Kobe Steel, Toyota sued over fabricated metal strength data

Kobe Steel Ltd. has announced that two U.S. consumers have filed a class-action civil lawsuit against the steelmaker and Toyota Motor Corp., seeking compensation for substandard metals used in vehicles.

Kobe Steel has admitted to falsifying inspection data for some aluminum and copper products. The affected materials were supplied to more than 600 companies, from major automakers to bullet train operators, and were used in aircraft, rockets, and defense equipment.

The suit was filed with a federal court in California against Kobe Steel, four of its group companies, and Toyota. The plaintiffs purchased or leased vehicles manufactured using the affected products and say they would not have done so if it had been disclosed that the products did not meet strength requirements. They are seeking compensation as the resale value of their cars has diminished because of the use of such products.