Well, it looks like Toyota Motor Co. took one for the team when it agreed to settle a class action lawsuit that claimed that oil sludge build up damaged the engines of some its Toyota and Lexus vehicles sold in the United States.
The settlement covers about 3.5 million vehicles. Notices have been sent out to 7.48 million original and secondary owners of the vehicles. (Pictured is the 1999 Lexus RX, one of the vehicles affected.) Toyota will reimburse owners the cost of repairing oil sludge damage and other incidental costs for up to eight years after the purchase of the affected vehicle.
Our take? Some say that the settlement is a set back for Toyota. We don’t think so. Toyota was quick to point out that the settlement reflects a customer support program it began four years ago. They saw the problem and took action with the customer support program and then took ultimate responsibility with consumers with the lawsuit settlement.
That’s a mark of a good company. It also serves as an incentive for a good car company to do just a little bit better as well.