Toyota faces Australian class action lawsuit over claims for defective diesel filters

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australian lawyers have filed a clbad-action lawsuit against Toyota Motor Corp.7203.Tthe local unit on Thursday, claiming that some models of the best-selling vehicles of automaker Hilux, Prado and Fortuner were equipped with defective parts.

According to a statement posted on its website, Banister Law and Gilbert + Tobin appealed to the Federal Court alleging that some vehicles were equipped with defective diesel particulate filters to trap and burn engine soot.

"The affected vehicles (…) require expensive repairs in time and money, including repeated vehicle maintenance and repeated replacement of (diesel filters) in their entirety," said Bannister Law.

Representatives of Toyota's Australian unit did not immediately return e-mails requesting comment.

The complaint, filed on behalf of customers who purchased the cars between October 1, 2015 and July 26, 2019, is seeking compensation for the alleged prejudice suffered by the group, said the release, without specifying the amount.

The lawsuit also alleges that Toyota made misleading statements because the vehicles "could not and could not offer the advertised combination of durability, reliability, quality, comfort and convenience, and the (diesel filter) of the affected vehicles. it was not sustainable, reliable and of good quality ".

The Toyota Hilux is the best-selling car in Australia, according to the Canstar comparison website.

In June, Toyota Motor Corporation Australia reported a 50% increase in after-tax earnings, which stood at A $ 206 million ($ 141.21 million) for the year ended December 31. March 2019, according to its website. The company sold 223,096 vehicles in the country during the period.

Toyota, Japan's largest automaker, sold 10.6 million vehicles worldwide during the same period.