Toyota coolant bypass valves class action lawsuit overview:
- Who: Geri Barrientos and Michael Foerst filed a class action lawsuit against Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A Inc., Toyota Motor Corporation and Toyota Motor North America Inc.
- Why: Barrientos and Foerst claim Toyota failed to disclose a coolant bypass valve defect affecting its model year 2019-2023 RAV4 and Corolla vehicles.
- Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in California federal court.
Toyota failed to disclose that its model year 2019-2023 RAV4 and Corolla vehicles contain defective coolant bypass valves that fail prematurely, a new class action lawsuit alleges.
Plaintiffs Geri Barrientos and Michael Foerst’s class action lawsuit claims Toyota “actively concealed material facts about the defect from consumers, including, among other things, that the vehicles were prone to the defect and require costly fixes to repair.
“At all relevant times, Defendants knew, or through the exercise of reasonable care had reason to know, that the coolant bypass valves in the Class Vehicles were defective and that the existence of this Defect would materially affect Plaintiffs and the Class’s … decision to purchase the Class Vehicles,” the Toyota class action says.
Barrientos and Foerst want to represent a nationwide class and Florida and California subclasses of consumers who bought or leased a model year 2019-2023 Toyota RAV4 or Corolla vehicle.
Toyota coolant bypass valves can’t be repaired by automaker, class action claims
Barrientos and Foerst argue Toyota is unable or unwilling to “adequately repair” the Corolla and RAV4 vehicles when the alleged coolant bypass valve defect manifests, despite allegedly being obligated to by warranty.
“Despite the existence of the Warranties, Toyota failed to inform Plaintiffs and Class Members of the Defect and failed to adequately repair the Defect,” the Toyota class action says.
Barrientos and Foerst claim Toyota is guilty of breach of express warranty and breach of implied warranty of merchantability, fraudulent concealment and unjust enrichment, and of violating the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, and California’s Unfair Competition Law, Consumers Legal Remedies Act and Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act.
The plaintiffs demand a jury trial and request declaratory and injunctive relief and an award of punitive damages for themselves and all class members.
A consumer filed a separate class action lawsuit against Toyota earlier this year over claims the automaker falsely advertises the value of its prepaid ToyotaCare Plus maintenance plan.
Have you purchased or leased a model year 2019-2023 Toyota RAV4 or Corolla vehicle? Let us know in the comments.
The plaintiffs are represented by Alison M. Bernal of Nye, Stirling, Hale, Miller & Sweet, LLP and Matthew D. Schelkopf and Joseph B. Kenney of Sauder Schelkopf.
The Toyota coolant bypass valves class action lawsuit is Barrientos, et al. v. Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., et al., Case No. 4:21-cv-06770, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
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221 thoughts onToyota class action alleges some vehicles contain defective coolant bypass valves
2019 Toyota RAV4 XLE AWL 30,000 Miles, the engine maintenance required notification displayed, as a result coolant bypass valve has to be replaced. Per dealership informed me not to drive the vehicle long distance as the engine may overheat. Please add me to the lawsuit
2020 toyota rav4 with the same issue. Add me to lawsuit.
My 2021 RAV4 with 64k is in service as I type this for this issue & they aren’t sure my extended warranty I paid for up to 120,00 miles or 7 yrs will accept claim. If not they said it will be approx $900. Please add me to the lawsuit.
My 2020 rav 4 has 48k miles on it and is has this issue. Dealer quoted me $900 to fix. Please add me to the lawsuit
My 2020 RAV4, with 52,000 miles, had an engine maintenance warning. Toyota Tustin charged me $198.00 for a diagnostic fee and confirmed that the coolant bypass valve failed. Please add me to the lawsuit.
2020 Rav 4 with the same issue. I was told that this was a known issue and it would around $700+.
My 2020 rav4 eith 49k has the same issue. This is Toyota’s responsibility for knowing and not letting the customers know. This should be a Toyota recall. Please keep me posted.
My 2020 Corolla Se has the engine maintenance required notification. Dealer is asking $800-$900 to repair. Please add me to the lawsuit
2019 Toyota Corollla Hatchback XSE – 51k miles had a engine maintenance warning. Toyota Vallejo charged me $315.00 for a diagnostic fee. Toyota Vallejo identified that the coolant bypass valve failed. I paid $1089.27 to repair (includes diagnostic fee $315.00). Please include me in the class action suit. Parts was $ 170.49 and Labor $903.00 and tax $ 15.78.
My 2020 RAV4 has the engine maintenance required notification. Dealer is asking 700-900. Please add me to the lawsuit