Class Action Filed: Toyota Transmission Troubles

Lawyers from Beasley Allen and Blood Hurst & O’Reardon have filed a class action lawsuit against Toyota Motor North America, Inc. and Toyota Motor Sales, Inc. in the Federal District Court for the Central District of California.

The Defect

The lawsuit alleges that 2024 and newer Toyota Tacoma trucks have a defect in their transmission. These trucks are equipped with an Aisin-Toyota 8-speed automatic transmission. This defect can cause the trucks to engage harshly or fail to shift into gear, limit their power by entering “Limp Mode,” and cause internal component damage and complete transmission failure.

Transmissions are crucial because they transfer power from the engine to the wheels. In vehicles that produce a lot of power, the transmission and other parts must handle high stress and heat without breaking.

Toyota claims their transmissions were designed to improve fuel efficiency and provide smooth acceleration. However, the lawsuit argues that these transmissions are made with poor materials, leading to early wear and sudden failure without warning.

Risk & Response

This defect poses a serious safety risk to drivers and others on the road. The lawsuit also claims that Toyota knew about the issue as early as 2016 but has not issued a recall or offered an extended warranty. Instead, Toyota released a limited Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) for certain 2024 Tacoma trucks, which the lawsuit argues is insufficient.

Plaintiffs allege that Toyota’s TSB is deficient because it requires owners of the Class Vehicles to present specific diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) in order to receive a free replacement for the transmission and torque converter.

Some consumers have reported experiencing the same transmission issues even after repairs. The legal team continues to investigate additional incidents.

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to navigate these cases and fight to hold these car manufacturers responsible.