The Law Office of Jason Ingber has filed an extensive opposition to Toyota Motor Sales’ demurrer, continuing to advance claims on behalf of consumers who purchased hydrogen-powered vehicles after being promised practicality, convenience, and environmental benefits. The newly expanded complaint outlines widespread allegations that Toyota misrepresented the true limitations of its hydrogen infrastructure and concealed material safety issues tied to the operation of its fuel-cell vehicles.
A System Built to Fail: Claims of a Nonfunctional Fueling Network
According to the filings, Toyota marketed its hydrogen vehicles as offering a simple five-minute refueling experience. Instead, consumers report the opposite.
The lawsuit alleges:
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Only a small number of hydrogen nozzles exist throughout California, the only state where these vehicles are sold
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Fueling stations frequently experience outages, mechanical failures, and long recompression waits
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Toyota knew the fueling network was unstable yet continued to promote it as reliable
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Toyota allegedly imposed technical standards that made efficient fueling impossible at many stations
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Functioning hydrogen stations were delayed or prevented from opening due to Toyota’s influence in the approval process
The complaint incorporates testimony from former hydrogen-industry engineers who describe significant bottlenecks caused by Toyota’s own standards and restrictions.
Serious Mechanical Problems Alleged Across the Vehicle Line
The filings further detail widespread mechanical and operational defects, including:
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Unexpected stalling
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Faulty electronic systems
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Freezing or malfunctioning fuel nozzles
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Dashboard error messages that dealerships cannot diagnose
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Rapid depletion of battery power
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Unreliable real-world driving range
These issues challenge Toyota’s marketing claims that these vehicles provide advanced performance and dependable operation.
Alleged Misrepresentations in Advertising and Sales
The lawsuit asserts that Toyota and its sales network made uniform representations such as:
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Hydrogen fuel would be readily available
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Refueling would be quick, convenient, and similar to gasoline
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A dependable statewide fueling network existed
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Vehicles would achieve a specific advertised range
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Fueling incentives would provide practical cost savings
According to the complaint, these representations were false or misleading because Toyota was aware of infrastructure shortages, system failures, and limitations long before selling these vehicles to the public.
Consumer Harm and Unfair Business Practices
Consumers report significant hardship, including:
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Inoperable vehicles due to a lack of fuel availability
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Safety risks associated with stalling and unpredictable system behavior
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Towing expenses and repeated dealership visits
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Disruption to employment and daily activities
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Steep declines in vehicle value
The complaint alleges violations of California laws governing fraud, false advertising, negligent misrepresentation, and unfair business practices.
Strong Opposition to Toyota’s Attempt to Dismiss the Case
Toyota moved to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that the claims lacked specificity or legal basis.
The Law Office of Jason Ingber filed a detailed opposition demonstrating:
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Specific, actionable misrepresentations were made
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Material facts were concealed from consumers
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Safety-related defects were known but not disclosed
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Toyota exercised significant control over fueling infrastructure
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Consumers reasonably relied on Toyota’s representations
The opposition argues that the case is properly pled under the CLRA, UCL, fraudulent concealment, negligent misrepresentation, and breach of warranty laws.
Commitment to Consumer Protection
This case highlights the growing challenges faced by consumers in emerging automotive sectors, particularly hydrogen and electric vehicles. When manufacturers promote advanced technology but fail to support it with adequate infrastructure or transparency, consumers are left bearing the cost.
The Law Office of Jason Ingber remains committed to holding manufacturers accountable when their conduct harms the public.
Contact The Law Office of Jason Ingber
If you purchased or leased a hydrogen vehicle and experienced fueling failures, safety issues, or misleading representations, you may have legal options.
Contact us today for a free consultation. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you do not pay unless we recover compensation for you.