- The lawsuit involves vehicles from Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Mazda, Ford, and others.
- It’s alleged that the car manufacturers failed to warn consumers about security risks.
- Behind the lawsuit is a man who had his 2018 Toyota Highlander stolen in 2022.
It’s no secret that vehicles with keyless entry are at risk of being stolen by witty thieves using relay devices. While there are low-cost and straightforward ways for vehicle owners to protect their rides, a group in Quebec, Canada, is going after some of the automotive industry’s biggest hitters in a large-scale class action lawsuit, alleging they failed to properly address a known security risk.
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The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Quebec residents whose vehicles with remote access and start systems were stolen on or after May 2, 2021, was recently authorized to proceed against 13 automakers, including Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Mazda, FCA, Ford, Audi, Kia, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Volkswagen, and Volvo. The class action also sought to include Porsche, Jaguar Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW, but a judge denied that request.
Vehicle theft has been a growing concern in both Ontario and Quebec, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada. However, while vehicle thefts spiked during the pandemic, the trend has started to shift, as national figures show a 19 percent drop in the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2024.
A Locked SUV, A Missing Car, and No Answers
The lead plaintiff behind the lawsuit is André Lacroix. He owned a 2018 Toyota Highlander, but in April 2022, it was stolen from his daughter’s home. The vehicle had been locked using the key fob.
“It was frustrating,” Lacroix told CBC. “I had the impression that I wasn’t protected by the manufacturer.”
Read: Keyless Entry Car Thefts Soar As Hackers Don’t Need Skills, Just Cheap Devices
According to the lawsuit, the vehicle’s owner’s manual “provides absolutely no warning regarding the security of the smart keys.” It claims manufacturers, including Toyota, “have known about these flaws for several years, but despite the risks for consumers, it appears they haven’t modified their vehicles’ security measures.”
Lawyers argue that automakers were aware of the security flaw but did nothing to warn customers or offer updates that might have reduced the risk, which they say amounts to negligence.
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Lacroix is seeking to represent more than 10,000 victims of car theft in the province and is seeking $1,500 in compensation for anyone who has had a vehicle stolen on or after May 2, 2021. Additionally, another $1,500 is being sought for each vehicle that was either sold or leased between May 2, 2021, and May 2, 2024. Compensation from this would be provided to a non-profit advocating for the consumer protection of car owners.
As reported by CBC, the lawsuit is pressing automakers to acknowledge what it calls a design flaw that has made theft easier. It also seeks an admission that consumers were not warned about the vulnerabilities in their keyless systems.
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