Lemon Law · Toyota

Toyota lemon law attorney in California

Toyota owners have filed complaints with federal regulators describing engine stalls and fuel system failures, transmission problems that include high-pitched whining noises and shifting difficulties, airbag occupant-classification sensor defects that may prevent deployment, electrical system malfunctions affecting instrument displays and safety features, brake system failures including electronic parking brakes that will not engage, and steering assist losses. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has published recall campaigns addressing airbag sensors, power-steering oil leaks, axle separations, fuel line chafing, and software errors that disable rearview cameras. When a defect covered by Toyota's warranty is not repaired after a reasonable number of attempts, the California Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act provides remedies. The usual test is four repair visits for the same non-safety defect, or two for a problem that could cause death or serious injury, or thirty cumulative days out of service. These presumptions apply when the defect is first reported, and the vehicle is presented for warranty repair, within 18 months of delivery or 18,000 miles, whichever comes first (Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22).

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Known defects

What Toyota owners report, and why repeat repairs matter

These are the categories owners file most often with the federal safety regulator for the Toyota model years in the record below. A complaint is one owner's report, not a finding that a vehicle is defective.

Engine Failures and Stalls

Owners report engines that stall without warning, sometimes after shifting from reverse to drive. Tundra owners describe fuel-pump failures. Corolla owners report coolant-bypass-valve malfunctions. A recall addressed fuel-tube chafing near brake lines in Tundra models. When an engine concern returns after repair attempts, Song-Beverly treats the pattern as evidence the defect substantially impairs use or safety. The manufacturer's obligation is to conform the vehicle to warranty, not attempt the same repair repeatedly.

Tundra · RAV4 · Highlander · Corolla

Transmission and Power-Train Failures

Highlander owners describe transmissions that produce high-pitched whining noises, worsening as the transmission warms. Others report transmission failures. Tundra and Tacoma models have been recalled for axle-shaft separations caused by loosened fasteners. Axle separation can disable braking and cause loss of stability. A defect affecting the power train goes to the core of vehicle function. Repeat visits for the same drivability concern strengthen a claim under Song-Beverly.

Highlander · Tundra · Tacoma · RAV4

Airbag Sensor Malfunctions

Multiple recall campaigns addressed occupant-classification sensor short circuits that can prevent the front passenger airbag from deploying. RAV4 models were recalled for seat-assembly interference causing incorrect occupant detection. One owner reported a collision in which no airbags deployed. An airbag system that does not function as warranted is a safety defect. Song-Beverly allows only two repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury before the presumption of nonconformity applies.

RAV4 · Camry · Highlander · Corolla

Electrical System Failures

Owners report instrument displays going blank, dashboard warnings for headlight and collision-system malfunctions, and multi-information displays showing only scan lines. Tundra models were recalled for software errors that prevent rearview-camera images from displaying and for instrument-cluster failures that blank the speedometer. Headlight circuits on Tundra models were recalled for overheating connectors. RAV4 owners describe losing power steering. Electrical defects that disable safety systems or driver information fall within Song-Beverly's scope.

RAV4 · Tundra · Corolla · Highlander

Brake System Defects

Tundra owners experienced electronic parking brake failures caused by a skid-control module that falsely detects an overcurrent condition, preventing the brake from engaging. A parking brake that cannot be set creates rollaway risk. Service-brake complaints span multiple models. Song-Beverly does not require a recall for a defect to qualify. The question is whether the condition substantially impairs use, value, or safety and whether the manufacturer had a reasonable opportunity to repair it.

Highlander · Tundra · RAV4 · Camry

Steering Assist Failures

A recall addressed power-steering gear assemblies in Tundra models manufactured incorrectly, leading to oil leaks and sudden loss of assist. RAV4 owners report steering loss with warning messages, shuddering, and stalling. Loss of assist at speed makes the vehicle difficult to control. The recall covered service parts, meaning replacements may carry the same defect. A repair that does not resolve the problem does not restart the reasonable-attempt count under Song-Beverly.

RAV4 · Corolla · Tundra · Tacoma

By model & year

Find your exact Toyota

Every model year the firm has read the federal record for has its own page. Pick your model year for what owners filed against it, the recall campaigns naming it, and what the statute asks.

Camry

Model yearComplaintsRecall campaignsMost-reported part
2025 Toyota Camry1576Structure
2024 Toyota Camry501Structure
2023 Toyota Camry642Electrical system
2022 Toyota Camry601Air bags
2021 Toyota Camry1561Air bags

Corolla

Model yearComplaintsRecall campaignsMost-reported part
2026 Toyota Corolla01None on file
2025 Toyota Corolla310Service brakes
2024 Toyota Corolla632Forward collision avoidance
2023 Toyota Corolla733Steering
2022 Toyota Corolla1000Electrical system
2021 Toyota Corolla1851Air bags

Highlander

Model yearComplaintsRecall campaignsMost-reported part
2025 Toyota Highlander94Forward collision avoidance
2024 Toyota Highlander427Service brakes
2023 Toyota Highlander1809Structure
2022 Toyota Highlander2455Power train
2021 Toyota Highlander5124Power train

RAV4

Model yearComplaintsRecall campaignsMost-reported part
2026 Toyota RAV4291Electrical system
2025 Toyota RAV4863Electrical system
2024 Toyota RAV41733Engine
2023 Toyota RAV41533Electrical system
2022 Toyota RAV41441Electrical system
2021 Toyota RAV43851Air bags

Tacoma

Model yearComplaintsRecall campaignsMost-reported part
2025 Toyota Tacoma965Structure
2024 Toyota Tacoma1485Power train
2023 Toyota Tacoma544Electrical system
2022 Toyota Tacoma583Power train
2021 Toyota Tacoma800Power train

Tundra

Model yearComplaintsRecall campaignsMost-reported part
2026 Toyota Tundra01None on file
2025 Toyota Tundra1305Engine
2024 Toyota Tundra33410Engine
2023 Toyota Tundra40013Engine
2022 Toyota Tundra42813Engine
2021 Toyota Tundra243Electrical system

The statute

When a Toyota problem becomes a lemon

These are the presumptions in the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act and the Tanner Consumer Protection Act (Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22). Each applies when the defect is first reported, and the vehicle is presented for warranty repair, within 18 months of delivery or 18,000 miles, whichever comes first. They are presumptions, not predictions about any individual vehicle.

A

Two or more attempts (safety)

For a defect that could cause death or serious injury, reported within 18 months or 18,000 miles.

B

Four or more attempts

For the same non-safety warranty problem, reported within 18 months or 18,000 miles.

C

30 days out of service

Cumulative, for warranty repair, within 18 months or 18,000 miles.

Have an attorney read your Toyota repair orders.

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Attorney Advertising disclaimer: Prior results do not predict or indicate a similar outcome in any future matter. The information on this page is general information about California law, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. If your vehicle is unsafe to drive, stop driving it and call the firm on (619) 235-0137. Figures from the federal safety regulator's record are estimates taken from the record on the date shown.

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