Denso Fuel Pump Defect Class Action Lawsuit Filed

Anne Bucher | July 29, 2020

Category: Auto News

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A Canada class action lawsuit was filed against Denso, Honda, Subaru and Toyota alleging that a Denso fuel pump defect may cause the affected vehicles to experience spontaneous shutdown, engine stalling, and other safety risks that could increase the risk of a crash.

If you live in Quebec and you own or lease a vehicle with a defective Denso fuel pump, you may qualify as a Class Member in the Denso class action lawsuit in Canada if it is certified.

Fuel pumps, which manage the flow of fuel from the fuel tank to the engine, are a critical component of a vehicle’s fuel injection system.

“The fuel injection system is one of the most basic safety features in every modern vehicle because it controls speed and keeps the engine running until the engine is turned off,” the Denso fuel pump defect class action lawsuit states.

“If the fuel delivery system in a vehicle is defective, then it is unsafe to operate because it can not predictably respond to operator input to accelerate and it could stall or completely lose power while in motion.”

According to the Denso fuel pump defect class action lawsuit filed last week in Canada, the impeller can become deformed and crack, causing the fuel pump to become inoperative. The defendants allegedly had longstanding knowledge of the Denso fuel pump defect but actively concealed the issue because they understood that the presence of such a defect would diminish the value of the affected vehicles.

Denso reportedly knew as early as 2015 that its low-pressure fuel pumps were prone to failure. The vehicle manufacturers became aware of the Denso fuel pump defect as they began receiving field reports of problems related to a deformed impeller. However, they allegedly continued to use the defective Denso fuel pump system in their vehicles without notifying consumers about the potential safety risks. The car manufacturers maintained their vehicles were safe and reliable even though they were aware that the Denso fuel pump defect posed safety risks, according to the Denso class action lawsuit.

The Denso class action lawsuit points to numerous complaints that were submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration by U.S. consumers. They report a variety of issues linked to the defective Denso fuel pump, including vehicle hesitation when the driver presses the accelerator pedal, engine stalling, and sudden loss of engine power while driving.

Several vehicle owners report that they were put in a dangerous situation when they were trying to accelerate on highways or through intersections only to find that their car would lose power, increasing their risk of being involved in a crash, according to the Denso class action lawsuit in Canada.

In addition to the safety risks, the plaintiff also alleges Class Members experienced diminished value of the vehicles; loss of use of the vehicles and rental vehicle expenses; out-of-pocket costs for diagnosis, repair, replacement parts, and vehicle towing; and pain, suffering trouble and inconvenience.

The vehicles listed in the Denso fuel pump defect class action lawsuit include the following models:

2016-2018 Acura MDX
2018-2019 Acura NSX
2019 Acura RDX
2019 Acura RLS Sport Hybrid
2019 Acura RLX
2015-2019 Acura TLX
2015-2019 Honda Accord
2018-2019 Honda Civic Hatchback
2018-2019 Honda Civic Type R
2019 Honda Fit
2018-2019 Honda HR-V
2019-2020 Honda Insight
2019-2020 Subaru Ascent
2019-2020 Subaru Impreza
2019-2020 Subaru Outback
2019-2020 Subaru Legacy
2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner
2018-2019 Toyota Avalon
2018-2019 Toyota Camry
2018-2019 Toyota Corolla
2014 Toyota FJ Cruiser
2018-2019 Toyota Highlander
2014-2015 Toyota Land Cruiser
2018-2019 Toyota Sequoia
2017-2019 Toyota Tacoma
2018-2019 Toyota Tundra
2018-2019 Lexus ES350
2018-2019 Lexus GS300
2013-2014 and 2018-2019 Lexus GS350
2014-2015 Lexus GX460
2014 Lexus IS-F
2017 Lexus IS200t
2018-2019 Lexus IS300
2014-2015 and 2018-2019 Lexus IS350
2018-2019 Lexus LC500
2018-2019 Lexus LC500h (Hybrid)
2013-2015 Lexus LS460
2018-2019 Lexus LS500
2018-2019 Lexus LS500h (Hybrid)
2014-2015 Lexus LX570
2015 Lexus NX200t
2018-2019 Lexus RC300
2017 Lexus RC200t
2015-2018-2019 Lexus RC350
2017-2019 Lexus RX350
2018-2019 Lexus RX350L

According to the Denso fuel pump defect class action lawsuit in Canada, more than 136,000 vehicles have already been recalled in Canada due to the defective Denso fuel pump.

The plaintiff is asking the court to order the defendants to recall all of the vehicles that are equipped with a defective Denso fuel pump and repair or replace the defect at no cost to the vehicle owners and lessees. He is also seeking compensatory damages on behalf of the Class Members for the losses they suffered.

The Denso fuel pump defect class action lawsuit also seeks punitive damages.

Denso, Honda and Toyota are already facing a similar fuel pump defect class action lawsuit that was recently filed in the Supreme Court of British Columbia.

Do you have any of the affected vehicles listed? What do you think about the Denso fuel pump class action lawsuit in Canada? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section below!

The plaintiff is represented by Andrea Grass of Consumer Law Group Inc.

The Denso Fuel Pump Defect Class Action Lawsuit is L. Hand v. Denso International America, INc., et al., Case No. 500-06-001088-203, in the Superior Court of Québec, District of Montreal, Canada.