow and Bryan L. Clobes of Cafferty Clobes Meriwether & Sprengel LLP; and by Joseph G. Sauder, Matthew D. Schelkopf and Joseph B. Kenney of McCune Wright Arevalo LLP.
The Toyota Prius Windshield Defect Class Action Lawsuit is William Squires, et al. v. Toyota Motor Corp., et al., Case No. 4:18-cv-00138, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Sherman Division.
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20 thoughts onToyota Class Action Lawsuit Alleges Prius Windshield Defect
On 2.24.2022 my steadily maintained 2016 Toyota Prius 4 was residing safely in a gated driveway. Under 6hrs in the sun on a 80 degree day I returned to the car to find a large horizontal crack half way through the windshield. This crack has now grown to cut completely through the windshield. I am unsure if I get this repaired if it will happen again and I will be out of getting it corrected by Toyota. I would like to add my case to the lawsuit.
I’m replacing my Winfield second time . Live in Southern California and I go the speed limit I’m cautious of my surroundings and tiny little peddle and it makes a small crack and it expands . This is not some little repair it has to BE REPLACED . I want to be part of this class action lawsuit .
We have a 2014 Prius V with only 40,000 miles, and we’re getting ready to replace the windshield for the 2nd time. As others have noted, small cracks that have appeared grow into much larger cracks, giving rise to safety / structural concerns.
I bought new Prius in September of 2019. Eight months later it spontaneously developed a crack while sitting in my driveway. Never had problems with the windshields with my previous non Toyota vehicles. Very disappointed. Lean?… Bulimic manufacturing is what its called. I would also like to join the lawsuit,
I bought my 2017 Prius new. A month later I had to replace the windshield. Las week a crack appeared again after a small pebble impact. That’s two windshield replacements in 3 years.
I want to get involved too !! Have bought a toyota camry 2019 from leith toyota raleigh and got a crack almost 15inches long after going to the 5000 mile service. This vehicle is just 2 months old!! no impact nothing… the crack just came out of nowhere!
I have an 07 Prius where small almost indiscernible cracks/chips have started appearing in my windshield for no apparent reason.
We have had 3 windshields crack on our 2016 Prius. It is definitely a design flaw.
I would like to join the class action suit concerning my windshield. My 2017 Toyota Prius developed a small crack in the left corner of the windshield. This soon expanded across the whole windshield. There were no weather factors and nothing hit the glass while I was driving. The replacement of the windshield was a number nightmare. Safelight couldn’t get the correct windshield and it had to be special ordered. The whole process took 23 days. I’m angry and would like to join the class action suit.
Daniel Drinan, 164 Coyote, Cathedral City, California 92234
We have a 2016 Prius Touring 4 with the Safety Sense Package. When we took it to the dealer for it’s first 5000 check in – we delivered it with a small crack in the windshield and they gave it back with a crack that went more than halfway across the windshield. How does an oil change crack your windshield? @#$@%$& I contacted the dealer and told them our story and they basically said it wasn’t their fault, of course. I felt like if we replaced it, it would just happen again, so we have been driving around with a cracked windshield for nearly 2 years. Went to see about getting it fixed yesterday for the first time. Came home and googled the 2016 Toyota Prius Windshield and found out about this class action suit. Now I’m not sure what to do. It is expensive to fix, but if we fix it and the whole scenario repeats itself, I would be doubly outraged. What do you have to do to get involved with the Class Action Suit?