No Dismissal For Toyota Steering Cases

If a car doesn't travel in a straight line, whose fault could it be? Though plenty of drivers might have issues on the road every now and then, steering system defects in certain Toyota cars can cause the vehicles to drift out of the drivers’ control, a recently approved lawsuit alleges.

With more than 160 complaints received, the company could reasonably be assumed to have known about any potential issues with the steering system.

According to the suit, Toyota Corolla and Matrix vehicles manufactured between 2009 and 2010 have a problem with their power steering systems that allowed cars to drift off-center when traveling at high speeds.

A California federal judge has now rejected the company’s request to dismiss the case.

Toyota made the request after plaintiffs alleged that the company knew about the defect, but failed to properly warn consumers. The company in turn argued that plaintiffs had failed to adequately prove their claims, and the case should therefore be dismissed. However, Judge Jesus G. Bernal disagreed, ruling that plaintiffs did not have to provide specifics when making allegations, citing the state’s Unfair Competition Law and Consumer Legal Remedies Act. He also noted that, with more than 160 complaints received, the company could reasonably be assumed to have known about any potential issues with the steering system.

It’s not all bad news for Toyota. Judge Bernal ruled three months earlier that most of the plaintiffs’ claimed were too vague, and instructed them to amend their allegations. He also found that claims against Toyota had been combined with claims against its parent company without making this distinction, and instructed plaintiffs to amend the suit to assign claims to specific companies.

In February 2010, an investigation was launched by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration following two plaintiffs’ claims that their Corollas’ steering defects were indicative of a widespread problem with the vehicle. The investigation also examined Matrix models. In May 2011, the conclusion was announced: operational issues were found to lead to electric steering system problems. At the time, Toyota offered to make any necessary adjustments to affected vehicles, although the class action lawsuit alleges that this offer, made in a bulletin, was not effectively distributed to car owners.

Judge Bernal has now ruled that the amended lawsuit provides adequate support for plaintiffs’ claims that Toyota failed to let dealerships and consumers know about the available repair. As such, the case will continue, and will be heard in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

The case is Irene Corson et al. v. Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc. et al., case number 2:12-cv-08499.