Settlement Proves Toyota's Phone System Was More Echo Than Function

Potential Compensation For Years Of Communication Breakdowns

If you've been frustrated by echo issues during Bluetooth phone calls in your Toyota vehicle, there's finally light at the end of the tunnel. A class action settlement has been reached for owners and lessees of certain Toyota vehicles with hands-free phone system defects. The settlement currently includes an outreach program that aims to educate suffering owners on how to adjust settings on their phones to fix the issue. While no mass recall is in sight, it could also result in Toyota offering potential compensation for years of communication frustration.

The notorious Toyota "echo defect" has made phone conversations virtually impossible for countless owners. The defect makes phone conversations impossible to maintain, often regardless of type of phone or whether the call was initiated in the vehicle or not. The issue affects the hands-free calling functionality that many owners depend on for safe, legal phone use while driving.

Toyota Has Known About The Echo Defect For Years

Going by a previous class action lawsuit that claims Toyota's owner’s manuals from as early as 2007 reference this specific issue, Toyota has known about the echo defect since then. However, the echo problem persisted across multiple model years and vehicle lines. The class action lawsuit alleges that Toyota equipped vehicles with defective hands-free phone systems while marketing them as premium features.

The current settlement covers model years between 2014-2019 of popular models such as the Toyota Tacoma, 4Runner, Highlander, Tundra, Sequoia, Avalon, Mirai, Prius, Yaris and Sienna. Class members residing in certain states may have purchased or leased the above vehicles with virtually unusable hands-free phone systems. 

A Happy Ending To The Toyota Echo Defect?

Under the settlement terms, class members can receive benefits from the outreach program even if they take no action, although specific compensation amounts haven't been disclosed. The outreach program essentially tutors people on how to adjust the volume on their phone and in their vehicle to minimize the echo. 

While no settlement can fully compensate for years of communication difficulties, it does represent an important step toward accountability. The settlement represents years of legal efforts by multiple aggrieved owners to hold Toyota accountable for a widely reported issue.

Toyota owners experiencing echo issues should monitor official settlement websites for claim-filing instructions and deadlines to ensure they receive any available compensation.