- Toyota is fixing select Tacoma models that have been broken and will replace the transmissions of ones that fail in the future.
- A new class action claims Toyota is liable for fraudulent concealment/omission and other charges.
Two months ago, Toyota issed a technical service bulletin for the 2024 Tacoma, announcing that it would replace the eight-speed transmissions and torque converters of vehicles with a pressure control solenoid actuator stuck or a torque converter clutch actuator locked in the “off” position. Evidently, that 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. Furthermore, 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
According to Syed, he owns a 2024 Tacoma TRD Sport that began acting up with under 100 miles on the odometer. As he slowed for a stop sign, he says the transmission violently downshifted and jerked between gears. Then, accelerating from the stop, he noticed a delay, sloppy engagement, and a jolt that didn’t exactly inspire confidence. Syed says he’s experienced this unpleasant sequence ten to fifteen times since buying 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 claims the defect exposes him and other owners to “an increased risk of severe injury or death.” The class is demanding compensation for repair costs (past and future), diminished resale value, and even losses for those who sold their trucks at a discount—claiming they paid a premium for the supposed safety and reliability Toyota’s brand promised.
In September, Toyota disclosed that it 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.
