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
I have a 2020 Toyota RAV4 XLE AWD purchased brand new in Feb. 2020 at a Bay Area Toyota dealership and currently with only 40,500 miles. The Toyota service center just replaced my RAV4’s coolant bypass valve after it started displaying “Engine maintenance required’ in the last few days and it cost me hundreds of dollars for the replacement part and labor. The service center advisor predicted the issue with the coolant bypass valve after I described the warning (with a 70% probability) as he said this is a common issue with my car’s model.
When I described the “Engine Maintenance Required” warning in the car the service advisor said there’s a 70% probability that the issue is with the coolant bypass valve as he said it is a pretty common issue with my car’s model (and indeed it turned out to be the coolant bypass valve).
Corolla 2021 with 33k miles only had it for 3.5 years and now they are telling me I need my coolant bypass valve replaced and it will be close to 800. My car is literally new.
2020 RAV4 with only 50,000 miles and I was just informed by the dealership my coolant bypass valve needs to be replaced after getting the engine maintenance required alert every time my car is turned on. They are saying it’ll be between $800 and 1000 to replace. The service people at the dealership even said it has been a known issue with these cars for the last 3 years and that they don’t understand why it hasn’t been recalled. This was my first time hearing this news.
I own a 2020 Toyota Rav4. The engine maintenance required message popped up on my vehicle just a day after I had my routine oil change at the dealership. The dealership quoted me $785 plus $99 diagnose fee to repair this defective coolant bypass valve. I have no choice but to pay them to get this fix ASAP since I need the car for dropping off and picking up my kid. I already submitted complaint with NHTSA in hopes for any forms of investigation into this matter. Please include me in this class action lawsuit.
I have a 2020 Toyota RAV 4 XLE Premium and have always kept up with all services. Now I am sitting at the dealership getting the coolant bypass replaced for $843. Please include me in this class action lawsuit.
I have a 2020 Toyota RAV 4 with the coolant bypass being replaced tomorrow for $869. Please include me in this class action lawsuit.
I had my 2019 Rav4 XLE coolant bypass valve replaced today. The full charge was $872.90. I purchased an extended warranty when I bought it. I am out $200.00 deductible. This part will certainly fail again. This defective part causes diminished value to the vehicle. I would like to be added to class.
This valve should be redesigned and replaced! I own three Toyotas…..they should be ashamed.
my 2020 Toyota RAV4 after the engine maintenance required light came on. It’s our only family car and we do not have the money to get it fixed so we need to drive it and pray that it will be okay for now.
As I am reading this, I am sitting at the dealership having the coolant bypass valve replaced on my 2020 Toyota RAV4 after the engine maintenance required light came on. I was informed that there has been quite a few coolant bypass valves being replaced at this dealership. This is a serious issue that could cause serious damage to the engine and yet no recall? I have always thought highly of Toyota. Please do the right thing for your customers and issue a recall.
Please add me to the lawsuit. It is a costly out of pocket repair.
My engine service light also will not clear. Toyota charged me $167 for diagnosing bypass hose and quoted over $600 for a repair.
I have a 2020 Toyota Rav 4. I was charged $800 to replace the defective part by advantage Toyota. Please add me to the lawsuit