Affected Years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 Toyota RAV4, Highlander. Our law firm is also investigating 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 Toyota RAV4, Highlander for the same issues.
These issues seem to arise from defects in the Suspension Components (shocks, struts).
When most consumers are shopping for a new car, truck, or SUV, they are eager to stop by a few dealerships and test-drive a variety of vehicles from different manufacturers. While these test drives are typically short, they can provide valuable information about your comfort in the driver’s seat, the visibility, how responsive the handling feels, and other small factors like the amount of road noise you hear or any odd squeaking, clanking, or knocking noises. Discovering the rattles and strange sounds the first time your test drive takes you over a bump or imperfection in the road’s surface could be one way you avoid purchasing a lemon vehicle.
You might have noticed an off sound when you test-drove a 2019-2022 Toyota RAV4 or Highlander, but were so focused on other features that you just overlooked it or thought it was something in the rear of the SUV rather than the vehicle itself making the sound. But after making your purchase and driving the Toyota for a few days, you have come to understand that the vehicle makes the same rattle or clanking sound each time you drive over a bump or uneven surface. As a new vehicle owner, you are sure to return to the dealership to have the service center find and correct the issue. Ideally, the issue is eliminated on that first trip to the dealership. But in many cases, owners are returning four, five, or even six times to have the same annoying noise investigated. If you have waited long enough for the dealership and manufacturer to correct the sounds in your RAV4 or Highlander, please reach out to Guardian Lemon Law. Our team will schedule a review of your case and see if your vehicle and its problems will actually qualify under California Lemon Law, and more importantly, how long you have to address the issue.
If it qualifies, that clears the way so that we can sue Toyota for selling you a defective, lemon Toyota RAV4, Highlander, and provide you with an experienced Toyota RAV4, Highlander lemon law attorney to handle the matter.
The History And Remedies Of Lemon Law In The State Of California
In 1971, the California Lemon Law was signed. Its purpose was to provide consumer protection when dealing with manufacturers who were not standing behind their warranties. It ensures consumers have recourse if the manufacturer is unwilling or unable to meet their express warranty promises.
Qualifying under the Lemon Law in California begins with a Guardian Lemon Law attorney performing an evaluation to determine the answer to the crucial qualification question. There are three parts to this process. The first is verifying that your vehicle does qualify under the law. The second examines the issue itself and verifies that it meets the criteria for a Lemon Law claim. The last part is to confirm that you are within the time limits defined by the Lemon Law to file a claim or lawsuit. If the requirements are all met, you can decide on the solution you would like to get from the manufacturer.
You can request either a vehicle buyback, which is comparable to a refund of what you paid for the Toyota RAV4, plus any associated fees, or a vehicle replacement. The replacement would be an identical vehicle or one of similar value if a matching vehicle is not available. When you need a Toyota RAV4, Highlander suspension noise lemon lawyer, Guardian Lemon Law is ready to take on this matter for you and resolve it to your satisfaction.
The Qualifiers Of A Vehicle Under California Lemon Law
The first requirement to qualify under the Lemon Law is specific to the vehicle and the cause of the issue. These three items must be met to qualify:
- The vehicle must be covered under the manufacturer’s new car warranty or a certified pre-owned warranty when the issue was brought to the attention of the dealership or manufacturer
- Abuse or misuse of the vehicle did not cause or create the problem
- You allow the manufacturer or dealership a reasonable number of attempts to repair the issue – with reasonable being defined as two attempts for safety-related issues, and four attempts for non-safety-related issues
Under California’s Lemon Law, you must give the manufacturer an opportunity to make the repair. If one of the two following items is met, it is called a presumption of the vehicle being a lemon:
- The vehicle was unusable for the owner for 30 or more days total during the attempted repairs
- The issue with the vehicle impacts its safe operation, its actual use, or its value
- When you need a trusted lemon lawyer to sue Toyota for suspension noise, the last qualification is the Statute of Limitations.
What Is The Time Limit For Lemon Law Claims And Lawsuits?
On January 1, 2025, the Statute of Limitations in the State of California for filing a Lemon Law claim or lawsuit was updated. Currently, there are two limits under the law. One is within one year of the expiration of your vehicle’s factory warranty. The other six years from the date you took delivery of the vehicle. The date that applies to your case is the earlier of the two. During your case evaluation, Guardian Lemon Law can provide more information on this and ensure the Toyota RAV4 and Highlander suspension noise lemon law lawsuit is filed in time.
The Causes Of The 2019-2022 Toyota RAV4 And Highlander Suspension Noise Issue
When you invest in a Toyota RAV4 or Highlander, you expect to have a great experience when driving your new SUV. And because these are considered very capable vehicle selections, you are likely to take the vehicle out for some fun on less than perfectly paved roads. But after all, that is what the manufacturer claims these SUVs are more than capable of handling. The unfortunate part for you is that if you purchased a 2019 – 2022 Toyota RAV4 or Highlander, you could be hearing annoying and very concerning squeaking, clanking, or knocking noises when you are going over bumps. If this is what you have heard and continue to hear, you should know that there are a few common culprits causing this annoying and troubling sound in your new SUV, the most well-known include:
- Worn sway bar end links or bushings
- Failing strut mounts
- Issues with the lower control arm bushings
- Cracks in the lower control arms
It is critical to understand that these issues have been reported and documented by many owners of new or relatively new 2019–2022 Toyota RAV4 or Highlander models. And as the owner of one of these vehicles that is already making off-sound noises, you have the right to expect the manufacturer to repair the issue before it causes more extensive damage or makes the vehicle unsafe to drive. Please also know that if you have given the manufacturer and local dealerships many opportunities to repair the issue, yet your Toyota is still making squeaking, clanking, or knocking sounds from the suspension when you drive over a bump, Guardian Lemon Law is here to help. We can provide you with a lawyer experienced in Toyota RAV4 and Highlander suspension noise cases and lemon law matters.
Hiring Guardian Lemon Law And Out Of Pocket Expense
Please know that we will not charge a new client upfront legal fees or expenses before taking on their case. Your initial consultation is free, as is a second opinion on an existing case you already have in progress with another firm.
There is nothing easy about going through a Lemon Law issue on a vehicle you paid a lot of money for. It is upsetting when you start spending your time and energy getting your RAV4 or Highlander fixed. But it is even more infuriating when you learn that you are going to have to file a claim and retain legal counsel. Know that in these cases, Guardian Lemon Law is poised to help you. And our Zero-Fee Guarantee says if we do not win your case, there will be no fees at all.
Please get in touch with Guardian Lemon Law when you are considering a Toyota RAV4, Highlander, defective suspension components (shocks, struts), lemon lawsuit, or claim. We can help you through each step and eliminate some of the burden as we work to resolve this matter in your favor.
