A class-action lawsuit that has been filed in California claims that Toyota Motor Corp. sold several models of the 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid vehicle; even though the company was aware that the vehicles came with defective inverter assemblies that caused the vehicle to suddenly lose all motor power.

The class-action has been filed on behalf of all Americans who own or lease a 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid with a defective inverter assembly.  In February, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration confirmed that it had begun a preliminary investigation into consumer complaints of stalling and loss of motor power in 2006 and 2007 model year Highlander Hybrids.

The Toyota Highlander Hybrid was the company’s first hybrid version of the Highlander.  An integral part of this hybrid vehicle is the electrical inverter assembly, which changes the DC current from the car battery into AC current to power the motor.  In case of a defective inverter assembly, the vehicle begins to lose engine power while the vehicle is being driven.  The complaint alleges that Toyota was aware of the defective inverter assemblies in the Highlander Hybrid vehicle’s first generation models. 

According to the Toyota Highlander Hybrid class action lawsuit, the company was well aware that the inverter assembly installed in the very first production of the Highlander Hybrid Vehicles, was defective.  It then began installing an updated inverter assembly in Highlander Hybrid vehicles beginning with VIN number JTEDW21A060009725 for two-wheel drive vehicles and VIN number JTEEW21A660019910 for four-wheel drive vehicles.

However, the company failed to recall the vehicles or replace or repair any of the defective assemblies.  All that the company did was issue a Technical Service Bulletin that advised technicians about the defective inverter assemblies, and recommended that the electrical inverter assembly be replaced with an updated assembly, but only if the customer complained. 

Interestingly to California product liability attorneys, the inverter assemblies that have been used in the Toyota Highlander Hybrid mentioned in the lawsuit are the same ones that were used in the Toyota 2006 Lexus Rx400H hybrid sports utility vehicle.