Published: 2/13/2010

Suit alleges Toyota conspired to sell unsafe vehicles

Four Toyota Motor Corp. units were named in a racketeering lawsuit that claims the companies collaborated to sell cars they knew were unsafe.

The defendants include Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc. and units that produce Toyota's Camry and Avalon models and handle leasing and engineering, according to a complaint filed this week in federal court in Covington, Ky.

The 10 individual plaintiffs seek class-action status to seek damages on behalf of U.S. buyers of Toyota-built cars with defects that could cause unwanted sudden acceleration.

At least 50 class-action lawsuits arising from sudden acceleration problems have been filed against Toyota or its subsidiaries.

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