Vehicle Fuel Pump Lawsuits

Global auto-part supplier Denso issued a massive U.S. recall in April 2020 covering more than 2 million cars, trucks, SUVs, and cross-overs because they may have a faulty fuel pump that may cause a complete loss of vehicle engine power, increasing the risk of a crash, endangering drivers and passengers. Honda, Acura, Toyota, Lexus and Subaru manufactured the more than 100 different vehicles affected by the recall.

Motley Rice investigated claims involving drivers or passengers seriously injured or killed in or by vehicles with the potential defect that loss power.

Fuel pump defect background

The low-pressure fuel pump at the heart of the recall is located in the fuel tank and supplies fuel pressure to the fuel injection system, according to a NHTSA recall notice. A part in the pump, the impeller, may become deformed, rendering the fuel pump inoperable, the notice stated.

Drivers of vehicles that contain faulty fuel pumps may experience:

• Illumination of the check engine light and/or master warning indicators
• Rough engine running
• Engine failing to start
• Vehicle stalling
• Increased risk of crash

It is believed that Denso knew the fuel pumps were faulty, but installed them anyway. Vehicle manufacturers are responsible for replacing the faulty fuel pumps, according to Denso, but a fix hasn’t been identified. The affected manufacturers have not yet offered replacement vehicles, despite the potential for severe injury or death.

Recalled vehicles

The list of known vehicles affected by the recall continues to grow as investigations continue. Some affected vehicles may appear with a recall notice when you visit safercar.gov and enter your VIN, but not all will show a recall right now. Continue to enter your VIN periodically to check for recalls that may affect your vehicle.

Potentially impacted vehicles:

HONDA / ACURA

• 2019 – 2020 Honda Insigh
• 2018 – 2019 Honda Accord
• 2018 – 2019 Honda Civic Hatchback
• 2018 – 2019 Honda Civic Type R
• 2019 Honda Fit
• 2018 – 2019 Honda HR-V
• 2018 – 2019 Acura NSX
• 2019 Acura RDX
• 2019 Acura RLX
• 2019 Acura RLX Sport Hybrid

TOYOTA / LEXUS

• 2014 – 2015 4Runner
• 2018 – 2019 Camry
• 2018 – 2019 Highlander
• 2014 – 2015 Land Cruiser
• 2018 – 2019 Sequoia
• 2017 – 2019 Sienna
• 2018 – 2019 Tacoma
• 2018 – 2019 Tundra
• 2018 - 2019 Corolla
• 2018 - 2019 Avalon
• 2014 FJ Cruiser
• 2018 – 2019 ES 350
• 2018 GS 300
• 2019 GS 300
• 2013 – 2014 GS 350
• 2015 GS 350
• 2018 – 2019 GS 350
• 2014 – 2015 GX 460
• 2014 IS F
• 2017 IS 200t
• 2018 – 2019 IS 300
• 2014 – 2015 IS 350
• 2018 – 2019 IS 350
• 2018 – 2019 LC 500
• 2018 – 2019 LC 500h
• 2018 – 2019 LS 500
• 2018 – 2019 LS 500h
• 2013 – 2015 LS 460
• 2014 – 2015 LX 570
• 2015 NX 200t
• 2017 RC 200t
• 2018 – 2019 RC 300
• 2015 RC 350
• 2018 – 2019 RC 350
• 2017 – 2019 RX 350L
• 2017 – 2019 RX 350

SUBARU

• 2019 Impreza
• 2019 Ascent
• 2019 Legacy
• 2019 Outback

Motley Rice vehicle defect experience

Named Consumer Protection Group of the Year for 2018 by legal publication Law360, Motley Rice has played a leading role in some of the largest and most significant litigations in recent years involving vehicle defects, including cases involving defective airbags Toyota and other automakers installed in their vehicles.

Our attorneys represent or have settled more than three dozen claims made by personal injury victims alleging harm by Takata airbags in the U.S. and Malaysia. Motley Rice was the first law firm to thoroughly investigate the airbag defect by disassembling airbag inflators found in junk yards. Our attorneys also played a key role in helping negotiate a pair of Takata bankruptcy resolutions for current and future victims in the wake of the largest automobile recall in history.

Motley Rice is also reviewing claims of harm involving airbags that fail to deploy, Volkswagen and Audi vehicles with faulty airbag sensors, injuries caused by knee airbags in 2007-2019 Toyota and Lexus vehicles, and other recent vehicle defect recalls.