Australians Launch B Lawsuit against Toyota – Is Vauxhall Next?
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Australians Launch $1B Lawsuit against Toyota – Is Vauxhall Next?

On March 30, 2023 by

The diesel emissions scandal has reached Australia and authorities there quickly went to work.

Lawyers in Australia have launched a lawsuit against Toyota for the alleged use of cheat software that manipulates emissions control systems. The $1 billion (approximately £820,883,300) class-action lawsuit was filed in the Supreme Court in Victoria and is expected to become one of the country’s most controversial and major cases linked to the Dieselgate scandal.

Australian authorities and lawyers reveal that around 500,000 vehicles are affected by the lawsuit. A spokesperson for the affected drivers said the legal action is specifically for the alleged use of defeat devices for diesel vehicles. Hundreds of thousands of affected Toyotas were sold to Australian drivers.

Defeat devices are programmed to detect when a vehicle is under testing conditions. The devices tamper with emissions controls, to mask the emission levels of the vehicles they’re installed in. Emission levels are kept within the World Health Organization’s (WHO) limits so the vehicle will pass the regulatory tests.

However, how the vehicle performs during test conditions is significantly different from its performance when driven on real-world road conditions. The vehicle may have passed regulatory testing in the lab but when subjected to real-world driving, the levels of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions are unbelievably (and unlawfully) high.

Toyota’s actions, according to the spokesperson, were misleading. The carmaker lied to and deceived their customers. Since the defeat device-equipped vehicles have questionable performance and are not emissions-compliant, Toyota violated Australian Consumer Law.

The Toyota diesel models allegedly fitted with defeat devices include:

  • The HiAce (2.8-litre 1GD-FTV engine)
  • Hi-Lux (2.4-litre 2 GD-FTV engine)
  • Prado (2.8-litre 1GD-FTV engine)
  • Granvia (2.8-litre 1GD-FTV engine)
  • Fortuner (2.8-litre 1GD-FTV engine)
  • RAV4 (2.2-litre 2AD-FHV/2AD-FTV engine)
  • LandCruiser (3.3-litre F33A-FTV engine and 4.5-litre 1VD-FTV engine – 195kW-200kW)

All diesel vehicles (of the above-mentioned models) bought in Australia on or after February 7, 2016 – whether used or brand-new – are included in the claim.

Toyota Australia expressed their intention of defending the class-action lawsuit. Their spokesperson said that there is nothing wrong with their emissions evaluation and monitoring standards.

The diesel emissions case against Toyota Australia is a separate legal action from a claim against several Prado, Fortuner, and Hi-Lux diesel models involving alleged diesel particulate filter defects.

Toyota is one of the most popular brands in Australia, so getting involved in the Dieselgate scandal is a major issue for both the carmaker and the drivers.

What happened in the Dieselgate scandal?

Authorities from the California Resources Board and the EPA – Environmental Protection Agency allegedly found defeat devices in the Volkswagen Group’s VW and Audi diesel vehicles. Thousands upon thousands of vehicles were sold to consumers in the US.

The Dieselgate diesel emissions scandal involved the use of illegal devices to lower emissions during testing – similar to the ones that were found on Toyota’s diesel vehicles. Volkswagen mis-sold high-polluting vehicles to their customers at premium rates.

Volkswagen also exposed affected drivers to the life-changing effects of NOx emissions.

Not long after authorities ordered VW to recall vehicles, replace the engines with the correct ones, and pay fines, another German carmaker was accused of using defeat devices. US authorities sent Mercedes-Benz a notice of violation and ordered a recall of the affected vehicles – just like what they asked VW to do.

Soon enough, the diesel emissions scandal crossed over to UK and EU shores and authorities found more carmakers following in the footsteps of VW and Mercedes. Aside from Toyota, authorities also discovered cheat software in diesel vehicles manufactured by BMW, Renault, Nissan, and British-based Vauxhall.

Thousands of Vauxhall vehicles were found to have violated emissions regulations. Although Vauxhall emissions cases are fairly new compared to VW and Mercedes’, law firms are already pushing affected drivers to take action against their carmakers. Aside from lying to customers, carmakers involved in the scandal are also responsible for exposing drivers and the environment to nitrogen oxide emissions.

NOx causes numerous health impacts that can disrupt a person’s lifestyle:

  • Anxiety and depression
  • Dementia
  • Asthma
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
  • Pulmonary oedema (when your lungs are filled with fluid)
  • Certain cancers
  • Asphyxiation
  • Spasms of the vocal cords
  • Chronic reduction of lung function
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Premature death

NOx emissions also contribute to the formation of smog and acid rain and are responsible for producing a pollutant called ground-level ozone. This causes plants, crops, and other vegetation to weaken and get damaged.

The primary components of nitrogen oxide emissions are heavy pollutants: nitrogen dioxide or NO2 and nitric oxide or NO.

All the negative impacts of NOx emissions should not be taken for granted, which is why authorities encourage affected drivers to bring their carmakers to court. Receiving compensation through a diesel claim should be the goal of every customer who has been deceived by their emissions-violating manufacturer.

Can I file my diesel claim?

Yes, you can, but only after you have verified that you qualify for compensation. Only certain diesel vehicle models are affected by the diesel emissions scandal. So, even if you have a diesel-powered Vauxhall, you still have to determine if it is equipped with a defeat device.

The verification process is easy; just visit ClaimExperts.co.uk and access the information they’ve made available for car owners like you. Once you’re verified, you can start working on your emission claim with the help of an emissions expert.

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