Toyota RAV4 Prime SUVs Sold Without Advertised Adaptive Headlights, Class Action Claims

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A proposed class action alleges consumers have paid for but not received certain optional safety features advertised on the window sticker of 2022 Toyota RAV4 vehicles. 

More specifically, the 28-page complaint says that although the vehicles at issue, including the RAV4 XSE and XSE Hybrid models, were touted as equipped with adaptive front headlights—and priced accordingly—the cars in fact did not have this safety feature, which aids with nighttime driving in particular. 

The filing explains that the adaptive front headlights activate a “cornering light” and adjust the direction of the LED beam in order to illuminate more of the road when the driver turns the steering wheel. 

“By angling the headlights in the direction of travel, the Adaptive Headlights system will widen the area that the headlights cover and illuminate the direction of travel rather than just the sides of the road,” the complaint relays. 

Moreover, the headlights’ auto level feature vertically adjusts the beam when the height of the car changes as a result of changes in the passenger or luggage load, the suit explains. 

The plaintiff, a San Francisco resident, claims that she was informed by the automaker eight months after purchasing her 2022 RAV4 Prime XSE SUV that the information on the vehicle’s Monroney sticker was false, and that the car did not have adaptive headlights. The woman alleges she was misled by Toyota’s advertising and window stickers and bought her vehicle based in part on the belief that the RAV4 was equipped with adaptive headlights. 

“Plaintiff paid a higher price for the upgraded XSE model with the premium package under the mistaken belief that the premium package vehicle would be equipped with the features she wanted, including the represented Adaptive Headlights feature. After receiving her vehicle, however, she discovered that it only came equipped with the LED projector headlights.” 

According to the complaint, Toyota knew that the 2022 RAV4 vehicles sold and leased in the U.S. did not have adaptive headlights as part of the standard package of advertised optional features yet has refused or failed to recall the cars to add the headlights, much less reimburse owners and lessees who paid a higher price for their vehicles. 

The 2022 RAV4 Prime models mentioned in the complaint include the SE Hybrid, XSE, XSE Hybrid, XLE, XLE Hybrid, XLE Premium, XLE Premium Hybrid, Adventure, TRD Off-Road, Limited, and Limited Hybrid variations, which all come with upgraded interior and exterior standard features over the base level RAV4 LE model. 

The suit looks to represent all persons who bought or leased in the United States a 2022 Toyota RAV4 whose Monroney label falsely stated that the vehicle was equipped with adaptive headlights. 

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