Toyota UA80 Transmission Lawsuit Raises Safety Concerns

Read details of the class-action lawsuit alleging defects in Toyota’s UA80 transmission, affecting Highlander, RAV4, Camry and Lexus models with safety risks.

Toyota has found itself facing another legal challenge, this time centered on its eight-speed UA80 automatic transmission used across a broad range of Toyota and Lexus models. A class-action lawsuit filed in the United States alleges that the gearbox is prone to premature wear and may create potentially hazardous driving conditions.

One of the cases, LeBoutheller v. Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., Inc., et al., Case No. 4:25-cv-01389, is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. According to the complaint, the automaker allegedly knew about the defect for years, drawing on customer complaints, dealer reports and internal data, yet did not initiate a wide-scale recall.

Plaintiffs describe a pattern of symptoms: jerking during gear changes, delayed engagement, unusual noises, overheating and, in some instances, a loss of propulsion. They argue that the issues can surface well before the transmission’s expected service life. Repair costs outside warranty, according to owner complaints, can reach several thousand dollars.

The list of affected vehicles, as outlined in court filings and industry reports, includes the Toyota Highlander (from 2017), RAV4 (from 2019), Camry (through the 2024 model year), Grand Highlander (from 2024), as well as several Lexus models such as the ES, RX, NX and TX across various years. The “class vehicles” definition in the lawsuit spans multiple versions, potentially placing a significant number of cars within its scope.

Adding further context, technical service bulletins have been issued for certain vehicles equipped with UA80E and UA80F transmissions. A bulletin available in the NHTSA database addresses a whine or grinding noise in some 2021 Avalon, Camry and Highlander models, outlining a possible cause and repair procedure. However, such bulletins represent service guidance rather than a formal recall.

Toyota has not issued a detailed public statement addressing the substance of the allegations at this stage. With litigation still in its early phase, the outcome will depend on how the courts assess the claims and the company’s response. Given the breadth of the model lineup and the years during which the UA80 transmission has been in production, the case could become one of the more closely watched transmission disputes in the U.S. market.