According to the suit, consumers are charging that manufacturers knew there was a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning in more than 5 million vehicles equipped with keyless ignitions, causing 13 deaths.
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In cars with the keyless ignition system, drivers can start and turn off the auto with the push of a button while an electronic key fob is nearby.
This lawsuit seeks to change that, as the plaintiffs are asking for an injunction requiring automakers to install automatic shut-off features on all existing and future vehicles that have keyless ignitions. The suit alleges the automakers have known for years about increased dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning when people mistakenly leave their keyless ignition vehicles running after they’ve left the auto, taking their key fobs with them.
Besides Toyota, Honda Motor Co., Nissan Motor Co., General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co., FCA US LLC, Hyundai Motor Co., Kia Motors Corp., BMW AG, Volkswagen AG, and Daimler AG were named as defendants. Now 10 auto makers in the United States have been hit with a lawsuit claiming the issue has resulted in 13 deaths due to what is said to be a “defect” with the vehicles.
“The automakers failed to properly consider the ramifications of eliminating the physical and psychological connection between the vehicle and physical keys”, the complaint says. “In fact they are not”. It also seeks compensatory and punitive damages, among other remedies.
They said 27 complaints have been lodged with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration since 2009 over keyless ignitions.
Aaron Fowles, a spokesman for Toyota’s U.S. unit, declined to comment on the Los Angeles lawsuit.
It was filed in the same court where Toyota defended against lawsuits claiming that some of its vehicles accelerated unintentionally. Whitney Eichinger, a Ford spokeswoman, didn’t immediately return a call after normal business hours seeking comment.
U.S. District Judge James Selna in July 2013 approved a $1.6 billion settlement to resolve claims that Toyotas lost value because of that defect.
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The case is Draeger et al v. Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc et al, U.S. District Court, Central District of California, No. 15-06491.
