Class Action Over Toyota Hybrid Brake Problems Allowed To Proceed By Court

A federal judge has rejected an attempt to dismiss a class action lawsuit against Toyota, which alleges hundreds of thousands of Prius, Camry and Avalon and other hybrid vehicles were sold with defective braking systems prone to intermittent failure, placing passengers and drivers at risk of an auto accident.

The complaint (PDF) was originally filed over the Toyota hybrid brake problems in February 2020, presenting claims on behalf of owners of certain 2010 through 2015 Toyota Prius and Prius PHV, 2012 through 2015 Toyota Prius V, 2012 through 2014 Toyota Camry Hybrid, and 2013 to 2015 Toyota Avalon Hybrid vehicles that contain the defective braking systems.

Problems with Toyota brake booster pumps have been reported for several years, with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) having recorded numerous statements from customers indicating the brakes on their Toyota vehicle consistently locked up, causing the vehicle to unexpectedly lunge forward or failing to engage when the brake pedal is depressed.

The NHTSA also became aware of multiple accidents and injuries arising from the brake problems in certain Toyota vehicles.

On July 20, 2020, Toyota filed a motion to dismiss the class action complaint, arguing that the lawsuit did not contain sufficient facts to maintain the claims.

In an order and opinion (PDF) issued last week, U.S. District Court Judge Amos L. Mazzant denied the motion, allowing the Toyota class action lawsuit to proceed forward.

“After reviewing Plaintiffs’ complaint, the Motion, the response, the reply, the sur-reply, and the arguments of counsel, the Court finds that Plaintiffs have plausibly alleged sufficient facts to state claims for relief under the various asserted theories,” Judge Mazzant determined.

The complaint accuses Toyota of placing profits before the lives and safety of hundreds of thousands of drivers and passengers whose brakes are defective, but must wait for the potentially life-threatening brake booster defect to occur before the manufacturer will address it.

According to one plaintiff named in the lawsuit, North Carolina resident Lois Felts, she was involved in a single vehicle collision on December 21, 2019, resulting from the brakes on her 2013 Toyota Camry failing to engage while driving at a low rate of speed.

According to Felts, she continuously applied the brakes but the vehicle would not stop, causing the vehicle to continue across a three-lane highway and crash into a curb. Felt’s reported her insurance carrier determined the vehicle a total loss.

Several other members of the class claim to have suffered financial losses after paying for brake services at dealerships throughout the timeframe Toyota denied the problem.

Despite several years and many other similar complaints of brake booster problems, Toyota failed to issue an recall, and has chosen to only extend the warranty and make repairs on vehicles that have experienced a brake failure, which could result in injuries or even deaths that could otherwise be avoided.

The lawsuit presents claims of breach of warranties, false advertisement, illegal sales practices, fraudulent concealment, unfair and deceptive trade practices, unjust enrichment and various other allegations on behalf hundreds of thousands of impacted vehicle owners across the nation.