Toyota under renewed criticism: second class-action lawsuit over 8-speed automatic transmission failures

Toyota is facing another class-action lawsuit in the United States related to failures of its 8-speed automatic transmissions. This is the second collective lawsuit filed by vehicle owners who claim that the transmission can fail suddenly and without warning, creating safety risks while driving.

According to court documents, the disputed 8-speed automatic transmission from the UA80 Direct Shift-8AT family was installed in a wide range of Toyota and Lexus models produced since 2017. Among sedans, the lawsuit mentions the Toyota Camry (2018–2024) and Toyota Avalon (2019–2022). In the crossover and SUV segments, the transmission was used in the Toyota RAV4 (2019–present), Toyota Highlander (2017–present), and Toyota Grand Highlander (from 2024). The unit was also installed in minivans such as the Toyota Sienna (2017–2020) and Toyota Alphard (V6 versions, 2016–2023). Similar transmissions were fitted to several Lexus models, including the ES, RX, NX, and TX, potentially expanding the number of affected vehicles to hundreds of thousands worldwide.

Plaintiffs report issues including abrupt gear changes, harsh shifting, delayed acceleration response, and in some cases a complete loss of torque. Some drivers allege that their vehicles suddenly stopped while driving, creating potentially dangerous situations on public roads.

The lawsuit claims that Toyota was aware of the defect but failed to take sufficient corrective measures or initiate a large-scale recall. As a result, the case could attract increased scrutiny from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and other regulatory bodies.

If the court rules against the manufacturer, Toyota could face multimillion-dollar compensation claims, mandatory service campaigns, and significant repair costs. Analysts note that the case could deal a serious blow to Toyota’s long-standing reputation for reliability, a key pillar of the brand’s global image for decades.