Toyota Airbag Control Unit Settlement: $78.5M for ZF-TRW Airbag Defect Claims
Toyota Airbag Control Unit Class Action Settlement
Toyota agreed to a $78.5 million settlement resolving claims that ZF-TRW airbag control units in certain vehicles were vulnerable to electrical overstress, which plaintiffs allege could cause airbags and other safety systems to fail during a collision. Current and former owners and lessees of qualifying 2011-2019 Corolla, 2011-2013 Corolla Matrix, 2012-2018 Avalon, 2013-2018 Avalon HV, 2012-2019 Tacoma, 2012-2017 Tundra, or 2012-2017 Sequoia vehicles as of July 31, 2023 can register for a residual distribution payment, and owners of recalled vehicles can also claim reimbursement for documented out-of-pocket recall expenses and other benefits.
Settlement fund
$78.5M
Common fund
Top payout
Up to $250
Residual distribution, plus reimbursement of documented recall expenses
Claim deadline
Dec 11, 2028
879 days remaining
You may be owed money
Filing is free and takes a few minutes. Deadline: Dec 11, 2028.
Do you qualify?
You are a Class Member if ALL of the following apply:
- You own, lease, or previously owned or leased one of the following Subject Vehicles as of July 31, 2023: 2011–2019 Toyota Corolla; 2011–2013 Toyota Corolla Matrix; 2012–2018 Toyota Avalon; 2013–2018 Toyota Avalon HV; 2012–2019 Toyota Tacoma; 2012–2017 Toyota Tundra; or 2012–2017 Toyota Sequoia.
- All qualifying vehicles can register for the residual distribution payment. Out-of-pocket recall reimbursement is limited to vehicles included in NHTSA Recall No. 20V-024 (Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Avalon, and Avalon HV only).
- Excluded: Toyota and its officers, directors, employees, and outside counsel; its affiliates and distributors; Toyota's Dealers and their officers and directors; Settlement Class Counsel and Plaintiffs' counsel; judicial officers and their immediate family members and associated court staff; and anyone who timely and properly excluded themselves from the Class.
Not sure if you qualify? Use the VIN lookup tool at AirbagControlUnitSettlement.com, or call the Settlement Administrator at 1-833-747-5737.
What happened
Plaintiffs allege that ZF-TRW airbag control units (ACUs) installed in certain Toyota vehicles are vulnerable to a condition called electrical overstress, which could cause the vehicles' airbags and other passive safety systems to fail during a collision. On January 17, 2020, Toyota recalled certain Subject Vehicles under NHTSA Recall No. 20V-024 to address the issue. The litigation was consolidated as a multidistrict litigation, In re ZF-TRW Airbag Control Units Products Liability Litigation, before Judge John A. Kronstadt in the Central District of California.
Toyota denies all claims and allegations of wrongdoing and denies that it violated any law or duty giving rise to liability. The parties agreed to the settlement to avoid the cost, risk, and time of continued litigation. As part of the settlement, Toyota also agreed to a Subject Vehicle inspection program, an outreach program to increase recall completion rates, and a future loaner vehicle and outreach program tied to any later ZF-TRW ACU recall.
How to file a claim
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1. Confirm you are eligible
You must own, lease, or have previously owned or leased a qualifying 2011-2019 Corolla, 2011-2013 Corolla Matrix, 2012-2018 Avalon, 2013-2018 Avalon HV, 2012-2019 Tacoma, 2012-2017 Tundra, or 2012-2017 Sequoia as of July 31, 2023. Use the VIN lookup tool on the settlement website to confirm.
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2. Tally up your claim
All Class Members can register for a residual distribution payment of up to $250, whether or not their vehicle was recalled. If your Subject Vehicle was part of NHTSA Recall No. 20V-024 (Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Avalon, or Avalon HV), you can also submit documented reasonable out-of-pocket expenses tied to completing the recall, such as rental car, towing, childcare, repair, or lost wage costs. Reimbursement amounts depend on the documentation submitted.
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3. File online or by mail
Submit the Claim Form online at the settlement Claim Form by December 11, 2028, or mail a paper Claim Form (postmarked by December 11, 2028) to: Toyota Airbag Control Unit Settlement, c/o Kroll Settlement Administration LLC, P.O. Box 225391, New York, NY 10150-5391.
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4. Receive your payment
The Court granted final approval of the settlement on November 28, 2023. An appeal was filed and later dismissed on December 11, 2025, so the settlement is now final and payments are being issued on a rolling basis. No follow-up is required once a valid claim is submitted.
Key dates
- Oct 20, 2023 Opt-out & objection deadline Passed
- Dec 11, 2028 Claim filing deadline Upcoming
- Nov 16, 2023 Final Fairness Hearing (11:00 a.m. PT, in person (hearing occurred; settlement is now final)) Passed
- TBD after final approval Payments issued to claimants Pending
The Fairness Hearing was held on November 16, 2023 before the Honorable John A. Kronstadt at the First Street Courthouse, Courtroom 10B, 350 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. The Court granted final approval on November 28, 2023, and an appeal of that approval was dismissed on December 11, 2025, so the settlement is now final. Check AirbagControlUnitSettlement.com for claims processing updates.
Where the money is going
This is a $78.5 million non-reversionary common fund and credit package covering out-of-pocket reimbursement, residual distribution payments, and related recall programs. Attorneys' fees, service awards, program budgets, and a $10 million Toyota credit for future loaner vehicle and outreach programs come out of the settlement amount before remaining funds are calculated for class members.
All amounts are subject to the terms of the Settlement Agreement as approved by the Court. Out-of-pocket reimbursement amounts depend on documented expenses submitted. Residual distribution payments (up to $250 per Class Member) are paid from funds remaining after out-of-pocket claims and other settlement costs, and any leftover balance may be distributed cy pres.
Common questions
How much money will I receive?
It depends on your vehicle and expenses. All Class Members can register for a residual distribution payment of up to $250, whether or not their vehicle was recalled. If your Subject Vehicle was part of NHTSA Recall No. 20V-024 (Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Avalon, or Avalon HV), you can also claim reimbursement for documented reasonable out-of-pocket expenses tied to completing the recall, such as rental car, towing, childcare, repair, and lost wage costs. There is no guaranteed payout amount; amounts depend on the documentation submitted and remaining settlement funds.
Do I need to submit proof of purchase?
For out-of-pocket reimbursement, you need basic documentation such as a receipt or invoice, or a signed affidavit if you don't have one. For the residual distribution payment, you only need to submit a Registration/Claim Form; no proof of expenses is required, and you do not need a recalled vehicle to qualify.
What if I didn’t receive a notice?
You can still register or file a claim even if you did not receive a notice directly. Use the VIN lookup tool at AirbagControlUnitSettlement.com to confirm your vehicle qualifies, then submit a Claim Form online or by mail before the December 11, 2028 deadline.
Does staying in the class affect my right to sue later?
The exclusion and objection deadlines passed on October 20, 2023, and the Court granted final approval on November 28, 2023. An appeal was dismissed on December 11, 2025, so the settlement is now final. Class Members who did not exclude themselves have released Toyota from the claims covered by the settlement, except for claims involving personal injury, wrongful death, or physical property damage from the vehicle (other than damage to the ZF-TRW ACU itself).
When will payments be sent out?
The Settlement Special Administrator began issuing payments on a rolling basis after the Court's November 28, 2023 final approval, and continued after the appeal was dismissed on December 11, 2025. Notices of claim deficiency or payment are being sent on a rolling basis; check AirbagControlUnitSettlement.com for updates on your claim status.
Dapeer Law, P.A.
Consumer class action attorneys based in South Florida. We track settlements so you don’t have to.
Similar open settlements
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Dapeer Law, P.A. is not the administrator of this settlement and is not affiliated with Toyota Motor North America, Inc., Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., and Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Kroll Settlement Administration LLC (the Settlement Administrator), or Class Counsel Roland Tellis of Baron & Budd, P.C. and David Stellings of Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP. The case is In re ZF-TRW Airbag Control Units Products Liability Litigation, Case No. 2:19-ml-02905-JAK-MRW, pending in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California before the Honorable John A. Kronstadt. Class representatives are the Settlement Class Representatives (11 named plaintiffs under the Settlement Agreement). Toyota denies wrongdoing. This website is attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
