Toyota RAV4 Battery Lawsuit SettlementToyota RAV4 Battery Lawsuit Settlement July 23, 2024 – A settlement has been reached for the Toyota RAV4 battery lawsuit affecting 2013-2018 model year SUVs. Background The lawsuit alleged that the battery terminals on the affected RAV4s were defective, causing vehicles to stall or catch fire. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched an investigation into the issue in 2021, reporting 11 fires related to the battery. Recall and Settlement In November 2023, Toyota recalled nearly 1.9 million RAV4s to replace battery terminals, trays, and covers. The settlement covers both owners who have experienced problems and those who have not. Settlement Terms Eligible claimants can receive the following benefits: * RAV4 Battery Inspection: Free inspection and replacement of damaged or missing battery components, if the correct size battery is installed. * RAV4 Battery Replacement Compensation: Partial reimbursement for replacing a Group 26R battery with a Group 35 battery. * RAV4 Battery Repair or Replacement Compensation: Reimbursement for unreimbursed repairs or replacements of battery mounting components and related expenses. * RAV4 Battery: Unreimbursed Thermal Costs: Reimbursement for unreimbursed thermal damage to the RAV4 or property caused by the alleged battery defect. Eligibility Customers who currently or previously owned or leased a 2013-2018 RAV4 that was recalled in 2023 are eligible for the settlement. Claims Process To file a claim, the following steps can be taken: * Visit the RAV4 battery settlement website * Contact the Settlement Administrator by phone or mail * Submit necessary documentation to support the claim Timeline * September 2024: Final mailing of repair letters to owners * November 19, 2024: Toyota RAV4 battery settlement fairness hearing Legal Representation The plaintiffs are represented by a consortium of law firms, including Freed Kanner London & Millen LLC, Lynch Carpenter, LLP, and Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman LLP. Note: This summary of the Toyota RAV4 battery lawsuit settlement provides general information. It is recommended to consult the official settlement documents for specific details.
Toyota agrees to settle class action lawsuit over 2013-2018 RAV4, affecting 1.8 million SUVs.
July 23, 2024 — A settlement has been reached for a Toyota RAV4 battery for customers of 2013-2018 Toyota RAV4 vehicles that were recalled in 2023.
Toyota denies all claims and allegations, but has agreed to settle the class action, ending the expensive and burdensome litigation.
The plaintiffs allege that the battery terminals on the 2013-2018 Toyota RAV4 SUVs are defective, causing the vehicles to stall or even catch fire.
The first class action lawsuit over the Toyota RAV4 battery was filed in March 2021, about a week after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched an investigation into RAV4 battery problems in SUVs from 2013 to 2018.
The government reported receiving 11 reports of fires starting at the 12-volt battery site.
NHTSA found that a number of SUVs had been repaired after frontal crash damage and that some replacement batteries may have been improperly installed.
Toyota found that some replacement 12-volt batteries were smaller at the top, which caused a problem with clamping the battery. A loose battery could move and the positive battery terminal could touch the clamp used to hold the battery.
This may cause a short circuit and fire.
Toyota issued Consumer Advisory 21TG01 in 2021 to address issues caused by using the wrong size batteries and installing them incorrectly.
The first RAV4 battery class action lawsuit was filed by plaintiff Juliet Murphy, who said she noticed corrosion around the 12-volt battery and terminals in her 2015 Toyota RAV4, so she replaced the battery. She subsequently filed the class action lawsuit for more than $5 million.
There were several other class action lawsuits filed over the Toyota RAV4 battery, some of which have been consolidated into this settlement.
Toyota RAV4 battery recall
In November 2023, Toyota announced a recall of nearly 1.9 million model year 2013-2018 RAV4 vehicles. The battery terminals, battery trays and positive terminal covers will be replaced with improved parts free of charge.
When the RAV4 recall was announced, Toyota knew that 22 reports had been filed covering 1.8 million SUVs, but no warranty claims had yet been filed.
Toyota would not only replace the parts free of charge, but also reimburse customers for the costs they had paid to fix the problems before the recall.
Toyota RAV4 Battery Lawsuit Settlement
You may be eligible for the battery settlement if you currently own or lease a 2013-2018 RAV4 SUV, or if you have owned or leased one in the past, and it was recalled in 2023.
Customers should pay close attention to the “benefits” of the RAV4 battery settlement, as Toyota offered some of the same items for free during its 2021 Consumer Advisory 21TG01 and 2023 recall.
Toyota RAV4 Battery Inspection
A Toyota dealer will inspect the size of the battery and the components used to hold the battery in place. Any damaged or missing components will be replaced, as long as the correct size battery is installed at the time of inspection. No repairs will be made to repair damage caused by a crash.
There are, however, conditions.
The Toyota RAV4 must not have previously been inspected by a dealer as part of consumer advisory 21TG01 announced in 2021. If the RAV4 has previously been inspected by a dealer through 21TG01, the current owner or lessee can request a second inspection.
Toyota RAV4 Battery Replacement Compensation
Please note, the refund may be “partial” and pertains to the 2021 Consumer Advisory 21TG0. Toyota already offered a full refund through the 2023 recall.
A Toyota RAV4 owner may make a claim under these terms for partial reimbursement for replacing a Group 26R battery with a Group 35 battery.
A customer who received $32 off under the consumer advisory can file a claim to receive an additional $43 in compensation.
RAV4 customers who purchased a battery pack prior to the date of the initial notice of the class action lawsuit but did not receive the $32 rebate pursuant to Consumer Advisory 21TG01 may file a claim to receive a $75 refund.
Toyota RAV4 Battery Repair or Replacement Compensation
Please note: This applies to “non-reimbursed” costs, as Toyota is already offering reimbursements through the 2023 RAV4 battery recall.
A customer may file a claim for reimbursement for unreimbursed repairs or replacement of battery mounting components and “related reasonable rental and/or towing charges.”
“Expenses that are not a result of the alleged defect in the subject vehicle’s battery mounting structure, but rather are the result of a collision, misuse, and/or abuse, are not eligible for recovery under this Article III.” — Toyota RAV4 Battery Settlement
Toyota RAV4 Battery: Unreimbursed Thermal Costs
A customer may file a claim for unreimbursed damage to the RAV4 and/or property damage caused by a “unique thermal event caused by the alleged failure of the subject vehicle’s battery mounting structure and (ii) related reasonable rental and/or towing charges.”
Under the Battery Arrangement, the amount reimbursed for a claim is limited to the actual unreimbursed out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the customer. If a claim is made under a customer’s insurance policy, the reimbursement is limited to the deductible paid by the customer.
The costs must be incurred within one year of the date of the first notice of the class action or within 30 days after the recall becomes available, whichever date is earlier.
Although Toyota announced the RAV4 battery recall in 2023, affecting nearly 1.9 million vehicles, the final mailing of repair letters to owners is scheduled to begin in September 2024, once repair parts are available.
The Toyota RAV4 battery settlement fairness hearing will be held on November 19, 2024.
Under the RAV4 lawsuit settlement, the 12 owners who filed the lawsuit will each receive $5,000:
Juliet Murphy, Penni Lavoot, Ranay Flowers, Paola Guevara, James Charles, Angela Charles, Jennifer Cardelli, Pamela Woodman, Kris Huchteman, Melissa Willis, Maria Mora and Nicole Sylva.
The settlement states that the attorneys representing the plaintiffs will receive $13,250,000 in attorney fees and $350,000 in expenses.
The Toyota RAV4 battery class action lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Sherman Division: Murphy, v. Toyota Motor Corporation, et al..
The plaintiffs are represented by Freed Kanner London & Millen LLC, McCune Law Group APC, Bailey & Glasser, LLP, Steckler Wayne & Love PLLC, Muhic Law LLC, Lynch Carpenter, LLP; Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman LLP, Emerson Firm, PLLC, Capstone Law APC, Berger Montague PC, Blood Hurst & O’Reardon, LLP and Barnow & Associates, PC.
