A class action lawsuit involving a proposed settlement has been filed against the Toyota Motor Corporation and Toyota Motor North America, Inc including Denso International America involving Toyota and Lexus vehicles. If you feel this settlement includes you continue reading so you can learn of your rights and steps to take prior to any deadline. A website has been established:
If You Own or Lease or Previously Owned, Purchased, or Leased Certain Toyota or Lexus Vehicles Equipped with Denso Fuel Pumps, You Could Get Benefits from a Class Action Settlement.
What is the Toyota-Lexus Fuel Pumps Settlement?
Denso and its affiliates are accused of manufacturing defective fuel pumps that are installed in certain Toyota and Lexus vehicles. Neither Toyota nor Denso admit any wrongdoing, and the Court has not decided the outcome. In the end, the parties settled their differences.
What Criteria is Necessary to be Included in the Toyota Lexus Proposed Settlement?
There are certain criteria that must be met to be included in the settlement which starts with the following date – September 19, 2022. These criteria must have been met prior to the September 19th date:
- You own or owned, purchase(d), or lease(d) a Toyota or Lexus vehicle covered under this Settlement (“Covered Vehicles”); and
- Your Covered Vehicle was distributed for sale or lease in any of the fifty States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and all other United States territories and/or possessions.
A full list of the Covered Vehicles and the VINs can be found at the Toyota-Lexus Fuel Pumps Settlement website and follow these instructions:
- visit www.ToyotaFuelPumpsSettlement.com
- On the right side of the page click the VIN Look Up button
- Enter your vehicles 17 digit VIN number
- Click the blue Submit button
There is also a list of vehicles which you can browse the list to see if your vehicle falls in line with the categories. At the toyotafuelpumpssettlement website click the Documents button at the top of the page and click the Long Form Notice link.
That link will display the court documents which near the bottom of the list of pages includes a comprehensive list of vehicles covered under this settlement.
What is the Settlement Offering?
There are a number of benefits to be expected from this settlement which basically centers around the vehicle. Here is a list of benefits:
- Customer Support Program which will provide prospective coverage of 15 years, measured from the date of original sale, for any repairs to correct defects in the fuel pumps or an Extended New Parts Warranty of 15 years, measured from July 15, 2021 or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first.
- Offers a complimentary Loaner/Towing Program for vehicles undergoing repairs
- Reimbursement of certain out-of-pocket expenses
- Reconsideration procedure
- Settlement oversight by a Settlement Special Master
Some of these toyotafuelpumpssettlement.com benefits require action by Class Members by certain deadlines.
Accident-related claims such as wrongful death, personal injury, or property damage are not covered by this Settlement.
What is Required to be Included in the toyotafuelpumpssettlement?
If you do nothing, you will remain in the Class, receive certain benefits and will not be able to sue Toyota, Denso, or the Released Parties.
You can exclude yourself by December 2, 2022, if you don’t want to be part of the Settlement. You won’t get any settlement benefits, but you keep the right to sue Defendants.
You can submit a Claim Form by a date to be set, which will not be earlier than 90 days after the Court’s issuance of the Final Order and Final Judgment, if you have out-of-pocket expenses covered by the Settlement and don’t exclude yourself.
According to toyotafuelpumpssettlement.com you can object to all or part of the Settlement by November 25, 2022, if you don’t exclude yourself. The full notice describes how to exclude yourself, submit a Claim Form, and/or object.
The Court will hold a fairness hearing on December 14, 2022 at 10 a.m. ET to: (a) consider whether the proposed settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate; and (b) decide the plaintiffs’ lawyers’ request for fees up to $28.5 million and costs and expenses of up to $500,000 and Class Representative service awards of either $2,500 or $3,500 each, depending upon whether they had an inspection.
The motion for attorneys’ fees, costs, and expenses, and Class Representative service awards will be posted on the website after they are filed. You may but are not required to appear at the hearing, and you may hire an attorney to appear for you, at your own expense.
Where to Send Questions?
If you have questions that you need answers for you can submit correspondence to the following address:
Cheng v. Toyota Motors
℅ Kroll Settlement Administration
PO Box 5324
New York, NY 10150-5324
Call 1-833-512-2318
If you want to use the Contact Form on the toyotafuelpumpssettlement website click the Contact link at the top of the homepage and complete the form with the following info:
- Class Member ID
- First name
- Middle name
- Last name
- Address
- Select the option that best describes you
- Email address
- Phone number
- Message Subject
- Entire Message
- Click the blue Submit button
For more information or a Claim Form call 1-833-512-2318 or visit www.ToyotaFuelPumpsSettlement.com.