Class Action Lawsuit Says Toyota Tacoma Brake Lines Can Be Damaged by Mud, Dirt Build-Up

New to ClassAction.org? Read our Newswire Disclaimer

A proposed class action lawsuit questions the effectiveness of a recall of certain model year Toyota Tacoma pickup trucks over the potential for mud and dirt build-up to clog rear brake lines, which can possibly cause brake failure.

Get class action lawsuit and settlement rebate news sent to your inbox – sign up for ClassAction.org’s free weekly newsletter. 

The 22-page class action suit was filed after defendant Toyota Motor North America earlier this month recalled over 106,000 2024-2025 four-wheel drive Tacoma pickups equipped with 16-inch brakes and 17-inch wheels over concerns that mud and dirt build-up can catastrophically clog the vehicles’ rear brake lines.

The filing contends that the Toyota Tacoma recall, which includes a free replacement of the rear brake hoses, will cost drivers hours of their time and leave them “burdened with a vehicle that has been devalued” by the automaker’s actions. The lawsuit argues that the Toyota Tacoma recall “leaves more questions than answers” regarding the vehicles’ safety. 

“Unless Defendants are to issue a more comprehensive recall to truly fix the root cause of the Defect, it is foreseeable, and should be expected, that the Class Vehicles’ braking systems will fail once again,” the complaint says. “Defendants’ recall is no more than an ineffective waste of time as there is no true fix for the defect.” 

The filing notes that in addition to the amount of time spent to repair the Toyota Tacoma brake line problems, drivers must spend time and money to transport themselves and their recalled vehicles to a certified Toyota mechanic. 

The lawsuit charges that the Toyota recall “amounts to tens of thousands of hours and dollars needlessly taken” from impacted Tacoma drivers. 

Car and Driver reported on February 12 that the Toyota Tacoma recall “comes as the result of potential rear brake failure due to poor wheel clearance on select models.” In particular, recall documents show that Tacoma pickups with four-wheel drive, 17-inch wheels and 16-inch rear brakes might allow dirt or mud to accumulate inside the wheel drum, which over time could wear through the “too-close brake line and cause a brake fluid leak,” the publication said. 

Affected Tacoma owners are expected to be notified of the recall by mail in March or April of this year, Car and Driver relays.

The Toyota Tacoma recall lawsuit looks to cover all individuals in the United States who bought a 2024-2025 Toyota Tacoma equipped with four-wheel drive, 16-inch brakes and 17-inch wheels. 

Check out ClassAction.org’s lawsuit list for the latest top class action lawsuits.