Toyota to compensate owners of defective cars in Australia

Sydney, Australia, Apr 7 (EFE).- Motor giant Toyota must compensate owners of thousands of defective vehicles sold in Australia for an undetermined amount, according to a ruling issued Thursday by a court in the country.

Judge Michael Lee, of the Federal Court of Australia, said in his ruling that the vehicles “were worth less” at the time of sale between Oct. 1, 2015 and Apr. 23, 2020 compared to “what they would have been worth if they were not defective.”

“the conduct of marketing the vehicles as if they were of acceptable quality was misleading,” he said.

The price of said vehicles was 17.5 percent less, according to Judge Lee’s decision published on the judicial portal, where it determines that the plaintiffs can claim compensation and sets Apr. 22 as the date to issue the final orders on the case.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs told the public network ABC that they estimate that the total amount of compensation to more than 260,000 affected people or companies would amount to about AUD 2 billion ($1.49 billion.)

Those affected also claimed in this class action lawsuit against Toyota, which began in 2019, payment for other expenses incurred due to defects in Toyota Hilux, Fortuner and Prado cars that were equipped with 1GD-FTV and 2GD-FTV diesel engines.

The plaintiffs argue that these defects caused, among other problems, the emission of smelly white smoke from the tailpipe, a clogged diesel particulate filter, increased fuel consumption, and increased engine wear.

An independent report requested by the Federal Court of Australia concluded that all filters fitted to Hilux, Prado and Fortuner models sold between October 2015 and April 2020 were defective, while a subsequent report found that these defects increased fuel consumption. fuel, according to the plaintiffs’ portal.

A Toyota spokesman told ABC the car company considers it implemented technical measures at “every step” to solve the problems of its customers and will evaluate the judge’s ruling. EFE

wat/lds