Several Toyota Corolla owners are suing the Japanese automaker, claiming their cars' paint deteriorates and peels when exposed to sunlight. The issue is so severe that some vehicles require complete repainting.
Law firm William Roberts filed the lawsuit on behalf of the owners, involving Corollas manufactured between 12/7/2010 and 30/9/2014. The affected white paint colors have various names, including Glacier Pure Super White, Glacier White, Super White, and Super White II.
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A white Toyota Corolla in Australia experiencing paint peeling in 2022. Photo: Drive |
A white Toyota Corolla in Australia experiencing paint peeling in 2022. Photo: Drive
The lawsuit argues that the paint defects violate the Australian Consumer Law by not meeting acceptable quality standards, and that Toyota failed to inform the public about the flaw. The suit seeks compensation for financial losses and diminished resale value. It also claims damages for "reasonably foreseeable losses" and emotional distress caused by the issue.
Toyota Australia has denied the claims and stated they will "vigorously defend" their position.
Although the lawsuit was recently filed, the problem isn't new. In 2022, Toyota Australia acknowledged that sunlight and UV rays could weaken the bond between the primer and the metal body, leading to peeling paint.
The number of car owners involved in the class-action lawsuit remains unclear. A Facebook group with over 7,000 members discusses the peeling paint issue on several Toyota models in Australia. Financial services company Omni Bridgeway is funding the lawsuit on a "no win, no fee" basis, allowing group members to participate for free.
Ho Tan (according to Carscoops)
