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Brake Squeal in Toyota and Lexus Vehicles!

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April 18, 2021, by Andrea Plata

Toyota and Lexus Class Action Lawsuit

Consumers have initiated a class action lawsuit against Toyota and Toyota owned Lexus for a defect relating to certain vehicle model brakes. However, it is not for a reason you would think, the brakes work fine. The complaints relate to what consumers are describing as an unreasonably loud squealing sound when braking. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about vehicle class action lawsuits and what to do if you are experiencing excessive brake squeal with your Toyota or Lexus.

What is an Automobile Class Action Lawsuit?

A class action lawsuit is a lawsuit brought by a group of plaintiffs who have suffered similar damages or injuries. Automobile class action lawsuits are typically brought when a group of plaintiffs is claiming that a specific auto part has either design or manufacturing defects. The term defect is used to describe a condition of a consumer product that does not meet a consumer’s reasonable expectation.

Why are your Toyota or Lexus Brakes Squealing?

As mentioned above, the Toyota and Lexus consumers are not issuing complaints about the effectiveness of the car’s ability to brake but are rather voicing concerns about an unpleasant and excessive squealing or squeaking sound when braking. The company has issued a statement on their website warning consumers that the brake noise is a result of the braking materials and design implemented for the brake pads and assure consumers that this design was implemented for maximum brake performance.

The class action was brought after a California plaintiff leased a 2019 Lexus LC and reported the excessive and unreasonable squealing sound. In 2020, Lexus addressed the brake squeal by issuing a technical service bulletin to their dealerships. The company explained that certain vehicle models are equipped with high-performance, high friction brake pads that can make a squealing or squeaking noise. Toyota owned Lexus offered an alternative and what they claim to be a less effective braking system to those consumers who find the squealing ‘objectionable’.

In the same technical service bulletin, Lexus instructed its dealers to inform any consumers who wish to change out the standard braking system that they may be compromising the quality of their vehicle’s brakes by choosing the less noisy option. Lexus also cited that the squealing is “an inherent characteristic of high-performance brake systems”.

Which Toyota and Lexus Models Have Defective Brakes?

The class action lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California: Hovsep Hagopian, v. Toyota Motor North America, Inc., et al. and claims that the brake systems on the following models are defective,

• 2016-2019 Lexus LC500

• 2016-2019 Lexus RC F

• 2016-2019 Lexus GS F

• 2013-2018 Toyota Corolla

What Can You Do About Toyota or Lexus Brake Squeal?

If you are driving one of the Lexus or Toyota models listed above, and you are experiencing the excessive brake squeal, you may be protected under California law. If you are in Los Angeles County and believe your Lexus or Toyota vehicle does not meet your quality expectations, call the California Consumer Attorney’s to discuss your claim. You are a protected consumer under California law and CCA’s experienced lawyers can help you fight back against the automaker.

Call CCA today for a free consultation: (833) LEMON-FIRM. We will get you the compensation you deserve – and at no cost to you!

VW Facing Billions in Penalties

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By Nicole Halavi

In January 2021, it was announced that automaker Volkswagen paid almost $35 billion for equipping diesel vehicles with illegal emissions defeat devices. Interestingly, this amount is negligible compared to what the automaker would face if even one of two court rulings stand.

An appeals court ruling granted two countries the right to seek an exorbitant damages award for updates made to diesel vehicles after they were sold. The suit was originally filed and dismissed in 2018. However, it was appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which ruled against VW and its supplier, Robert Bosch.

The automaker is in a vulnerable position because the appeals court ruling will ultimately lead to lawsuits being filed in every country in the country, and the automaker says this “will severely compromise the EPA’s ability to regulate auto emissions.” The Ninth Circuit even admitted that the ruling may result in “staggering liability to Volkswagen.”

VW is also involved in a case currently before the Ohio Supreme Court. There, the automaker is facing claims that could potentially exceed $350 million per day or more than $127 billion per year for several years. The case was originally filed based on allegedly deceptive updates and recalls of 2009-2015 diesel vehicles that were illegally marketed and sold to 14,000 Ohio residents. In response, the automaker had argued that the state of Ohio cannot regulate automakers as that job belongs to the federal government. This case was also originally dismissed but has been revived by the Ohio Tenth District Court of Appeals.

What Can I Do if I’m Driving a VW Diesel?

If you are driving a VW diesel model that is exhibiting any of the issues discussed above concerning the emissions, California’s lemon laws are here to protect you and prevent any further complications. The attorneys at CCA are very knowledgeable about the issues associated with the emissions in VW diesel vehicles and will work with you to fight back against the automaker.

Please do not hesitate to call CCA today for a free consultation: (833) LEMON-FIRM. We’ll get you the compensation you deserve – and at no cost to you!

Second Recall Issued for VW Atlas Steering Knuckle

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By Nicole Halavi

Volkswagen has just issued a second recall concerning the Atlas steering knuckle, very shortly after the initial recall was issued in November 2020. The recall includes more than 10,300 SUVs at risk of losing control if the steering knuckles break.

Following the initial recall, VW discovered a certain batch of parts that may have been affected by the defective parts that caused the first recall. In October 2020, the supplier of the steering knuckles contacted VW about 2 parts that failed when the strut mounts were tightened. While an investigation revealed that the parts were built according to specification, engineers were unable to duplicate the failures.

The automaker investigated the consequences of driving with the steering knuckles and determined the faulty parts came from a batch called JD253. At this point, VW issued a relatively small recall of Atlas SUVs built with the JD253 steering knuckles.

Following this initial investigation, a subsequent investigation revealed an additional steering knuckle failure from a batch called JD254. This finding led the automaker to believe the faulty parts were mixed into 2 production batches.

As such, this second recall will include 2021 Atlas and 2020-2021 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles and is expected to begin on March 26, 2021. The automaker has apparently agreed to replace either one or both steering knuckles.

What Can I Do if I’m Driving an Atlas with a Faulty Steering Knuckle(s)?

If you are driving a VW that is exhibiting any of the issues discussed above concerning the faulty steering knuckles, California’s lemon laws are here to protect you and prevent any further complications. The attorneys at CCA are very knowledgeable about the issues associated with faulty steering knuckles and will work with you to fight back against the automaker.

Please do not hesitate to call CCA today for a free consultation: (833) LEMON-FIRM. We’ll get you the compensation you deserve – and at no cost to you!

Tesla Touchscreen Recall

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By Nicole Halavi

Tesla has recently issued a recall for nearly 144,000 vehicles in the U.S. and Canada. The recall is meant to address touchscreen failures in 2012-2018 Model S and 2016-2018 Model X vehicles.

Back in June 2020, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an investigation into touchscreen failures in 2012-2015 Model S vehicles. In compliance with the investigation, the automaker supplied documentation including touchscreen complaints, repair invoices, and information about eMMC flash memory devices used for the media control units. However, in November 2020, NHTSA upgraded the touchscreen investigation to include 2012-2018 Model S and 2016-2018 Model X vehicles.

NHTSA determined that the touchscreen failures posed a great safety risk because all the features were lost when the screens went black, including the rearview cameras and controls for the wipers, defrosters and hearing and cooling systems. Ultimately, the greatest concern is the lifespan of the touchscreen components as customers complain about losing touchscreen access when the vehicles are less than 4 years old.

The automaker claimed that the above models are equipped with NVIDIA Tegra 3 processors and integrated 8GB eMMC NAND flash memory devices, but these components will wear out based on the number of program/erase cycles. Notably, the automaker stopped using this processor in March 2018 and instead started using the Intel Apollo Lake processor with a 64GB Micron eMMC. Safety regulators learns about almost 8,000 touchscreen warranty claims, almost 5,000 non-warranty touchscreen claims, and nearly 2,400 complaints about touchscreen failures.

Tesla also argues that the eMMC wear condition constitutes neither a defect nor presents an unreasonable risk to safety. The automaker also released several updates to ensure the controls for the exterior lights and chimes will continue to function if the eMMC fails. Tesla claims that it is not aware of any crashes, injuries, or deaths caused by touchscreen failures because drivers are still able to use the mirrors, look over their shoulders, use the turn signals and manually clear the windshields.

Affected customers should keep an eye out for the Tesla touchscreen recall expected to begin March 30, 2021.

What Can I Do if I’m Driving a Tesla with a Defective Touchscreen?

If you are driving a Tesla that is exhibiting any of the issues discussed above concerning the touchscreen system, California’s lemon laws are here to protect you and prevent any further complications. The attorneys at CCA are very knowledgeable about the issues associated with faulty touchscreens and will work with you to fight back against the automaker.

Please do not hesitate to call CCA today for a free consultation: (833) LEMON-FIRM. We’ll get you the compensation you deserve – and at no cost to you!

Subaru Recalls 2021 Outback and Impreza

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By Nicole Halavi

As of last month, Subaru is recalling nearly 400 model year 2021 Outback and Impreza vehicles because the continuously variable transmission (CVT) gear shifter cable nuts may not have been tightened properly. A loose cable nut can cause problems when operating the gear shifter.

The recall was set to begin on February 19, 2021.

What Can I Do if I’m Driving a Subaru Outback or Impreza?

If you are driving a Subaru that is exhibiting any of the issues discussed above concerning the gear shifter cable nuts, California’s lemon laws are here to protect you and prevent any further complications. The attorneys at CCA are very knowledgeable about the issues associated with cable nuts and will work with you to fight back against the automaker.

Please do not hesitate to call CCA today for a free consultation: (833) LEMON-FIRM. We’ll get you the compensation you deserve – and at no cost to you!

Self-Driving Cars Lawsuit

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By Nicole Halavi

While self-driving cars have revolutionized the concept of driving and car ownership, this new technology still leaves drivers susceptible to crashes. At this point, Tesla’s Model S has allegedly already caused 2 fatalities. Now, Tesla faces a class action lawsuit for its autopilot program, which plaintiffs argue was sold without standard safety features.

Tesla isn’t the only automaker putting unsafe self-driving vehicles on the road: Uber, Google, and General Motors vehicles have also been involved in several crashes. Ultimately, there is doubt concerning the truthfulness of the automakers’ claims that autonomous driving technology is actually safer than the average human driver.

As of November 2018, only 29 states have enacted self-driving car legislation. That is, self-driving cars are being manufactured faster than relevant laws can be enacted. However, the last year has seen a rise in state legislation concerning self-driving cars. In response, the U.S. House and Senate Commerce Committee have passed federal legislation that would give NHTSA the power to oversee the regulation of self-driving cars. However, consumer advocates are concerned as this would increase the number of vehicles exempted from federal regulations.

In May 2016, a Tesla Model S in autopilot mode allegedly failed to avoid a collision with an 18-wheeler in Florida. Apparently, the truck was not detected because of its height and a glare from the sky. As a result, the Tesla driver was killed. In July 2016, Tesla was faced with another lawsuit when the father of a Tesla driver sued after his son was killed in a Tesla Model S crash. Ultimately, customers are arguing that Tesla needs to be more cautious when marketing the autopilot feature and should let owners and potential buyers know that it has defects.

In October 2018, a lawsuit was brought against Tesla when the plaintiff’s Model S was in autopilot mode and crashed into a disabled Ford Fiesta on the roadway at about 80 mph. The suit alleges that customers like the plaintiff were duped by Tesla into believing its autopilot technology could safely transport passengers at high speeds with minimal oversight. Apparently, the Tesla software fails to reliably detect stationary objects.

Moving forward, NHTSA recently recognized the autonomous software in these vehicles as the “driver,” making it more likely that manufacturers will be at fault for car accidents.

What Can I Do if I’ve Been Involved in a Self-Driving Car Accident?

If you are driving a vehicle equipped with autonomous driving technology and you’ve been in an accident, California’s lemon laws are here to protect you and prevent any further complications. The attorneys at CCA are very knowledgeable about the issues associated with self-driving technology and will work with you to fight back against the automaker.

Please do not hesitate to call CCA today for a free consultation: (833) LEMON-FIRM. We’ll get you the compensation you deserve – and at no cost to you!

Porsche Infotainment Suit

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By Nicole Halavi

A class action lawsuit was recently filed against Porsche alleging the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) units received software updates that caused permanent damage to the units. The damage apparently resulted in May of 2020 when Porsche infotainment systems were sent Sirius updates that allegedly caused the communication units to constantly activate and deactivate.

The class action includes: “All entities and individuals who, on the date the Update was transmitted, owned or leased a Porsche vehicle equipped with an XM radio antenna and Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system 3.0 or 3.1 that received the Update.”

Owners complain the PCM units continuously reboot and drain the car batteries. Even more frustrating for these owners is the $2,000 to $4,000 cost they are forced to pay to replace the destroyed PCM units.

One plaintiff purchased a used 2011 Porsche Panamera in 2012 and still received the infotainment update without having been a Sirius customer. Once the PCM update was complete, the infotainment system in his vehicle began rebooting every 2 to 10 minutes even when the engine was off. The PCM unit also made a loud static sound each time the system rebooted, which could distract the driver and create a potentially dangerous situation on the road. Ultimately, the car’s battery degraded, and the hard drive was damaged due to a software update the owner never even authorized.

The plaintiff also claims that one Porsche dealer told him the reboot cycles permanently damaged the infotainment system hard drive, a problem that could only be resolved by replacing the entire PCM unit. The owner could not drive his vehicle for over 2 months until he paid over $3,000 to replace the PCM unit.

This infotainment defect has allegedly also caused problems in the vehicle’s navigation, radio, sound, and phone systems. The suit alleges that the automaker should have known that these Sirius-related updates would cause problems and put drivers at risk, yet the problems are ongoing, and the automaker has made no attempt to remedy the issues.

What Can I Do if I’m Driving a Porsche with a Sirius XM Radio?

If you are driving a Porsche equipped with Sirius radio functioning, and it is exhibiting any of the issues discussed above, California’s lemon laws are here to protect you and prevent any further complications. The attorneys at CCA are very knowledgeable about the issues associated with the infotainment system in Porsche vehicles and will work with you to fight back against the automaker.

Please do not hesitate to call CCA today for a free consultation: (833) LEMON-FIRM. We’ll get you the compensation you deserve – and at no cost to you!

Mercedes Recalls C300, AMG C43, and AMG C63

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By Nicole Halavi

As of this month, Mercedes-Benz is recalling more than 24,500 vehicles because of an issue concerning the retraction of the front seat belts when not in use. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the seat belts function properly, but “if the seat belt does not fully retract, the occupant may find the operation of the seat belt inconvenient and not wear it, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.”

The retraction issue is caused by the distance between the seat belt retractor and the damping foam within the B-pillar paneling that might not be up to par with current product specifications and certain federal safety standards.

In February 2020, the automaker launched initial investigations based on reports from customers in the field describing instances where the front belts failed to properly retract to the stowed position.

Accordingly, the Mercedes recall will begin March 23, 2021, and dealerships will begin inspecting the retraction of the seat belts and adjust the damping foam within the B-pillars.

What Can I Do if I’m Driving a Mercedes Exhibiting Seat Belt Retraction Issues?

If you are driving a Mercedes that is exhibiting any of the issues discussed above concerning the front seat belts, California’s lemon laws are here to protect you and prevent any further complications. The attorneys at CCA are very knowledgeable about the issues associated with faulty seat belt retraction system and will work with you to fight back against the automaker.

Please do not hesitate to call CCA today for a free consultation: (833) LEMON-FIRM. We’ll get you the compensation you deserve – and at no cost to you!

Mercedes-Benz Class Action Lawsuit: Radiator Leaks

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By Nicole Halavi

A class action lawsuit was recently filed against automaker Mercedes-Benz regarding issues with the radiator guards. Such guards are required to protect against damage from rocks and debris that may damage the vehicle’s radiators and cause coolant leaks. The suit alleges that the front bumper covers, and air inlets were equipped with protective grilles prior to the 2016 models.

The problem looks like this: rocks strike the radiator, which causes a coolant leak, leading to an insufficient coolant system pressure, a warped head and ultimately, engine failure. The class action alleges the following models were equipped with wire mesh guards or injection-molded ABS plastic to protect radiators from rocks and debris:

  • 2016-present Mercedes-Benz AMG GT
  • 2016-present Mercedes-Benz AMG C43
  • 2016-present Mercedes-Benz AMG C63
  • 2016-present Mercedes-Benz AMG CLS63
  • 2016-present Mercedes-Benz AMG E43
  • 2016-present Mercedes-Benz AMG E63
  • 2016-present Mercedes-Benz AMG S63
  • 2016-present Mercedes-Benz AMG S65
  • 2016-present Mercedes-Benz AMG SL63
  • 2016-present Mercedes-Benz AMG SL65
  • 2016-present Mercedes-Benz AMG SLC43
  • 2016-present Mercedes-Benz AMG SLC63
  • 2016-present Mercedes-Benz AMG G63
  • 2016-present Mercedes-Benz AMG G65
  • 2016-present Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC43
  • 2016-present Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC63
  • 2016-present Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE43
  • 2016-present Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE63
  • 2016-present Mercedes-Benz AMG GLS63

One plaintiff claims that within one year of purchasing his new 2016 Mercedes AMG C63S, he noticed fluid leaking and a warning appearing concerning low coolant. At this point, he took his vehicle to a dealer in March 2017 to complain about the leak and warning. The technician performed a coolant pressure test and found that there was a hole in the intercooler. Ultimately, the dealer refused to cover the repair even though the vehicle was less than a year old with only 9,000 miles on it. The same plaintiff took his vehicle to another Mercedes dealer, which agreed to cover the labor costs for replacing the turbo radiator, but still charged him $1,050 for the actual repair. Unfortunately, the plaintiff alleges his radiator is still not protected from rocks and debris because there are no guards or covers over the radiator.

Finally, in May 2019, the automaker announced a service campaign for 2018-2019 E-Class and GLC-Class vehicles to install grilles to protect the radiators. Nevertheless, the class action suit alleges that owners will be forced to pay above $80,000 to replace engines that fail due to overheating from coolant leaks – not including the replacement of damaged radiators and associated parts.

What Can I Do if I have a Faulty Radiator?

If you are driving a Mercedes-Benz that is exhibiting any of the issues discussed above concerning the radiator, California’s lemon laws are here to protect you and prevent any further complications. The attorneys at CCA are very knowledgeable about the issues associated with these radiators in Mercedes vehicles and will work with you to fight back against the automaker.

Please do not hesitate to call CCA today for a free consultation: (833) LEMON-FIRM. We’ll get you the compensation you deserve – and at no cost to you!

Jeep Clutch Pressure Plates Causing Fires

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By Nicole Halavi

Jeep issued a recall of more than 47,200 model year 2018-2021 Jeep Wrangler and 2020-2021 Jeep Gladiator vehicles equipped with manual transmissions after they were faced with a series of Jeep clutch pressure plate fires.

Notably, this is the second recall issued in less than a year for Jeep Gladiators and Wranglers because the clutch pressure plates have been so susceptible to overheating, fracturing, and catching fire.

Back in October 2020, Jeep employees learned that the clutch pressure plate can quickly fracture once it overheats. This knowledge came after a 2021 Jeep Gladiator caught fire at an assembly plant. Subsequently, engineers reviewed the field data and warranty claims related to clutch assemblies on Jeep Gladiator and Wrangler vehicles. Investigators also received a failed clutch assembly from a 2020 Jeep Wrangler that was repurchased from a customer. Additionally, investigators looked into a crash report concerning transmission-related fires in Idaho and Michigan.

Once the clutch pressure plate breaks, cracks or holes may form in the transmission case, which will then allow heated debris to be expelled from the transmission case. This heated debris can come into contact with combustible materials in the vehicle. While no injuries have been reported, fires can occur leaving road debris behind, which can create a potentially hazardous condition for drivers on the road.

Ultimately, the automaker has announced that owners of 2018-2021 Jeep Wranglers and 2020-2021 Jeep Gladiators should keep an eye out for recall notices in March 2021 with further information about how dealers will add software to remedy this problem. The automaker claims this is merely a design defect and as such, no clutch parts will be replaced.

What Can I Do if I’m Driving a Jeep Exhibiting Issues with the Clutch Pressure Plate?

If you are driving a Jeep Wrangler or Gladiator that is exhibiting any of the issues discussed above concerning the clutch pressure plates, California’s lemon laws are here to protect you and prevent any further complications. The attorneys at CCA are very knowledgeable about the issues associated with clutch pressure plates in Jeeps, and will work with you to fight back against the automaker.

Please do not hesitate to call CCA today for a free consultation: (833) LEMON-FIRM. We’ll get you the compensation you deserve – and at no cost to you!