This Lawsuit Claims You Should Avoid Leaving Your White Toyota In The Sun | Carscoops

      A prevalent paint color from Toyota is reportedly peeling when exposed to sunlight, leading to a class action lawsuit.

      Toyota Corolla owners in Australia are taking legal action regarding issues with defective factory white paint.

      The problematic paint, known as 040 white, is sold under various similar names.

      Some vehicles are said to need complete repainting due to peeling and sun damage.

      Owners of specific Toyota Corolla models in Australia are suing the automaker, alleging that there is a significant defect in the paint that causes it to deteriorate and peel when exposed to sunlight. The severity of the issue has led some vehicles to require total resprays due to the substandard paint.

      The class action lawsuit has been initiated by the William Roberts law firm and includes Toyota Corolla models produced between July 12, 2010, and September 30, 2014. These vehicles are painted in color code 040 white, which is marketed under various titles such as Glacier Pure Super White, Glacier White, Super White, and Super White II.

      Basis for the Legal Claims

      The lawsuit claims that the paint issue contravenes Australian Consumer Law by not meeting acceptable quality standards. It also asserts that Toyota is liable for compensating owners for financial losses and diminished resale values caused by the defect. Additionally, the suit seeks damages for "reasonably foreseeable losses" and the emotional distress stemming from the problem.

      While the lawsuit has been recently filed, the issue has been acknowledged before. In 2022, Toyota Australia recognized that prolonged exposure to sunlight and UV rays can weaken the adhesion between the paint primer and the underlying metal.

      In a statement from mid-2022, the company confirmed that “sunlight/ultraviolet exposure over time degrades the adhesion between the factory-applied paint primer coat layer and the base metal electrodeposition layer, leading to paint peeling from the metal body panel.”

      Claims of Withheld Information

      The lawsuit alleges that “throughout the manufacturing period of the affected vehicles, Toyota failed to inform the public that the vehicles contained a paint peeling defect or had a tendency to develop the defect.”

      It remains uncertain how many owners are participating in this specific class action, but there is a Facebook group dedicated to peeling paint on various Toyota models in Australia with over 7,000 members. Omni Bridgeway is supporting the lawsuit on a “no win, no pay” basis, and class members can join at no cost.

      Toyota Australia has refuted the allegations in the lawsuit and stated that it will “vigorously defend the claims.”

      Source: Canberra Times