A new class action claims Toyota is liable for fraudulent concealment/omission and other charges.
Two months ago, Toyota launched a technical service bulletin for the 2024 Tacoma, announcing that it would replace the eight-speed transmissions and torque converters of vehicles that had either a stuck pressure control solenoid actuator or a torque converter clutch actuator stuck in the off position. Evidently, the promise of a fix wasn't enough for Abdul Syed, who is the plaintiff in a class action lawsuit filed against Toyota.
The lawsuit claims that the eight-speed automatic transmissions of 2024 Toyota Tacoma models can fail to shift into gear, enter limp mode, or engage harshly, leading to damage that can cause the entire gearbox to fail. It's also alleged that the transmissions and torque converters offered by Toyota as replacements are also defective.
Read: Toyota To Replace Faulty 8-Speed Autos In 2024 Tacomas - But There's A Catch
Syed states that he owns a 2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport and that with less than 100 miles on the clock, the car's transmission harshly downshifted and jerked between gears while he was approaching a stop sign. He says he then noticed a delay in acceleration, poor engagement of the gears, and a jolt when accelerating away from the stop. Syed adds that the same thing has happened ten to fifteen other times while he's owned the truck.
The class action alleges that Toyota is liable for fraudulent concealment/omission, breach of express and implied warranties, unjust enrichment, and violation of California consumer, advertising, and unfair competition laws. Syed says the fault exposes him to "an increased risk of severe injury or death," and the class is seeking compensation for out-of-pocket expenses for repairs, costs of future repairs or replacements, and the diminished value of 2024 Tacomas, as well as being compensated for vehicles sold at a loss and "the prime premium attributable to the purported safety and reliability of the Class Vehicles."
In September, it was revealed that Toyota would replace the transmissions and torque converters of 2024 Tacoma models that have already been broken or experience any potential failures in the future. Models with the available manual transmission are not impacted.