Published
December 5, 2024
Updated
August 1, 2026
The Toyota RAV4 battery settlement covers certain non-hybrid 2013–2018 vehicles associated with Recall 23V-734. Reimbursement deadlines passed in 2025, but the settlement’s broader consumer-support program includes an inspection component.
Current Status
The court granted final approval on November 19, 2024, no appeals were filed, and the settlement is final. The last reimbursement-claim deadline passed July 1, 2025. The official site says approved reimbursements were to be issued on a rolling basis after the settlement became effective, but it does not publish a later notice confirming that every payment is complete. The no-cost inspection program is a separate benefit governed by the settlement terms.StatusFinal; Reimbursement Claims Closed
Last Claim DeadlineJuly 1, 2025 — Passed
VehiclesCertain Non-Hybrid 2013–2018 RAV4s
Historical ProofVIN and Expense Documentation
What Was the Toyota RAV4 Lawsuit About?
Plaintiffs alleged that certain 2013–2018 Toyota RAV4 vehicles had a battery-terminal and hold-down configuration that could allow a replacement 12-volt battery of the wrong size to move and short circuit. The alleged consequences included loss of electrical power, stalling, and a possible engine-compartment fire. The vehicles were associated with federal safety Recall 23V-734. Toyota denied the lawsuit’s allegations and did not admit liability. The settlement resolved the disputed claims without a trial or finding that Toyota was responsible.Which Vehicles Were Included?
The class generally covered current and former owners and lessees of subject 2013–2018 Toyota RAV4 vehicles in the United States. Hybrid RAV4 vehicles were not part of the recall or settlement. Eligibility depended on the specific vehicle identification number rather than the model year alone, so the official VIN tool and recall records controlled. Salvaged, flood-damaged, and certain inoperable vehicles were excluded from parts of the consumer-support program under the settlement agreement.What Did the Consumer Support Program Provide?
The settlement created several forms of relief: an inspection program at authorized Toyota dealers; partial reimbursement for replacing a Group 26R battery with a Group 35 battery in a subject vehicle; reimbursement of certain unreimbursed repairs or replacement parts connected with the battery hold-down assembly, including reasonable towing or rental expenses; and reimbursement of qualifying unreimbursed vehicle or property damage caused by a unique thermal event linked to the alleged defect. Each category had its own eligibility and documentation rules.How Does the Inspection Program Differ From a Claim?
An inspection was designed to confirm that a subject vehicle has the correct battery size and the necessary components securing it. If covered hold-down components were damaged or missing, the program allowed replacement without charge when the correct battery was installed. That inspection benefit is not the same as a reimbursement claim for money already spent. The administrator’s statement that claim deadlines passed refers to reimbursement forms; owners should consult the official site and an authorized dealer for the current availability and limits of the inspection program.What Were the Reimbursement Deadlines?
The repair or replacement expense program used an earlier deadline of December 1, 2024. Claims for the battery-replacement reimbursement program were due June 25, 2025. Claims for unreimbursed unique thermal-event expenses were due July 1, 2025. Those dates have all passed. A late expense, a newly discovered issue, or ownership of a subject vehicle does not create a new filing window on this page.What Documentation Was Historically Required?
Claimants used the vehicle identification number and had to provide evidence appropriate to the benefit requested. Depending on the category, that could include proof of ownership or lease, invoices, receipts, repair records, towing or rental records, proof of a battery purchase, photographs, insurance information, or other evidence connecting an expense to the battery hold-down issue. Reimbursement was limited to qualifying unreimbursed amounts; the settlement did not promise every owner a flat cash payment.How Were Payments Supposed to Be Issued?
The official FAQ says the special administrator would begin issuing approved out-of-pocket reimbursements on a rolling basis within 60 days after final approval and the settlement’s effective date, then continue as claims were approved. Because final approval occurred November 19, 2024 and no appeal was filed, the settlement became final. The official homepage does not announce a final completion date or state that every approved claim has been paid, so the most accurate current description is final settlement with historical reimbursement processing rather than a newly open claim.Why the Estimated $44 Million Is Not a Cash Fund
The page’s historical $44 million figure described an estimated overall value of the consumer-support and reimbursement program, not a common fund divided equally among RAV4 owners. Benefits depended on the vehicle, the condition found at inspection, and documented qualifying expenses. Toyota also separately paid approved fees and costs under the settlement. A person’s potential recovery therefore depended on the specific program and proof, not on dividing $44 million by the number of class members.What Should Owners Do Now?
Owners can still use the official site to review the final order, settlement agreement, recall scope, and current program information. Questions about an individual VIN, inspection, or previously submitted reimbursement belong with the official program, not OpenClassActions. Keep copies of any submitted claim, repair invoice, and administrator correspondence. Do not submit vehicle records or financial information to this site.Official Information
Review the latest information on the official Toyota RAV4 battery settlement website website.
Case
Murphy v. Toyota Motor Corp.
Case Number
4:21-cv-00178
Court
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
Vehicles
Certain non-hybrid 2013–2018 Toyota RAV4s
Recall
NHTSA Recall 23V-734
Final Approval
November 19, 2024
Last Reimbursement Deadline
July 1, 2025
Official Website
official Toyota RAV4 battery settlement website
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