Toyota Class Action Lawsuits: Settlements and Pending Cases

If you own or lease a Toyota, several Toyota class action lawsuits and settlements are active in 2026. Some are already paying benefits — including the $78.5 million airbag control unit settlement, the $287 million fuel pump settlement, a hands-free phone echo settlement, and a $299.5 million forklift settlement moving toward final approval. Others, covering door locks, Tundra engine debris, Tacoma brake lines, coolant bypass valves, the Mirai hydrogen car, and driver data sharing with Progressive, are still in early stages with no payouts yet. Here is what each one covers and what you can do about it.

Airbag Control Unit Settlement

This is the biggest Toyota settlement currently open for claims. The $78.5 million deal resolves In Re: ZF-TRW Airbag Control Units Products Liability Litigation (Case No. 2:19-ml-02905) in the Central District of California. Judge John A. Kronstadt approved it on November 28, 2023, and an appeal that had held up implementation was dismissed on December 11, 2025, so full benefits are now rolling out.¹

The defect involves airbag control units that can malfunction from electrical interference during certain crashes, potentially preventing airbags from deploying and seatbelts from tightening. NHTSA identified two serious frontal crashes involving Toyota Corollas that may have been linked to the defect, including one fatality.²

You may be eligible if you were a current or former owner or lessee as of July 31, 2023 of one of these vehicles, sold or leased in the U.S., D.C., Puerto Rico, or U.S. territories:³

2011–2019 Toyota Corolla
2011–2013 Toyota Corolla Matrix
2012–2018 Toyota Avalon
2013–2018 Toyota Avalon Hybrid
2012–2019 Toyota Tacoma
2012–2017 Toyota Tundra
2012–2017 Toyota Sequoia

Benefits include reimbursement for past out-of-pocket expenses tied to the defect, an Extended New Parts Warranty covering recall-installed parts for 12 years from July 31, 2023, and a loaner or rental car program while the recall repair is performed.³

If you don’t have documented expenses, you can still file for a residual distribution payment: up to $350 for recalled vehicles and up to $150 for unrecalled vehicles. Residual distribution claims must be filed by April 8, 2027. Other claims have until December 11, 2028.⁴

Fuel Pump Settlement

The $287 million Denso fuel pump settlement in Sharon Cheng, et al. v. Toyota Motor Corporation, et al. (Case No. 1:20-cv-00629-WFK-JRC, Eastern District of New York) was finalized on December 21, 2022.⁵ The suit alleged the pump impellers could deform, triggering rough running, check engine lights, failure to start, or stalling.⁶

The reimbursement claim deadline has passed. But if you own an eligible vehicle, the prospective benefits are still in effect: free fuel pump replacement, a 15-year/150,000-mile warranty on replaced pumps, and complimentary towing and loaners during the repair. Roughly 5 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles are covered — 3.4 million recalled, 1.4 million more through a customer support program, and about 170,000 hybrids.⁶

Hands-Free Phone Echo Settlement

A settlement in Kesselman v. Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., et al. (Case No. 2:21-cv-06010-TJH-JC, Central District of California) received final approval on March 24, 2026. Plaintiffs alleged an “Echo Issue” caused disruptive echoing during hands-free calls on certain 2014–2019 Toyotas. Toyota denied the allegations.⁷

There are no cash payments. The relief is informational: an instructional website and video on volume adjustment, direct mail and email notices, social media outreach, and updated dealer guidance. The class covers owners and lessees as of August 18, 2025 of more than a dozen models, including the 4Runner, Avalon, Highlander, Prius, Tacoma, Tundra, Sequoia, Sienna, Mirai, Venza, and Yaris, in Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Oregon, and Washington. Because the court certified the class under Rule 23(b)(2), members could not opt out.⁸

Camry HVAC Settlement

A separate California-only settlement covered 2012–2015 Camry XV50 owners in Alfred Salas et al. v. Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. (Case No. 2:15-cv-08629-HDV-E), approved January 8, 2025. It reimbursed charcoal filter installation or evaporator flushing. All claim deadlines have passed.⁹

Forklift Engine Settlement

If you operate a Toyota Industries forklift, a $299.5 million settlement is moving through the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (Case No. 3:24-cv-06640-JSC). Toyota Industries’ board approved the payment in October 2025, and the court granted preliminary approval on February 26, 2026.¹⁰

Beyond the cash fund, eligible forklifts get a service plan — inspections, basic services, and a free oil or transmission fluid change — valued at $83.7 million to $189.3 million. If regulators order an emissions recall within three years, the defendants must warranty affected parts. The final fairness hearing is scheduled for July 9, 2026. Federal and California state investigations into the engines are still open.¹¹

Pending Lawsuits Without Payouts Yet

Several proposed class actions are still in early stages. No payments are available, and eligibility depends on whether the cases survive and are certified. If your vehicle appears below, it’s worth watching the docket rather than expecting a claim form soon.

Door Lock Actuators (2005–2024, Many Models)

The consolidated case Mixon et al. v. Toyota Motor Corporation et al. in the Eastern District of Texas alleges that AISIN-made door lock actuators fail prematurely, leaving doors that won’t lock or unlock. Plaintiffs cite risks including entrapment, unintentional door openings while driving, and theft, and say Toyota treated the actuators as “wear and tear” parts to sidestep warranty coverage.¹² The affected lineup:¹³

2010–2024 4Runner
2013–present RAV4
2014–present Highlander
2010–2022 Prius
2007–present Tundra
2012–2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid
2014–present Corolla
2005–2023 Tacoma
2007–2014 FJ Cruiser

No recall has been issued.¹⁴

Tundra V35A Engine Debris (2022–2024)

Daley et al. v. Toyota Motor North America, Inc. (Case No. 2:24-cv-01318) alleges the V35A engine in 2022–2024 Tundra and Tundra Hybrid trucks contains manufacturing debris — dirt, dust, sludge, metal shavings — causing rough running, knocking, stalling, and in some cases total engine failure. Plaintiffs argue Toyota’s existing recall is inadequate because it excludes 2024 models and doesn’t address acceleration delay.¹⁵

Tacoma Rear Brake Lines (2024–2025 4WD)

Malainy v. Toyota Motor North America, Inc. (Case No. 2:25-cv-00949), filed in Pennsylvania in February 2025, alleges Toyota’s recall replaces worn rear brake hoses without fixing the underlying design flaw that lets mud and dirt wear through them.¹⁶

RAV4 and Corolla Coolant Bypass Valves (2019–2023)

Barrientos et al. v. Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. et al. (Case No. 4:21-cv-06770) alleges coolant bypass valves crack prematurely, causing leaks, overheating, and engine damage. Owners have reported repair bills over $7,000, with failures continuing through mid-2026.¹⁷¹⁸

Mirai Hydrogen Refueling

Caluwe et al. v. Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. et al. (Case No. 2:24-cv-05819), filed July 2024 in the Central District of California, alleges Toyota concealed severe limitations of hydrogen refueling infrastructure, including empty or broken stations and pumps that freeze onto the vehicle, rendering the cars effectively inoperable.¹⁹

Driver Data Sharing With Progressive

Siefke v. Toyota Motor North America, Inc. et al. (Case No. 4:25-cv-00406), filed April 21, 2025 in the Eastern District of Texas, alleges Toyota, Connected Analytic Services, and Progressive Casualty Insurance illegally collected location, speed, braking, acceleration, cornering, and even voice and image data from Toyota vehicles and fed it to Progressive’s Snapshot program.²⁰ The named plaintiff, a 2021 RAV4 owner, says he opted out of Snapshot when signing up with Progressive, only to be told via pop-up that Progressive already had his driving data from the vehicle’s built-in telemetry.²¹ The complaint asserts violations of the Wiretap Act and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.²²

Australian Diesel Particulate Filter Case

Australian Hilux, Prado, and Fortuner owners with 1GD-FTV or 2GD-FTV diesel engines acquired between October 1, 2015 and April 23, 2020 are covered by a separate Federal Court class action, Kenneth John Williams & Anor v. Toyota Motor Corporation Australia Limited (NSD 1210 of 2019). U.S. owners are not part of this case.

The Federal Court found the vehicles were not of “acceptable quality” under Australian Consumer Law due to defective diesel particulate filter systems and that Toyota engaged in misleading or deceptive conduct. In November 2024, the High Court of Australia confirmed those findings and sent the case back to Justice Lee for a fresh damages assessment that accounts for Toyota’s “2020 Field Fix” repair.²³ Group members who sold their vehicles lose their reduction-in-value damages but can still claim losses from the misleading conduct, such as stamp duty and financing charges. Toyota has said it will argue that owners who accepted the free repair also forfeit reduction-in-value claims.²⁴

In August 2025, the court ordered sample group members whose cases will model damages calculations. A two-week hearing is scheduled for 2026. Group members must register through a Deloitte-managed portal to claim damages.²⁵

How to Check Your Eligibility

Start with your VIN and your vehicle’s model year. For the airbag control unit settlement, file at the settlement website before April 8, 2027 for residual distribution or December 11, 2028 for other claims.⁴ For the fuel pump settlement, contact a Toyota or Lexus dealer to confirm your VIN is covered and to schedule the free replacement under the 15-year/150,000-mile warranty.⁵ For the pending cases, keep repair records and correspondence; if your vehicle is on one of the affected lists and a class is later certified, those documents are what a claim will rely on.

1
Airbag Control Unit Settlement. Toyota Airbag Control Unit Settlement
2
Consumer Reports. Toyota Recall Faulty Airbag Sensor Avalon Corolla Matrix
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Airbag Control Unit Settlement. Toyota Airbag Control Unit Settlement FAQs
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NHTSA. Airbag Control Unit Settlement Residual Distribution Notice
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Toyota Fuel Pumps Settlement. Toyota Fuel Pumps Settlement
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Beasley Allen. 287 Million Toyota Fuel Pump Nationwide Settlement Gets Final Approval
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Toyota Echo Settlement. Toyota Echo Settlement
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Toyota Echo Settlement. Toyota Echo Settlement FAQ
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Toyota California HVAC Settlement. Toyota California HVAC Settlement
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Toyota Industries Corporation. Notice Regarding Settlement of Class-Action Lawsuit
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ClassAction.org. Toyota Forklift Preliminary Approval Order
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ClassAction.org. Toyota Facing Class Action Lawsuit Over Allegedly Defective Door Lock Actuators
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ClassAction.org. Mixon et al v Toyota Motor Corporation Complaint
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CarComplaints.com. Toyota Door Lock Actuator Recall Lawsuit
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ClassAction.org. Class Action Lawsuit Filed Over Alleged Engine Defect Plaguing Toyota Tundra Tundra Hybrid
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ClassAction.org. Class Action Lawsuit Says Toyota Tacoma Brake Lines Can Be Damaged by Mud Dirt Build Up
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CarComplaints.com. Toyota RAV4 Coolant Bypass Valve Recall Lawsuit
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Top Class Actions. Toyota Class Action Alleges Some Vehicles Contain Defective Coolant Bypass Valves
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ClassAction.org. Caluwe et al v Toyota Motor Sales Complaint
20
Lutzker. Siefke v Toyota Motor North America Complaint
21
ClassAction.org. Toyota Analytics Co. Illegally Shared Driver Data With Progressive Insurance Class Action Lawsuit Claims
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Insurance Journal. Toyota Sued Over Alleged Illegal Sharing of Driver Data With Progressive
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Toyota Class Action Australia. Williams DPF Class Action
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Toyota Australia. DPF Class Action Information
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Toyota Class Action Australia. Williams DPF Class Action Updates