Toyota Lawsuit Guide: The $78.5 Million Airbag Settlement Is Still Taking Claims
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Most people searching for a Toyota lawsuit or a Toyota settlement are looking for one case: the Toyota airbag settlement over ZF-TRW airbag control units in 2011–2019 Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Avalon, Avalon HV, Tacoma, Tundra and Sequoia models. It is final, it pays documented recall costs for recalled cars plus a leftover share of up to $250 for every claimant, and the official claim deadline is December 11, 2028 — not December 2026, as some claim-finder sites still say. The other Toyota cases in the news turned out differently: the Tundra engine class action was dropped, and the driving-data case was sent to arbitration.
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Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated
What the Airbag Lawsuit Says Happened
The airbag control unit (ACU) is the electronic module that decides when to fire the airbags and seatbelt pretensioners. The case, In re: ZF-TRW Airbag Control Units Products Liability Litigation, alleges that the ZF-TRW units in certain Toyota vehicles are vulnerable to “electrical overstress,” which, the plaintiffs say, can make the airbags and other safety features fail during a collision.
On January 17, 2020, Toyota recalled 2011–2019 Corolla, 2011–2013 Corolla Matrix, 2012–2018 Avalon and 2013–2018 Avalon Hybrid vehicles under NHTSA Recall No. 20V-024. The recall summary says the air bag control unit “may malfunction, possibly disabling the deployment of the air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners.” The 2012–2019 Tacoma, 2012–2017 Tundra and 2012–2017 Sequoia are in the settlement, but the settlement FAQ says Toyota has not recalled their airbag units. Toyota denies the allegations, and the court did not decide who is right.
Case Details
The Toyota settlement sits in the federal multidistrict case In re: ZF-TRW Airbag Control Units Products Liability Litigation, Case No. 2:19-ml-02905-JAK-MRW, before Judge John A. Kronstadt in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. The court entered its Final Order and Final Judgment on November 28, 2023. An appeal filed on December 28, 2023 was dismissed on December 11, 2025, and the settlement website now says the settlement “is now finalized and is being fully implemented.”
The administrator is Kroll Settlement Administration. The only authorized website is AirbagControlUnitSettlement.com; phone 1-833-747-5737; mail: Toyota Airbag Control Unit Settlement, c/o Kroll Settlement Administration, P.O. Box 225391, New York, NY 10150-5391. Hyundai-Kia and Mitsubishi settled separately in the same court case — see our Hyundai-Kia airbag settlement report.
Status: Airbag Claims Open to 2028, Other Toyota Cases Closed or Paused
Tundra and Lexus engine (V35A). Toyota has issued three recalls for machining debris that can make the main bearings fail and stall the engine: NHTSA 24V-381 (May 30, 2024; 2022–2023 Tundra and Lexus LX600, engine replaced), 25V-767 (November 6, 2025; about 127,000 gas-engine 2022–2024 Tundra and Lexus LX and 2024 Lexus GX; inspection, new engine if needed) and 26V-320 (May 20, 2026; certain 2024 Tundra). The class action most coverage points to, Daley v. Toyota Motor North America, No. 2:24-cv-01318 (D. Vt.), was voluntarily dismissed on September 29, 2025 — with prejudice for the named plaintiffs, without prejudice for the proposed class. No settlement, no fund.
Driving data and Progressive. Siefke v. Toyota Motor North America, No. 4:25-cv-00406 (E.D. Tex.), filed April 21, 2025, alleges that Toyota and its data servicer Connected Analytic Services collected location, speed, braking and other driving data, and that Toyota sold it to third parties such as the insurer Progressive. On December 2, 2025, the court sent the plaintiff's claims to arbitration and stayed the case. No settlement, no fund, no claim form.
Closed programs. The 2013–2018 RAV4 battery settlement (Murphy v. Toyota Motor Corp., No. 4:21-cv-00178, E.D. Tex.) took its last claims on July 1, 2025. The Toyota program in the older Takata airbag settlement had its final claim deadline on August 2, 2022.
Not about cars. The $299.5 million Toyota forklift settlement is for people and companies that bought or leased certain Toyota IC forklifts built 2007–2021 — not car owners; the administrator Verita lists its claim deadline as October 7, 2026.
Looking for another automaker? See our Kia/Hyundai theft settlement, Subaru, Nissan CVT and GM engine pages.
Don't miss the claim deadline
Claims are due by December 11, 2028. We'll email you 7 days and 1 day before the deadline.
Who Can Claim in the Toyota Airbag Settlement
You are in the class if you own, lease, or previously owned or leased one of these vehicles as of July 31, 2023, sold or leased in the United States or its territories: 2011–2019 Corolla, 2011–2013 Corolla Matrix, 2012–2018 Avalon, 2013–2018 Avalon HV, 2012–2019 Tacoma, 2012–2017 Tundra and 2012–2017 Sequoia. Former owners count. The official VIN lookup decides; the 17-digit VIN is on the driver's side of the dashboard or door post.
What you can claim depends on the recall. Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Avalon and Avalon HV were recalled (20V-024), so their owners can claim documented recall costs and register for the leftover payment. Tacoma, Tundra and Sequoia have not been recalled for the airbag unit, per the settlement FAQ, so their owners can register for the leftover payment only — unless Toyota recalls them before the claims period ends.
Excluded: Toyota and its officers, directors and employees, Toyota dealers and their officers and directors, class counsel, court staff on the case, and anyone who opted out by October 20, 2023.
What the Toyota Airbag Settlement Pays
1. Recall-cost reimbursement (recalled vehicles only): unreimbursed rental car or transportation, towing to a Toyota dealer, childcare while the recall was done, unreimbursed repair costs for the ZF-TRW unit, and lost wages for dropping off or picking up the car. You need a receipt or invoice, or a signed affidavit if you have none. A court-appointed special administrator decides, and those decisions are final.
2. Leftover (“residual”) payment (every claimant): up to $250, split per capita from whatever remains after reimbursements and costs. The $250 is a ceiling, not a promise, and the site gives no per-person estimate. By our reading, the leftover cannot be worked out until reimbursement claims close on December 11, 2028, so do not expect it soon.
Other benefits: a 12-year Extended New Parts Warranty on recall parts, counted from July 31, 2023 and transferable with the car, and an inspection program for frontal crashes in which an airbag or seatbelt pretensioner did not deploy. The settlement does not release claims for personal injury, wrongful death or physical property damage (other than damage to the airbag unit itself).
Toyota Lawsuit Timeline
- 1
January 17, 2020 — Airbag Control Unit Recall
Toyota recalls 2011–2019 Corolla, 2011–2013 Matrix, 2012–2018 Avalon and 2013–2018 Avalon Hybrid under NHTSA Recall 20V-024. Tacoma, Tundra and Sequoia are not recalled for this issue.
- 2
November 28, 2023 — Airbag Settlement Approved
After a November 16, 2023 hearing, Judge Kronstadt enters the Final Order and Final Judgment. An appeal filed on December 28, 2023 holds up payments, which only start once appeals are resolved.
- 3
May 30, 2024 — First Tundra Engine Recall
Recall 24V-381 covers 2022–2023 Tundra and Lexus LX600 with the V35A engine: manufacturing debris can make the main bearings fail. Dealers replace the engine. A class action follows in Vermont on December 2, 2024.
- 4
September 29, 2025 — Tundra Class Action Dropped
The plaintiffs in Daley v. Toyota Motor North America voluntarily dismiss the case — with prejudice for themselves, without prejudice for the proposed class. No settlement.
- 5
November 6, 2025 — Engine Recall Widened
Recall 25V-767 adds about 127,000 gas-engine 2022–2024 Tundra and Lexus LX and 2024 Lexus GX vehicles. The remedy is a main-bearing inspection and a new engine if needed; owner letters went out August 28, 2026.
- 6
December 11, 2025 — Airbag Settlement Final
The appeal is dismissed; payments start on a rolling basis and claims run to December 11, 2028. Nine days earlier, a Texas federal judge sent the claims in the Toyota–Progressive driving-data case to arbitration.
Three Traps Specific to Toyota Claims
Several Toyota cases with very different outcomes make it easy to sell people the wrong one:
The “Toyota car-tracking settlement”
At least one lawsuit-news site has published that a Toyota car-tracking lawsuit is “finally paying out” from a “massive settlement fund” with an October 2026 deadline. The court record shows the opposite: on December 2, 2025 the named plaintiff's claims were sent to arbitration and the case was stayed. Do not give your VIN, license or bank details to anyone collecting “claims” for it.
Takata airbag “recovery” offers
The Takata settlement programs for Toyota and five other brands are closed: the final claim deadline was August 2, 2022, and unclaimed money was sent to the claimant's state. If someone offers to recover a Takata payment for a fee, search your state's unclaimed-property office yourself first.
Look-alike airbag claim pages
The only authorized site for the Toyota airbag settlement is AirbagControlUnitSettlement.com, run by Kroll. Pages showing a December 2026 deadline are not the administrator, and the official FAQ says you can talk to class counsel for free — you never need a paid middleman to file. Type the address yourself instead of tapping a link in a text.
Toyota Lawsuit — Questions People Actually Ask
Is there a Toyota airbag settlement I can still claim?
Yes. The $78.5 million settlement over ZF-TRW airbag control units is final and accepts claims until December 11, 2028 at AirbagControlUnitSettlement.com or by mail. Check your VIN with the official lookup tool first.
How much will I get from the Toyota settlement?
For a recalled Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Avalon or Avalon HV: your documented recall costs, plus the leftover payment. For every claimant: a leftover payment of up to $250, depending on what remains after reimbursements. No per-person estimate has been published.
When will the Toyota airbag settlement pay?
Since the appeal was dismissed on December 11, 2025, the site says payments and deficiency notices go out on a rolling basis. The leftover payment comes from what remains after all reimbursements; the settlement names no date for it.
My Tacoma, Tundra or Sequoia was never recalled. Can I still claim?
Yes, for the leftover payment: 2012–2019 Tacoma, 2012–2017 Tundra and 2012–2017 Sequoia owners and former owners can register. If Toyota recalls your airbag unit before the claims period ends, you could also claim recall costs.
Is there a Toyota Tundra engine lawsuit or settlement?
There is no Tundra engine settlement. The Vermont class action, Daley v. Toyota Motor North America, was voluntarily dismissed on September 29, 2025. What exists are recalls 24V-381, 25V-767 and 26V-320; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls — the repair is free. Toyota says its November 2025 recall covers conventional gas models only. Explaining why Tundra Hybrids were left out of the first recall, Toyota said a hybrid “continues to have some motive power for limited distances” if the engine fails, as quoted in the Daley complaint.
Did Toyota sell my driving data to Progressive?
That is what Siefke v. Toyota Motor North America alleges; no court has ruled on whether it is true. On December 2, 2025, Chief Judge Amos L. Mazzant compelled arbitration of the named plaintiff's claims and stayed the case. There is no settlement or claim form. For a similar case against GM, see our GM OnStar data privacy lawsuit page.
I got mail from Kroll about a Toyota airbag settlement. Is it real?
Kroll Settlement Administration is the court-approved administrator. The official mailing address is P.O. Box 225391, New York, NY 10150-5391, and the phone number is 1-833-747-5737. Type AirbagControlUnitSettlement.com into your browser rather than using a link from the message. More on Kroll mail: Kroll Settlement Administration.
What about the Toyota forklift and RAV4 battery settlements?
The $299.5 million forklift case, Broadmoor Lumber & Plywood Co. v. Toyota Industries Corp. (N.D. Cal.), is for people and companies that bought or leased certain Toyota IC forklifts, not car owners; Verita lists the claim deadline as October 7, 2026 (see our Verita/KCC page). The RAV4 battery settlement for 2013–2018 RAV4s, hybrids excluded, closed for claims on July 1, 2025.
Separate from this case: were you injured in the last 2 years?
Class-action payouts are fixed amounts through an administrator. A personal injury claim is a different case — and often worth far more. Free estimate, no obligation.
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