Couple Sues Toyota on Behalf of Wash. Customers

A Seattle couple has sued Toyota, seeking to have the company take back the vehicle they just bought or reimburse them for lost value.

Dana and Douglas Eller filed the lawsuit Monday in federal court, seeking class action status on behalf of others who recently bought Toyotas.

The lawsuit claims the Ellers bought a 2009 RAV4 in September and a short time later received a recall notice and took the vehicle in for repairs. But after Toyota’s much publicized recalls for acceleration problems, they say they tried to sell the car and were told its value is 20 percent less than what it was worth less than six months ago.

Toyota Motors Sales USA in Torrance, Calif., had no comment on the lawsuit filed in Seattle.

Toyota owners have filed at least 89 class-action lawsuits that, if successful, could cost the Japanese auto giant $3 billion or more.

Latest Comments

• March 19, 2010 at 4:06 am

  David says:

  What people seeem to forget is a vehicle loses value no matter what! If you go to sell or trade in of course it is worth less. A hoops example of this is why is your vehicle ... read more
• March 18, 2010 at 11:22 am

  Anon says:

  A problematic side-effect here, if suits like this win, is they start to set precident for "Diminished Valule" claims against insurance companies when, although the vehicle wa... read more
• March 17, 2010 at 5:32 am

  hmmm says:

  Many auto policies will replace the first year without depreciation or very little depreciation. I would look for new company / agent.