Toyota, Lexus DENSO Fuel Pump Defect

AFFECTED VEHICLES

The firm's lawsuit included all Toyota and Lexus vehicles equipped with DENSO low-pressure fuel pumps and fuel pump assemblies that begin with part number prefixes 23220- and 23221s- and specifically, the following models:

"...A NIGHTMARE VEHICLE"

According to the lawsuit, a defect in the DENSO fuel pump installed in the affected Toyota and Lexus vehicles left vehicle owners at risk of spontaneous vehicle shutdown, engine stall and other safety risks that increased the likelihood of a crash or injury.

Many owners of affected vehicles took to online forums and NHTSA (the National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration) to report complaints pertaining to the DENSO fuel pump defect:

• "2019 Highlander XLE loses power, unable to accelerate, & jerks and stalls in traffic. Bought at 200 miles, certified preowned. It is a nightmare vehicle."
• "Almost got hit this time, man behind me coming fast and had to swerve into lane over to miss me. This car is going to kill me or someone by causing an accident if they do not get it fixed right."
• "First time it stalled it started to lose power put -put and chug like jerking and all dash and electrical on dash went out, unable to accelerate, then stalled out in road, unable to steer or control vehicle."
• "I have had constant problems with my 2018 Camry since purchasing May 2018. My car is always jerking as I accelerate and when I'm driving in town, feels like I'm getting rear-ended and hesitating on highway when I have to accelerate into traiffic [sic] which is very dangerous when the car won't get up and go."

DENSO FUEL PUMP DEFECT EXPLAINED

The low-pressure fuel pump is an integral component of safe vehicle operation, and the lawsuit states that affected Toyota and Lexus models suffered from a fundamental design flaw that caused the fuel pump to prematurely fail. As Toyota admitted, the impeller in its low-pressure fuel pump absorbs fuel and water, causing it to degrade and deform. The deformed impeller meets the fuel pump body, creating excess running resistance and causing “illumination of check engine and master warning indicators, rough engine running, engine no start and/or vehicle stall[ing]...” according to reports.

When the fuel pump fails, gasoline is not supplied to the engine, causing reduced engine power, stalling, and/or engine shutdown. Compounding the problem, the alleged fuel pump defect occured spontaneously with no advance warning to the consumer, thereby creating an extremely dangerous condition for drivers and occupants.