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A class action lawsuit filed last month by some Toyota truck owners deals with a defect in the engines – some made in Huntsville – for the Tundra pickup.
The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Vermont, involves three plaintiffs against Toyota Motor North America. It is related to a May 2024 recall of 2022-2023 Tundras and Tundra hybrids, as well as Lexus LX vehicles.
According to the company, the recall deals with models employing the V35A engine. Toyota says the engines suffer from a “serious defect” related to manufacturing debris inside the engine. The defect can cause the engines to stall, even when the driver is engaging the gas pedal, or to surge forward after a delay.
The defect can “lead to potential engine knocking, engine rough running” and a loss of motive power “while driving at higher speeds can increase the risk of a crash.” It can also result in “catastrophic engine failure,” according to the lawsuit.
Toyota has called for a complete engine replacement at no cost to the vehicle owners. However, the full recall population includes 102,092 vehicles—98,568 Tundras, according to Car and Driver. That means a massive workflow issue at dealerships, as they manage other warranty and customer work, as well as loaner vehicles for customers while work continues, according to Automotive News.
But the plaintiffs say the recall is inadequate to address the defect, as Toyota notified owners and leasees that it is “currently developing a remedy.”
In addition, hybrids were excluded from the recall as some are equipped with a Hybrid powertrain system. In that case, according to the lawsuit, “the vehicle continues to have some motive power for limited distances and the driver receives a continuous audible warning, warning lamps, and visual warning messages.”
The lawsuit states that owners are “currently stuck driving a vehicle that Toyota knows is dangerous, but has no concrete timetable for a workable fix.”
The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages and restitution, among other relief measures.
Toyota’s Huntsville engine plant, which has been in production since 2003, builds engines for the RAV4, Corolla, Corolla Cross, Highlander, Sienna, Tacoma, Tundra and Sequoia.
