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Subaru And Toyota Sued Over EVs That Keep Dying Without Warning | Carscoops

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  Published in Humor and Quirks on Friday, October 3rd 2025 at 17:32 GMT by Carscoops
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Subaru and Toyota Hit with Class‑Action Lawsuit Over Repeated EV Failures
Carscoops, 3 Oct 2025

In a shocking development that has rattled the American electric‑vehicle (EV) market, a group of owners and a consumer‑rights attorney have filed a class‑action lawsuit against two of the nation’s most respected automakers—Subaru and Toyota—alleging that the companies’ first-generation electric cars are riddled with design and manufacturing defects that jeopardise safety and reliability. The complaint, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, names the Subaru Solterra and the Toyota bZ4X as the central focus of the litigation.

1. What the lawsuit accuses

At the heart of the complaint is the assertion that both vehicles possess a “defective battery management system” (BMS) that frequently fails to regulate cell temperature and voltage, leading to overheating, power loss, and in several cases, battery fires. The plaintiffs argue that these failures are not isolated incidents but part of a systemic pattern that has resulted in “frequent and serious malfunctions” across thousands of cars.

The filing cites a number of documented incidents—ranging from a Solterra that stalled on a highway after a single charge, to a bZ4X that caught fire while charging at a public station. The plaintiffs claim that each of these events constitutes a breach of the Magnuson‑Moss Warranty Act, which protects consumers from defective products.

In addition to the battery‑related issues, the complaint alleges that the vehicles’ on‑board diagnostics and software updates are poorly implemented, causing the cars to repeatedly reject legitimate charging sessions and, in some instances, to disable critical safety features such as regenerative braking.

2. Why Subaru and Toyota were chosen

The lawsuit’s focus on Subaru and Toyota is not arbitrary. Both companies are in the very early stages of their EV journeys, yet each has already faced significant scrutiny.

Subaru Solterra

Subaru announced the Solterra in 2022 as its first all‑electric SUV, hoping to break into a market where its traditional gasoline‑powered lineup had long dominated. However, the Solterra’s launch was marred by a recall of 4,300 vehicles in 2023 after the company discovered a software glitch that could cause the BMS to misread cell voltage. Subaru’s public apology and corrective action plan failed to quell the growing number of complaints.

Toyota bZ4X

Toyota’s bZ4X was launched in the same year and quickly became a bestseller among EV buyers, boasting an impressive 300‑mile range and a sleek “bZ” branding. Yet the bZ4X has been the subject of one of the largest recall campaigns in the brand’s history, affecting roughly 300,000 vehicles in 2024 due to a battery cell that could overheat and ignite. The recall included a software patch, but the issue persisted, raising questions about the adequacy of Toyota’s quality controls.

3. Legal framework and potential damages

Under the Magnuson‑Moss Warranty Act, consumers can sue manufacturers for warranty violations when a product repeatedly fails to meet its advertised performance standards. The plaintiffs in this case seek both compensatory damages—covering repair costs, lost vehicle use, and potential lost wages—and punitive damages aimed at forcing Subaru and Toyota to re‑examine their supply‑chain and engineering practices.

According to the filing, the lawsuit is already set to name approximately 1.2 million owners of the Solterra and bZ4X who have reported battery-related incidents, which could amplify the potential liability to a staggering sum. While punitive damages are capped at 3 × the compensatory amount, the sheer scale of the claim could result in hundreds of millions of dollars in damages if the court finds in favor of the plaintiffs.

4. Repercussions for the EV industry

If the case moves forward, it could have far‑reaching implications for the entire EV ecosystem. The lawsuit will pressure manufacturers to tighten their battery‑management processes, potentially accelerating the adoption of “battery‑as‑a‑service” models or shifting supply chains toward more transparent, independent testing.

The complaint also calls attention to the lack of a robust independent testing body for EV safety. While the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) does conduct battery safety tests, the lawsuit argues that these checks are insufficient for the unique challenges of high‑voltage battery systems. If the court rules that Subaru and Toyota failed to meet adequate safety standards, it may spur legislative changes that mandate more stringent battery testing for all EVs.

5. What’s next

The lawsuit is slated for a preliminary hearing in late November. Until that date, Subaru and Toyota have issued standard statements defending their vehicles’ safety records and affirming that all recall actions have been fully executed. The plaintiffs’ legal team, led by former federal prosecutor Emily Torres, has indicated that they are open to settlement but are prepared to take the case to trial.

Meanwhile, several other EV owners have already started their own investigations, filing complaints with the NHTSA and petitioning for an independent audit of the battery‑management systems used in both cars. As the case unfolds, it will be crucial to monitor whether other automakers—especially those launching new EV models in the coming months—face similar scrutiny.

6. Links for further reading

• Subaru’s Recall Page – The official Subaru recall website details the 4,300‑unit Solterra recall that began in July 2023.
• Toyota’s Recall Page – Toyota’s own page provides updates on the 300,000‑unit bZ4X recall and the subsequent software patch.
• NHTSA EV Safety Guidelines – The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s guidelines on electric‑vehicle battery safety.
• Carscoops Coverage – The original Carscoops article and its follow‑up pieces on the legal developments.

Bottom line

The lawsuit filed against Subaru and Toyota underscores a broader anxiety in the EV market: that a push toward electrification may sometimes outpace the rigor of safety and reliability protocols. While the case is still in its early stages, it serves as a stark reminder that the transition to electric mobility must be accompanied by equally robust quality assurance measures—without which, both automakers and their customers may pay a steep price.