Toyota has been sued in a class action product liability lawsuit claiming the company’s Scion cars have defective rear hatch door handles that can break off.
According to Law360 (subscription required), the complaint filed in California federal court claims that when the door handle breaks, consumers often cannot open the door. Additionally, the holes the handles leave behind in the rear hatch let exhaust fumes enter the car, creating a safety hazard.
The complaint also alleges that, Scion xB and tC cars contained the defective door handles since 2004, and that Toyota knew about it since 2007. Despite this, the company actively withheld the flaw from consumers and did not issue a recall.
The product liability lawsuit further states that “as a result of Toyota's abject failure to manufacture and sell a vehicle that could withstand the routine and normal opening and closing of the rear hatch without breaking, and its concomitant refusal to provide relief to its customers, the defect has spawned a cottage industry, with third parties manufacturing parts to try to fill Toyota's void."
The plaintiffs in the lawsuit wish to establish a class of people who leased or owned the Scions with the defect with model years 2005 through 2011. They seek damages and disgorgement of revenue earned by Toyota through the sales of the cars.
If you or a loved one has been harmed by a defective vehicle, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact Sokolove Law for a free legal consultation and to learn about your options.