Category: Toyota

For the past several years, the Toyota RAV4 has been one of the most popular and best-selling sports utility vehicles in the United States. However, RAV4 owners have also complained of a myriad of issues afflicting their vehicles; particularly, electrical problems. CCA’s expert lemon law attorneys are well versed in these issues and are here to help you if your Toyota has given you trouble.  We invite you to call us today for a free consultation: (833) LEMON-FIRM.   

What Are the Electrical Issues That Toyota RAV4’s Often Encounter?

Before understanding the symptoms and the possible electrical defects in a RAV4; let’s look at what a typical vehicle electrical system is and its importance to your car.  Each modern vehicle includes an electrical system that is equipped with a myriad of components that are responsible for keeping your vehicle working properly.  The battery, alternator, and other charging system components are responsible for maintaining battery power available to the vehicle.  Meanwhile, a number of electrical components and computers (including the ECM (Engine Control Module), PCM (Powertrain Control Module), TCM (Transmission Control Module), BCM (Body Control Module (BCM) and others) are responsible for monitor and maintaining proper operation of the vehicle’s components.  Meanwhile, modern vehicle includes a series of sophisticated components that are responsible for operation of the vehicle’s infotainment system, such as the Bluetooth phone interface, audio system, GPS system, backup camera, and other components. 

In short, your vehicle’s electrical system is extremely important. A healthy electrical system will not only smoothen your drives, but will also ensure a safe and reliable ride.

What Are Common Defects in Toyota Rav4’s?

Below is a list of some of the most common defects complained of by RAV4 vehicle owners:

• Vehicle Stalling;
• Transmission Shuttering;
• Smoke/burning smells from under the hood; and
• Problems with the collision avoidance feature.

A defective electrical system can be fatal if not treated or replaced immediately. According to numerous surveys, many highway accidents are caused due to sudden stops and unexpected stalling.

In the past 6 years, the Toyota RAV4 has received a large number of complaints regarding its faulty electrical system. For example, one owners of a Toyota RAV4 2018 stated “My 2018 Toyota RAV4 has stalled 5 times while driving on city streets in moving traffic, Occurs when I take my foot off the gas while driving, and difficulty restarting after it stalls with loss of power and sputtering.”  Another driver complained, “I was driving to work… Dashboard had a ‘4WD’ warning and smoke coming out from the hood. I quickly moved out and fire broke out before the car came to a full stop, all within one minute.”

These are some serious complaints, concerning serious issues that could turn out to be fatal if not looked into.

Here is a partial list of recent models that are known to have problems with the Electrical System:

• 2016 Toyota RAV4
• 2017 Toyota RAV4
• 2018 Toyota RAV4
• 2019 Toyota RAV4
• 2020 Toyota RAV4

What Legal Actions Have Been Taken to Address Toyota RAV4’s Electrical Issues?

According to our attorney’s research, the Toyota RAV4 has been facing electrical system issues for a very long time. The NHTSA has not only conducted several investigations over this issue but have also instructed Toyota to recall certain models that have been severely impacted.

What can I Do if My Vehicle is Facing Any of the Symptoms Listed Above?

If your vehicle has been experiencing any of the issues discussed in this article and you have not been offered any service or replacement assurance from Toyota, CCA lawyers are here to represent your case and protect your rights; all at no cost to you. Our firm features an experienced team of lawyers that have developed a strong expertise in such complicated vehicle cases and have provided quality solutions. If your Toyota vehicle has been facing defects such as stalling, shuttering, smoke/fire from the hood or sudden stops, please feel free to contact our experts for a free consultation at: (833) LEMON-FIRM.

By: Michael Rosenstein

Toyota is one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the world, producing more than 10 million vehicles each year. Over the years, CCA’s attorneys have come across a plethora of complaints in regard to Stalling and No-Starts in Toyota and Lexus vehicles. Recently, Toyota has told its customers that the issue has been investigated and is being taken care of by recalling as many as 1.8 million cars for the fuel pump issue.

What are some common signs of a defective Fuel Pump?

Before getting into the issue, let’s first understand what a fuel pump is. As the term suggests, a fuel pump is simply an automotive device that pumps/pushes fuel from one area to the other.  Specifically, the fuel pump transmits fuel from the gas tank to the engine, where it is further pressurized and ignited to run the engine. 

Some of the frequently occurring symptoms of a defective fuel pump are as follows:

• Difficulty starting the vehicle;
• Vehicle stalling;
• A constant noise that comes from the fuel tank;
• A sputtering engine; and
• Poor fuel economy. 

Toyota customers have encountered these and other issues, which can be traced back to defective fuel pumps.  Simply put, if the fuel doesn’t get from the tank to the engine, then the engine doesn’t run.  If the car is off, this results in a “no-start” condition or difficulty starting.  If the vehicle is running, this results in stalling or engine sputtering. 

Toyota vehicle owners have complained of numerous issues with their cars due to defective fuel pumps. A Toyota Tacoma customer described the issue; “This car has shut off twice while driving. We are now stuck with a car that we don’t feel safe in”. Another customer’s complaint regarding the same model stated, “Driving about 60 mph on the freeway, when the vehicle started to lose power, started bucking and then stalled. The vehicle would not start”.

What Are Toyota and the Government Doing About the Problem?

As per the NHTSA Defect Information Report, the vehicles are equipped with a faulty fuel pump of low pressure. It contains an impeller that could interfere with the fuel pump body and result in rough engine runs and stalling. The report also mentions that in most cases, vehicle stall occurs at low speeds. However, in rare cases, stalling could occur at higher speeds and turn out to be fatal.

Below is a list of Toyota vehicles that have faced fuel pump issues:

• 2013-2015 Lexus LS 460
• 2013-2014 Lexus GS 350
• 2014 Toyota FJ Cruiser
• 2014 Lexus IS-F
• 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner
• 2014-2015 Toyota Land Cruiser
• 2014-2015 Lexus GX 460
• 2014-2015 Lexus IS 350
• 2014-2015 Lexus LX 570
• 2015 Lexus NX 200t
• 2015 Lexus RC 350
• 2017 Lexus IS 200t
• 2015 Lexus RC 200t
• 2017-2019 Toyota Sienna
• 2017-2019 Lexus RX 350
• 2018 Lexus GS 300
• 2018-2019 Toyota Avalon
• 2018-2019 Toyota Camry
• 2018-2019 Toyota Corolla
• 2018-2019 Toyota Highlander
• 2018-2019 Toyota Sequoia
• 2018-2019 Toyota Tacoma
• 2018-2019 Toyota Tundra
• 2018-2019 Lexus ES 350
• 2018-2019 Lexus GS 350
• 2018-2019 Lexus IS 300
• 2018-2019 Lexus IS 350
• 2018-2019 Lexus LC 500
• 2018-2019 Lexus LC 500h
• 2018-2019 Lexus LS 500
• 2018-2019 Lexus LS 500h
• 2018-2019 Lexus RC 300
• 2018-2019 Lexus RC 350
• 2018-2019 Lexus RX 350L

Initially, Toyota issued a recall notice for all the affected models from the 2018-2019 years. Later, the issue was updated and included models dating back to 2014 model year.  The automaker also announced a temporary pause on any remaining 2018-2019 models until the recall process has been completed. Currently, Toyota proposes replacement fuel pumps at no charge to the customer as a viable solution.  However, many Toyota vehicle owners have complained that their vehicles continue to exhibit powertrain and starting issues, notwithstanding the recall.

What Legal Actions Have Resulted from Toyota’s Fuel Pump Problem?

Several lawsuits have been filed against Toyota as a result of the stalling/no-start fuel pump problem. A lead plaintiff in a recent class action has also alleged the occurrence of discrepancies in the recall; “Approximately 700,000 Toyota and Lexus vehicles were recalled because of a safety defect; however, many more vehicles are allegedly affected.  The plaintiff in the class action the dangers he/she is exposed to “The Fuel Pump Defect in the Class Vehicles exposes occupants and others to extreme danger, or even death,” The complaint also reiterates on the fact that there are no warning signs before the vehicle starts stalling or experiences pump issues.

What Can I Do if I’ve Been Impacted by Stalling/No-Starts/Performance Issues in My Toyota? 

If your Toyota or Lexus vehicle has been the subject of excessive stalling, no-starts, or had other performance issues, California’s strong lemon laws are here to protect you.  CCA’s expert attorneys are well aware of the issues plaguing Toyota vehicles, understand the lemon laws better than anyone else, and are ready to take on your case at no charge to you. If you own a Toyota with excessive stalling/no-starts or other performance issues, do not hesitate to call our experts for a free consultation: (833) LEMON-FIRM.

By Michelle Fausto

Toyota’s tagline – “Let’s Go Places” – reflects its commitment to producing better, more reliable cars that can take consumers places far and wide. Unfortunately, some consumers of Toyota Tacoma models have trouble even leaving their driveways less than a year after their purchase. Thousands of owners of 2015-2019 Tacoma models have complained about transmission and overall powertrain problems in their vehicles, which have yet to have been sufficiently addressed by Toyota.

Delayed Engagement in Tacoma Automatic Transmissions

A very common automatic transmission problem, delayed engagement refers to the delay that occurs for a few seconds when shifting into gear or between park, drive, reverse, or neutral. A perfectly functioning transmission will engage your vehicle immediately when you shift into gear. Delayed engagement in these Tacoma models is a public safety concern, as many owners have extensively complained about the transmission’s failure to engage while driving on the streets. 

Delayed engagement is not only frustrating, but can pose a serious safety risk for the driver and those in close proximity to the vehicle. One owner of a 2016 Tacoma complains about the slow engagement of the transmission when cold, stating, “I was almost involved in a wreck pulling into traffic when the transmission…went into neutral for a few seconds when I let off the gas”.

Another owner expresses their frustration with their less-than-a-year-old Tacoma, stating that the car “starts clicking and grinding in gear and rolls backwards” on an uphill grade when the brake pedal is released. They recount the mortifying experience of having “nearly hit a child in the street as it rolled backwards and would not engage even though it was still in drive”. Another driver recalls backing out of their driveway and waiting “up to 1 minute without the transmission engaging” when they put it in drive, arguing this to be “a major safety issue as you can be stranded in traffic until the transmission engages”. 

The Tacoma Lurch

Once the transmission finally engages, Tacoma owners can still face issues with their vehicles “lurching and jerking”, as one owner puts it. This sudden and uncontrollable vehicular movement can occur at really low speeds from 1 to 5 mph, or even when coming to a stop or shifting gears. The lurch occurs when trying to engage the transmission, and happens very abruptly once the transmission finally engages. The truck is lunged forward when shifting from park into reverse, for example. 

A 2016 Tacoma owner expresses the danger of pulling and out of tight spaces like garages, stating that they “have to keep on the brake because it will just try and lunge at anytime”. A 2019 owner says that this “lurching and jerking” usually happens when the car is in reverse and your foot is putting some pressure on the brake. Similarly, a 2017 owner states, “When I am at a stop and hit the accelerator, the truck jumps a little, then falls on its face. Most of the time it happens when I’m trying to pull into traffic and I need the truck to go.” The possible accidents that this lurching could lead to makes Tacomas a danger to the road. 

Affected Toyota Tacoma Models

Among the vehicles affected with transmission problems, these makes and models warranted the most complaints from Tacoma owners:

• Tacoma SR V6
• Tacoma TRD Off Road 4×4 3.5L
• Tacoma TRD Sport 4×4 V6
• Tacoma Trd Off Road V6
• Tacoma SR5 V6

How We Can Help 

If you are the owner of any 2015-2019 Tacoma models and have been experiencing transmission problems, our attorneys at The Lemon Firm are happy to help. It is our priority to get you fairly compensated for the issues Toyota has lacked to address. Please call us today for a free consultation to learn how we can assist you: (833) LEMON-FIRM.