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1. | What are these lawsuits about? |
The Automotive Parts Litigation multi-district litigation (MDL) which arose after a DOJ investigation into the automotive industry resulted in numerous manufacturers pleading guilty to charges of price-fixing and bid-rigging. After that, the first civil suit was filed in the Eastern District of Michigan in 2012. Since then, this sprawling litigation grew to encompass hundreds of thousands of vehicles, parts and claimants.
Each lawsuit claims that the Defendants in that lawsuit agreed to unlawfully raise the price of a certain kind of vehicle component part. (For example, one lawsuit is called In re: Radiators, and the affected product is radiators.) As a result of the alleged agreements by Defendants, consumers and businesses who purchased or leased qualifying new vehicles (i.e., not for resale) containing those parts or who indirectly purchased qualifying replacement parts (again, not for resale) from the Defendants may have paid more than they should have. Although the Settling Defendants have agreed to settle, they do not agree that they engaged in any wrongdoing or are liable or owe any money or benefits to Plaintiffs.
Because of the size of the litigation, the settlements were split into five different rounds. The deadline for Rounds 1-4 Settlements was June 18, 2020. The deadline for Round 5 was January 23, 2023.
2. | Why was there Round 5 after Rounds 1-4? |
The Round 5 Settlement cases proceeded as class actions seeking monetary recovery for consumers and businesses in 30 states and the District of Columbia and, except for Bosal, for nationwide injunctive relief to stop the Defendants’ alleged illegal behavior and prevent this behavior from happening in the future. Purchasers or lessees of qualifying new vehicles or indirect purchasers of any of the replacement parts listed below have been members of the Round 5 Settlement Classes entitled to monetary recovery.
Only those members of the Round 5 Settlement Classes who, during the relevant time periods listed above, purchased or leased a vehicle or purchased a replacement part while (1) residing or (2) as to businesses, having the principal place of business located, in the District of Columbia or the states listed below will be entitled to share in the monetary recovery.
Those states are: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. You may have seen a prior notice that indicated that members of the Settlement Classes may be entitled to monetary recovery if the purchase or lease transaction occurred in the District of Columbia or one of the listed states. Please note that the prior information as to the place of the purchase or lease transaction is superseded by this notice.
The Round 5 Settling Defendants are:
[1] Previously, TRW settled lawsuits related to Occupant Safety Restraint Systems.
[2] Previously, Bosch settled lawsuits related to Windshield Wiper Systems, Starters, Fuel Injection Systems, and Spark Plugs, Standard Oxygen Sensors, and Air Fuel Ratio Sensors.
3. | Have There Been Any Other Settlements Related To This Lawsuit? |
Yes. The following companies previously agreed to the Round 1 Settlements in the lawsuits:
The following companies previously agreed to the Round 2 Settlements in the lawsuits:
The following companies previously agreed to the Round 3 Settlements in the lawsuits:
The following companies previously agreed to the Round 4 Settlements in the lawsuits:
The Court has given final approval to the Round 1 Settlements. See Amended Opinion and Order Granting Final Approval to the Round 1 Settlements (August 9, 2016) (available on the Court Documents tab, in the “Final Approval” section).
The Court has also given final approval to the Round 2 Settlements. See Order Granting Final Approval to the Round 2 Settlements (July 10, 2017) (available on the Court Documents tab, in the “Final Approval” section).
The Court has given final approval to the Round 3 Settlements. See Order Granting Final Approval to the Round 3 Settlements (November 7, 2018) (available on the Court Documents tab, in the “Final Approval” section).
The Court has given final approval to the Round 4 Settlements. See Order Granting Final Approval to the Round 4 Settlements (September 23, 2020) (available on the Court Documents tab, in the “Final Approval” section).
4. | What Vehicle Parts are included? |
The Settlements generally include the vehicle component parts listed below. The specific definitions of the vehicle component parts are available in each Settlement Agreement. Each of those Settlement Agreements, and the related Complaints, are accessible on the Court Documents page.
You may also select from this drop down for further information on an individual part:
Parts Included in the Round 5 Settlements:
Parts Included in the Round 1 – 4 Settlements:
5. | Why are these Class Actions? |
In class actions, one or more individuals or companies called the “class representatives” sue on behalf of themselves and other people with similar claims in the specific class action. All of these individuals or companies together are the “Class” or “Class members.” In these class actions, there are more than fifty class representatives. In a class action, one court may resolve the issues for all class members, except for those who exclude themselves from the class.
6. | Who are the defendants? |
A separate Settlement Class has been approved or preliminarily approved by the Court in each of the following cases settled by the Settling Defendants and their affiliates. The time period covered by the Settlements for each of the Settlement Classes is provided below:
Round 1 Settling Defendants
Defendant | Time Period Starts | Time Period Ends | Auto Part(s) Cases |
---|---|---|---|
Autoliv | January 1, 2003 | May 30, 2014 | Occupant Safety Restraint Systems |
Fujikura | January 1, 1999 | August 24, 2015 | Wire Harness |
HIAMS | January 1, 2000 | March 26, 2015 |
Alternators Starters Ignition Coils Motor Generators Inverters Fuel Injection Systems Valve Timing Control Devices Air Flow Meters Electronic Throttle Bodies |
KL Sales | January 1, 2000 | May 5, 2014 | Wire Harness |
Lear | January 1, 2000 | May 5, 2014 | Wire Harness |
Nippon Seiki | December 1, 2002 | January 26, 2016 | Instrument Panel Clusters |
Panasonic | July 1, 1998 | February 25, 2015 | HID Ballasts |
January 1, 2000 | February 25, 2015 | Switches | |
September 1, 2000 | February 25, 2015 | Steering Angle Sensors | |
T.RAD | November 1, 2002 | August 12, 2015 | ATF Warmers |
February 1, 2001 | August 12, 2015 | Radiators | |
TRW | January 1, 2003 | September 17, 2014 | Occupant Safety Restraint Systems |
Sumitomo | January 1, 1999 | September 15, 2015 | Wire Harness Heater Control Panels |
Yazaki | January 1, 1999 | September 15, 2014 | Wire Harness Instrument Panel Clusters Fuel Senders |
Round 2 Settling Defendants
Defendant | Time Period Starts | Time Period Ends | Auto Part(s) |
---|---|---|---|
Aisin Seiki | January 1, 2000 | August 25, 2016 | Valve Timing Control Devices |
DENSO | January 1, 1998 | July 14, 2016 |
Wire Harness Instrument Panel Clusters Fuel Senders Heater Control Panels Alternators Windshield Wiper Systems Radiators Starters Ignition Coils Motor Generators HID Ballasts Inverters Fan Motors Fuel Injection Systems Power Window Motors Automatic Transmission Fluid Warmers Valve Timing Control Devices Air Conditioning Systems Windshield Washer Systems Spark Plugs Ceramic Substrates |
Furukawa | January 1, 1998 | August 5, 2016 | Wire Harness |
G.S. Electech | January 1, 1999 | August 29, 2016 | Wire Harness |
LEONI | January 1, 1999 | June 28, 2016 | Wire Harness |
MELCO | July 1, 1998 | March 30, 2016 |
Wire Harness Alternators Starters Ignition Coils Fuel Injection Systems Valve Timing Control Devices HID Ballasts Electronic Powered Steering Assemblies |
NSK | January 1, 2000 January 1, 2005 |
July 21, 2016 July 21, 2016 |
Bearings Electronic Powered Steering Assemblies |
Omron | January 1, 2003 | August 10, 2016 | Power Window Switches |
Schaeffler | January 1, 2000 | August 10, 2016 | Bearings |
Sumitomo Riko | March 1, 1996 May 1, 2003 |
July 30, 2016 July 30, 2016 |
Anti-Vibrational Rubber Parts Automotive Hoses |
Tokai Rika | January 1, 1999 | August 2, 2016 | Wire Harness |
Valeo | May 1, 1999 | July 26, 2016 | Air Conditioning Systems |
Round 3 Settling Defendants
Defendant | Time Period Starts | Time Period Ends | Auto Part(s) |
---|---|---|---|
Aisan | January 1, 2000 | December 19, 2016 | Fuel Injection Systems |
ALPHA | January 1, 2002 | January 11, 2018 | Access Mechanisms |
Alps | January 1, 2000 | March 30, 2017 | Heater Control Panels |
Bosch | January 1, 2000 | July 27, 2017 | Windshield Wiper Systems Starters Fuel Injection Systems Spark Plugs |
Bridgestone | March 1, 1996 | September 25, 2017 | Anti-Vibrational Rubber Parts |
Calsonic | February 1, 2001 | January 30, 2018 | Radiators |
November 1, 2001 | January 30, 2018 | ATF Warmers and Oil Coolers | |
May 1, 1999 | January 30, 2018 | Air Conditioning Systems | |
Chiyoda | January 1, 1999 | January 4, 2017 | Wire Harness Systems |
Continental | January 1, 2001 | January 18, 2018 | Instrument Panel Clusters |
Diamond Electric | January 1, 2000 | June 8, 2017 | Ignition Coils |
Eberspächer | January 1, 2002 | September 11, 2017 | Exhaust Systems |
Faurecia | January 1, 2002 | November 15, 2017 | Exhaust Systems |
HIAMS | January 1, 1995 | September 18, 2017 | Shock Absorbers |
Hitachi Metals | February 1, 2004 | February 8, 2017 | Automotive Brake Hoses |
INOAC | June 1, 2004 | January 30, 2017 | Interior Trim Products |
JTEKT | January 1, 2000 | October 6, 2016 | Automotive Bearings |
January 1, 2005 | October 6, 2016 | Electric Powered Steering Assemblies | |
Kiekert | January 1, 2004 | September 22, 2017 | Side Door Latches |
KOITO | June 1, 1997 | May 26, 2017 | Automotive Lamps |
July 1, 1998 | May 26, 2017 | HID Ballasts | |
MAHLE Behr | May 1, 1999 | December 11, 2017 | Air Conditioning Systems |
MITSUBA | January 1, 2000 | August 9, 2017 | Windshield Wiper Systems Starters Fan Motors Fuel Injection Systems Power Window Motors Windshield Washer Systems |
February 1, 2001 | August 9, 2017 | Radiators | |
June 1, 1997 | August 9, 2017 | Automotive Lamps | |
January 1, 2005 | August 9, 2017 | Electric Powered Steering Assemblies | |
Nachi | January 1, 2000 | July 24, 2017 | Automotive Bearings |
NGK Insulators | July 1, 1999 | October 16, 2017 | Ceramic Substrates |
NGK Spark Plugs | January 1, 2000 | December 21, 2017 | Spark Plugs |
Nishikawa | January 1, 2000 | November 15, 2017 | Body Sealings |
NTN | January 1, 2000 | November 16, 2016 | Automotive Bearings |
Sanden | January 1, 2002 | February 12, 2018 | Access Mechanisms |
SKF | January 1, 2000 | May 8, 2017 | Automotive Bearings |
Stanley | June 1, 1997 | March 8, 2018 | Automotive Lamps |
July 1, 1998 | March 8, 2018 | HID Ballasts | |
Tenneco | January 1, 2002 | February 13, 2018 | Exhaust Systems |
Toyo | March 1, 1996 | September 14, 2017 | Anti-Vibrational Rubber Part |
January 1, 2006 | September 14, 2017 | Automotive Constant-Velocity-Joint Boot Products | |
Usui | December 1, 2003 | December 20, 2017 | Automotive Steel Tubes |
VALEO | January 1, 2002 | January 5, 2018 | Access Mechanisms |
Yamada | January 1, 2005 | November 28, 2016 | Electric Powered Steering Assemblies |
YAMASHITA | March 1, 1996 | September 27, 2016 | Anti-Vibrational Rubber Parts |
Round 4 Settling Defendants
Defendant | Time Period Starts | Time Period Ends | Auto Part(s) |
---|---|---|---|
Brose | January 1, 2004 | June 14, 2018 | Side-Door Latches |
Corning | January 1, 1990 | January 11, 2018 | Ceramic Substrates |
Delphi | January 1, 2000 | June 21, 2019 | Ignition Coils |
Green Tokai | January 1, 2000 | September 6, 2018 | Body Sealing Products |
Keihin | January 1, 2000 | May 22, 2018 | Fuel Injection Systems |
KYB | January 1, 1995 | November 6, 2018 | Shock Absorbers |
Maruyasu | January 1, 2000 | October 15, 2018 | Fuel Injection Systems |
December 1, 2003 | October 15, 2018 | Automotive Steel Tubes | |
Meritor | January 1, 2002 | June 5, 2018 | Exhaust Systems |
Mikuni | January 1, 2000 | June 18, 2019 | Fuel Injection Systems Valve Timing Control Devices |
Mitsubishi | May 1, 1999 | June 15, 2018 | Air Conditioning Systems |
Panasonic | May 1, 1999 | March 11, 2019 | Air Conditioning Systems |
Sanoh | December 1, 2003 | April 10, 2019 | Automotive Steel Tubes |
Showa | January 1, 2005 | July 10, 2019 | Electronic Powered Steering Assemblies |
January 1, 1995 | July 10, 2019 | Shock Absorbers | |
TKH | January 1, 2003 | November 27, 2018 | Occupant Safety Systems |
Tokai Rika | January 1, 2000 | March 23, 2018 | Heater Control Panels |
January 1, 2003 | March 23, 2018 | Occupant Safety Systems | |
September 1, 2003 | March 23, 2018 | Steering Angle Sensors | |
September 1, 2003 | March 23, 2018 | Switches | |
Toyo Denso | January 1, 2000 | April 30, 2018 | Ignition Coils |
January 1, 2003 | April 30, 2018 | Power Window Switches | |
Toyoda Gosei | February 1, 2004 | July 20, 2018 | Automotive Brake Hoses |
May 1, 2003 | July 20, 2018 | Automotive Hoses | |
January 1, 2000 | July 20, 2018 | Body Sealing Products | |
January 1, 2006 | July 20, 2018 | Automotive Constant-Velocity-Joint Boot Products | |
June 1, 2004 | July 20, 2018 | Interior Trim Products | |
January 1, 2003 | July 20, 2018 | Occupant Safety Systems |
Round 5 Settling Defendants
Defendant | Time Period Starts | Time Period Ends | Auto Part(s) |
---|---|---|---|
Bosal | January 1, 2002 | June 5, 2018 | Exhaust Systems |
Bosch | September 29, 2010 | December 31, 2017 | Electronic Braking Systems |
February 13, 2007 | December 31, 2017 | Hydraulic Braking Systems | |
TRW | February 13, 2007 | December 31, 2017 | Hydraulic Braking Systems |
Payments to members of the Round 5 Settlement Classes only will be made if the Court approves the Round 5 Settlements and after any appeals from such approval are resolved and in accordance with the proposed revised Plan of Allocation to distribute the Round 5 Net Settlement Funds (see Question 10).
The Round 5 Settlement cases are proceeding as class actions seeking monetary recovery for consumers and businesses in 30 states and the District of Columbia and, except for Bosal, for nationwide injunctive relief to stop the Defendants’ alleged illegal behavior and prevent this behavior from happening in the future.
7. | Who is included in the Settlement Class? |
Generally, you may be included in one or more of the Round 5 Settlement Classes if, at any time from 2002 to 2018, you: (1) bought or leased a qualifying new vehicle in the U.S. (not for resale), or (2) paid to replace one or more of the qualifying vehicle parts listed in Question 4 above (not for resale). In general, qualifying vehicles include new four-wheeled passenger automobiles, vans, sports utility vehicles, crossovers, and pickup trucks. The specific definition of the vehicles, as well as the definition of who is included in the Settlement Classes, is set forth in each Settlement Agreement. Each of those Settlement Agreements, and the related Complaints, are accessible on the Court Documents page.
No claims submitted after June 18, 2020 in connection with the Rounds 1-4 Settlements were accepted.
No claims submitted after shall be accepted.
You will also be able to obtain additional information to learn whether you are a member of one or more of the Round 5 Settlement Classes by referencing the eligible vehicles listed in the “Vehicles Included in Round 5 Settlements” tab on the home page, calling 1-877-940-5043, or sending an email to info@AutoPartsClass.com.
8. | Who is not included in the Settlement Classes? |
The Settlement Classes do not include:
9. | What exactly do the Settlements provide? |
The Round 5 Settlements totaling approximately $3.154 million are now being presented to the Court for approval. The Court has already approved the Round 1 Settlements, totaling approximately $225 million; the Round 2 Settlements, totaling approximately $379 million; the Round 3 Settlements, totaling approximately $433 million; and Round 4 Settlements, totaling approximately $184 million. Together, the Round 1 through 5 Settlement Funds total approximately $1.2 billion. After deduction of attorneys’ fees, incentive awards, notice and claims administration costs, and litigation expenses, as approved by the Court, the Net Settlement Funds will be available for distribution to members of the Settlement Classes who timely file valid claims.
The Settlements also include non-monetary relief (see Question 12), including cooperation (with the exception of TKH and Delphi with respect to the Round 4 Settlements), as well as, agreements by these Settling Defendants (the exception of Eberspächer, Hitachi Metals, MAHLE Behr, NGK Spark Plugs, NTN, with respect to the Round 3 Settlements; Toyoda Gosei and TKH with respect to the Round 4 Settlements; and Bosal with respect to the Round 5 Settlements) not to engage in the conduct that is the subject of the lawsuits, as more fully described in the proposed Final Judgments located on the Court Documents page.
The Settlement Funds are allocated to the relevant vehicle component cases as follows:
Auto Parts Round 1 Settlements and Settlement Funds
Automotive Parts Case | Settling Defendant | Settlement Fund |
---|---|---|
Air Flow Meters | HIAMS | $5,047,920 |
Alternators | HIAMS | $6,216,420 |
ATF Warmers | T.RAD | $741,000 |
Automotive Wire Harness Systems |
Lear KL Sales Fujikura Sumitomo Yazaki |
$3,040,000 $228,000 $7,144,000 $35,817,220 $73,267,000 |
Electronic Throttle Bodies | HIAMS | $6,870,780 |
Fuel Injection Systems | HIAMS | $8,693,640 |
Fuel Senders | Yazaki | $58,000 |
Heater Control Panels | Sumitomo | $2,182,780 |
HID Ballasts | Panasonic | $5,510,596 |
Ignition Coils | HIAMS | $7,431,660 |
Instrument Panel Clusters |
Nippon Seiki Yazaki |
$4,560,000 $2,675,000 |
Inverters | HIAMS | $2,337,000 |
Motor Generators | HIAMS | $2,337,000 |
Occupant Safety Systems |
TRW Autoliv |
$5,446,350 $19,000,000 |
Radiators | T.RAD | $6,669,000 |
Starters | HIAMS | $3,832,680 |
Steering Angle Sensors | Panasonic | $6,293,229 |
Switches | Panasonic | $5,296,175 |
Valve Timing Control Devices | HIAMS | $3,972,900 |
Total | $224,668,350 |
Auto Parts Round 2 Settlements and Settlement Funds
Automotive Parts Case | Settling Defendant | Settlement Fund |
---|---|---|
Air Conditioning Systems |
DENSO Valeo |
$21,836,133 $6,650,000 |
Alternators |
DENSO MELCO |
$50,449,261 $17,129,946.08 |
Anti-Vibrational Rubber Parts | Sumitomo Riko | $10,283,916.10 |
ATF Warmers | DENSO | $1,662,943 |
Automotive Bearings |
NSK Schaeffler |
$22,420,000 $7,600,000 |
Automotive Hoses | Sumitomo Riko | $1,116,083.90 |
Automotive Wire Harness Systems |
DENSO LEONI Tokai Rika G.S. Electech Furukawa MELCO |
$14,531,801 $1,482,000 $760,000 $3,040,000 $42,560,000 $3,211,463.34 |
Ceramic Substrates | DENSO | $1,531,138 |
Electric Powered Steering Assemblies |
MELCO NSK |
$3,211,463.34 $3,800,000 |
Fan Motors | DENSO | $142,120 |
Fuel Injection Systems |
DENSO MELCO |
$19,392,650 $3,211,463.34 |
Fuel Senders | DENSO | $187,823 |
Heater Control Panels | DENSO | $14,676,679 |
HID Ballasts |
DENSO MELCO |
$1,424,803 $3,211,463.34 |
Ignition Coils |
DENSO MELCO |
$16,746,824 $14,567,197.98 |
Instrument Panel Clusters | DENSO | $7,525,762 |
Inverters | DENSO | $142,120 |
Motor Generators | DENSO | $142,120 |
Power Window Motors | DENSO | $142,120 |
Power Window Switches | Omron | $3,040,000 |
Radiators | DENSO | $15,760,989 |
Spark Plugs | DENSO | $9,760,366 |
Starters |
DENSO MELCO |
$9,709,228 $16,474,807.24 |
Valve Timing Control Devices |
DENSO Aisin Seiki MELCO |
$4,362,039 $18,620,000 $3,211,463.34 |
Windshield Washer Systems | DENSO | $362,978 |
Windshield Wipers | DENSO | $3,310,103 |
Total | $379,401,268 |
Auto Parts Round 3 Settlements and Settlement Funds
Automotive Parts Case | Settling Defendant | Settlement Fund |
---|---|---|
Access Mechanisms |
ALPHA Valeo |
$2,698,000 $760,000 |
Air Conditioning Systems |
MAHLE Behr Calsonic Sanden |
$1,482,000 $5,153,860 $7,600,000 |
Anti-Vibrational Rubber Parts |
Bridgestone Toyo Yamashita |
$29,640,000 $34,343,309 $6,080,000 |
Automatic Transmission Fluid Warmers | Calsonic | $380,366 |
Automotive Bearings |
JTEKT Nachi NTN SKF |
$43,418,819 $3,230,000 $6,574,000 $7,600,000 |
Automotive Brake Hoses | Hitachi Metals | $1,140,000 |
Automotive Constant-Velocity-Joint Boot Products | Toyo | $1,756,691 |
Automotive Lamps |
Koito MITSUBA Stanley |
$21,654,653 $241,876 $12,316,880 |
Automotive Steel Tubes | Usui | $5,320,000 |
Body Sealings | Nishikawa | $37,620,000 |
Ceramic Substrates | NGK Insulators | $12,160,000 |
Electric Powered Steering Assemblies |
JTEKT MITSUBA Yamada |
$4,081,181 $169,313 $2,356,000 |
Exhaust Systems |
Eberspächer Faurecia Tenneco |
$1,368,000 $1,482,000 $17,480,000 |
Fan Motors | MITSUBA | $3,664,422 |
Fuel Injection Systems |
Aisan Bosch MITSUBA |
$4,560,000 $2,892,560 $1,378,693 |
Heater Control Panels | Alps |
$3,230,000 $1,335,346 |
HID Ballasts |
Koito Stanley |
$2,883,120 |
Ignition Coils | Diamond Electric | $5,396,000 |
Instrument Panel Clusters | Continental | $3,800,000 |
Interior Trim Products | INOAC | $2,470,000 |
Power Window Motors | MITSUBA | $19,180,770 |
Radiators |
MITSUBA Calsonic |
$3,664,422 $5,587,612 |
Shock Absorbers | HIAMS | $13,300,000 |
Side Door Latches | Kiekert | $2,280,000 |
Spark Plugs |
Bosch NGK Spark Plugs |
$28,999,168 $12,730,000 |
Starters |
Bosch MITSUBA |
$1,039,984 $9,457,353 |
Windshield Washer Systems | MITSUBA | $1,548,006 |
Windshield Wiper Systems |
Bosch MITSUBA |
$508,288 $32,895,142 |
Wire Harness | Chiyoda | $1,915,200 |
Total | $432,823,040 |
Auto Parts Round 4 Settlements and Settlement Funds
Automotive Parts Case | Round 4 Settling Defendant | Settlement Fund |
---|---|---|
Air Conditioning Systems | Mitsubishi Heavy Panasonic |
$6,840,000.00 $760,000.00 |
Automotive Brake Hoses | Toyoda Gosei | $659,456.20 |
Automotive Hoses | Toyoda Gosei | $5,428,166.52 |
Body Sealing Products | Green Tokai Toyoda Gosei |
$950,000.00 $27,148,653.36 |
Ceramic Substrates | Corning | $26,600,000.00 |
Automotive Constant-Velocity-Joint Boot Products | Toyoda Gosei | $716,505.10 |
Electronic Powered Steering Assemblies | Showa | $4,133,735.39 |
Exhaust Systems | ArvinMeritor | $760,000.00 |
Fuel Injection Systems | Keihin Maruyasu Mikuni |
$836,000.00 $108,699.85 $2,675,200.00 |
Heater Control Panels | Tokai Rika | $1,366,578.08 |
Ignition Coils | Delphi Toyo Denso |
$760,000.00 $760,000.00 |
Interior Trim Products | Toyoda Gosei | $5,089,493.68 |
Side-Door Latches | Brose | $2,280,000.00 |
Occupant Safety Systems | TKH Tokai Rika Toyoda Gosei |
$53,200,000.00* $28,745,447.27 $5,797,725.14 |
Power Window Switches | Toyo Denso | $4,408,000.00 |
Shock Absorbers | KYB Showa |
$28,880,000.00 $9,926,264.61 |
Automotive Steel Tubes | Maruyasu Sanoh |
$5,211,300.15 $8,360,000.00 |
Steering Angle Sensors | Tokai Rika | $677,714.01 |
Switches | Tokai Rika | $3,410,260.64 |
Valve Timing Control Devices | Mikuni | $668,800.00 |
Total (excluding TKH) | $183,958,000.00 |
Auto Parts Round 5 Settlements and Settlement Funds
Automotive Parts Case | Round 5 Settling Defendant | Settlement Fund |
---|---|---|
Electronic Braking Systems | Bosch | $2,113,887.78 |
Exhaust Systems | Bosal | $152,000.00 |
Hydraulic Braking Systems | Bosch TRW |
$128,112.22 $760,000.00 |
Total | $3,154,000.00 |
*Class Members have a $53,200,000 authorized claim against TKH in bankruptcy proceeding, but they can expect to receive only a small fraction of this amount for distribution to the Class. For this reason, the authorized claim amount is not included in the Round 4 total settlement amount listed above. The Class representatives have also reached a settlement with Takata Corp. in Japanese insolvency proceedings. The settlement provides for a payment of 25,000,000 Japanese Yen (equivalent to approximately $220,000). This settlement as a formal matter is with the Class representatives only, but the proceeds of the settlement will be paid to the same group of purchasers included in the Settlement Class agreed to based on the settlement agreement with Takata Corp.’s U.S. subsidiary, TKH.
Any interest earned will be added to each of the Settlement Funds. More details about the Settlements are provided in the Settlement Agreements, available on the Court Documents page of this website.
10. | Can I still file a claim? |
No. Once the Round 5 Settlements become final you will have given up your right to sue these Settling Defendants on your own for the claims described in the Settlement Agreements unless you exclude yourself from one or more of the Settlement Classes. You also will be bound by any decisions by the Court relating to any Round 5 Settlements from which you do not exclude yourself.
In return for paying the Settlement amounts and providing the non-monetary benefits, the Round 5 Settling Defendants (and certain related entities defined in the Settlement Agreements) will be released from claims relating to the alleged conduct involving the vehicle parts identified in the Settlement Agreements. The Round 5 Settlement Agreements describe the released claims in detail, so read them carefully since those releases will be binding on you when the Court approves these Settlements. If you have any questions, you can talk to Class Counsel listed in Question 17 for free, or you can, of course, talk to your own lawyer (at your own expense ).
11. | Can I still file an objection? |
No. If you had objections to or comments about any aspect of (a) one or more of the Round 5 Settlements, (b) the proposed Plan of Allocation as it applies to members of any of the Settlement Classes (in Round 5), or (c) the future motion by Settlement Class Counsel for attorneys’ fees and reimbursement of costs and expenses as it applies to members of the Round 5 Settlement Classes, then you were given the opportunity to share your views to the Court. To object to or comment on a Round 5 Settlement or the proposed Plan of Allocation, or the future motion for attorneys’ fees and reimbursement of costs and expenses, you must have done so in writing and included the following information:
Note that you could only object to or comment on these matters if you did not exclude yourself from the applicable Settlement Class or Classes. Furthermore, claimants must have filed their objection letter referencing the case file (or docket) of the specific automotive parts case or cases that are the subject of your objection or comments (e.g., In re Exhaust Systems, No. 2:16-cv-03703). Objections or comments filed only in In re Automotive Parts Antitrust Litigation (the Master Docket, 2:12-md-02311) would not satisfy this requirement. Furthermore, your objection letter must hve been received by both the Clerk of the Court and the Notice Administrator no later than December 20, 2022.
12. | Can I still exclude myself from the Settlement Class? |
No. The deadline to exclude yourself from the Round 5 Settlements has passed. To exclude yourself from one or more of the Round 5 Settlement Classes, you must have sent a letter by mail stating that you want to be excluded from In re Automotive Parts Antitrust Litigation and specifying from which Settlement Class or Classes (including the specific automotive part case) you wish to be excluded. You could have only requested to be excluded from the Settlement Classes for the Round 5 Settlements.
Your letter must have included:
NOTE: If you were seeking to exclude yourself from one or more of the Round 5 Settlement Classes, you were also requested (but not required) to state in your letter the number of qualifying new vehicles you purchased from January 1, 2002, to June 5, 2018. Any request for exclusion must have been mailed to the address immediately below, and must have been received no later than December 20, 2022:
Automotive Parts Indirect Exclusions
P.O. Box 10163
Dublin, OH 43017-3163
13. | If I did not exclude myself, can I sue for the same thing later? |
No. Unless you excluded yourself, you will give up any right to sue the Round 5 Settling Defendants for the claims being released in this litigation.
In return for paying the Settlement amounts and providing the non-monetary benefits, the Round 5 Settling Defendants (and certain related entities defined in the Settlement Agreements) will be released from claims relating to the alleged conduct involving the vehicle parts identified in the Settlement Agreements. Once the Round 5 Settlements became final, you gave up right to sue these Settling Defendants on your own for the claims described in the Settlement Agreements unless you excluded yourself from one or more of the Settlement Classes. You also will be bound by any decisions by the Court relating to any Round 5 Settlements from which you do not exclude yourself.
14. | If I excluded myself, can I still get money benefits? |
If you excluded yourself from the Settlement Classes in any of the Round 5 Settlements, you will not get any money as a result of the Settlement in that case. However, if you excluded yourself from one or more of the Settlement Classes for any of the Round 5 Settlements but remained in the Settlement Classes for other Round 5 Settlements, you may receive money from the Round 5 Settlements for the Settlement Classes in which you remain a Class member.
15. | What is the difference between excluding myself from the Settlement Classes and objecting to the Round 5 Settlements? |
If you exclude yourself from one or more of the Round 5 Settlement Classes, you are telling the Court that you do not want to participate in the Round 5 Settlement(s) from which you exclude yourself. Therefore, you will not be eligible to receive any payment from those Round 5 Settlement(s), and you will not be able to object to them.
Objecting to a Round 5 Settlement simply means telling the Court that you do not like something about the Settlement. Objecting does not make you ineligible to receive payment. Furthermore, If you sent an objection or comment on the Round 5 Settlements or proposed Plan of Allocation, you were given the right to speak at the Final Fairness Hearing as determined by the Court. If your objection letter was not received in a timely fashion, or if you excluded yourself from that specific Settlement Class, you did not have the right to speak The Final Fairness Hearing.
The deadline to exclude yourself or object passed on December 20, 2022.
16. | Why was my claim denied? |
If a claim had at least one eligible vehicle or part claimed, it was determined to be payable. If your claim was denied, it was likely for one of the following reasons: did not include any purchase details, had no eligible vehicles, had listed parts that were unsupported by purchase documents or failure to provide necessary defect documentation.
17. | When will the settlement funds be distributed? |
Emails regarding digital payments for this matter commenced on 12/24/2024 and digital payments will be available to claim through March 24, 2025. During that window, Epiq digital payment emails will be sent from noreply@Epiqpay.com to individuals eligible for payments containing a link to claim their payment. This is normal. If you claim a payment, you will also receive one or more follow-up emails from our payment partner, Tremendous, confirming where your payment is in the process. If you do not immediately claim your payment, you may also receive one or more reminder emails. Upon making your selection the payment portal will inform you when you should expect to receive your payment confirmation email from Tremendous. You should rely on the follow-up email you receive from Tremendous to inform you of the timing of your payment.
Due to variability in individual recipient email account SPAM and junk security settings, users are encouraged to review their junk and SPAM folders in case the digital payment emails went to those locations. Furthermore, due to variability in individual recipient email account SPAM and junk security settings, users are encouraged to review their junk and SPAM folders in case the digital payment emails went to those locations. If so, please move the emails to your inbox and marked the sender as “Trusted” so the mistake is unlikely to happen again.
If you have any questions about the EpiqPay email you received, please provide us with your full name and current email address so we can look up your file. If a tracking number was listed at the bottom of your EpiqPay emails, please provide to us that as well.
18. | How long will it take for digital payments to process? |
Digital payments are processed quickly, typically-5 business days for the value of the award to reach end user cards or accounts. Upon making your selection, you will start to receive a series of emails from EpiqPay and our digital payment partners, which will keep you apprised of the progress of your payment.
19. | What’s the process for getting my money? |
Claiming your EpiqPay payment is simple and easy. All EpiqPay payment and reminder emails contain a ‘Claim Payment’ link. As long as you click the ‘Claim Payment’ link before the payment expiry date listed in your email, the link will take you to a payment dashboard where you can choose your preferred method of payment. Then click your preferred payment method. Depending on the method of payment you choose, you may be asked to confirm your selection or provide one or two pieces of information so your payment can be processed. After that, you will receive a small number of interim notifications from our payment partner rewards@tremendous.com letting you know your payment is ‘in process’, and eventually you will receive a link to your payment card, if you chose that as your option. Contact information for our payment partner is available on these notifications, in case you experience any issues using your card.
20. | Can I choose a digital payment option other than EpiqPay? |
No. The digital payment options presented to you when you click ‘Claim Payment’ in your EpiqPay email are the only options available to you under this settlement. If none of the options presented to you on the selection screen are of interest to you, a paper check option may be available for this settlement. Please note that the paper check reissue process can take 4-6 weeks to complete.
21. | What happens after I make my payment selection? |
After you make your payment selection from the EpiqPay payment portal, within one to three days you will receive a small number of interim notifications from our payment partner rewards@tremendous.com letting you know your payment is ‘in process’, and eventually you will receive a link to your payment card, if you chose that as your option. Please note that the follow-up email will include details on the actual date your payment will be delivered to your account or email.
Due to variability in individual user email account security settings, emails can sometimes go to junk or SPAM folders as well as your inbox. If you find any follow up emails there, move them to your inbox and/or mark the email as from a ‘trusted sender’, so that future emails regarding this settlement do not end up in those folders.
22. | What if I have problems with my digital payment? |
If you already received an email confirming that your payment has been processed, when you contact them reference your claim ID listed above the EpiqPay logo on your post-selection notification email.
For questions about the timing of the delivery of your EpiqPay payment, please provide us with your full name and current email address so we can look up your file. If a tracking number was listed at the bottom of your EpiqPay emails, please provide to us that as well.
23. | If I chose a digital check option can I change it to a physical check? |
No. Once you have made your choice to redeem your payment digitally, Epiq can no longer convert your payment into a check. If you are having any issues receiving or using your chosen digital payment, please contact our payment partner at help@tremendous.com.
24. | What happens if I unsubscribe from EpiqPay emails? |
Don’t! If you unsubscribe from any of the payment emails you receive on this matter, you will no longer be able to claim your payment digitally. If you unsubscribed from receiving digital payment notifications from EpiqPay, but would like to explore a paper check reissue, please let us know.
25. | What happens if I do not claim my payment by the payment expiry date listed in my EpiqPay emails? |
If you did not claim your payment by the expiry date listed in your EpiqPay emails, the link will expire, and you will no longer be able to claim your payment digitally.
26. | I did not receive an email from EpiqPay, what should I do? / Can you resend my email or just mail it to me? |
We are sorry you did not receive your initial email, but, since you have asked for the payment email to be resent to the same email address we already have on file, we can set your payment email to be resent in the next 3-5 business days. Please be on the lookout for an email from noreply@Epiqpay.com.
If you would like your payment to be reissued, pleases submit a reissue request, Include your name, old and new email addresses, and your current mailing address information. Reissues can take up to 6 weeks to process after receiving your written request, so please be patient while we complete the reissue process. Please note that it is possible you may receive an EpiqPay reminder email to claim your payment even after submitting your reissue request. You are free to disregard this email. You are of course welcome to contact us any time to confirm the status of your reissue request.
27. | I don’t have internet access/My email is no longer valid. What can I do? |
EpiqPay requires that Epiq as administrator has a valid and current email address on file to complete your payment. Given the circumstances with your current email, we can offer to reissue your payment via physical check and mail your check to the address on file. You can email your reissue request to [insert email] or mail to [physical mailing address]. Payment conversion reissue requests take up to six weeks to process, so please be patient while we process your request.
28. | I selected a physical check option. How long will it take? |
Those selecting the check tile option on the EpiqPay payment wall will generally receive a physical check 4-6 weeks after making their selection. Please be patient while we process your request. Processing and postal delivery times for checks may vary.
29. | Does Epiq have the right details for my physical check? |
Those selecting the check tile option on the EpiqPay payment wall will have their check mailed to the address on file. If you are unsure what address Epiq has on file, please provide us with your full name and current email address so we can look up your file. If a tracking number was listed at the bottom of your EpiqPay emails, please provide to us that as well. Please allow 48-72 hours for us to respond to your request.
30. | I’ve already asked to receive my payment digitally. What should I do now? |
According to our records, you are a class member eligible to receive a settlement payment In re Automotive Parts Antitrust Litigation and you filed a claim wherein you elected to receive your payment digitally. Therefore, you are being sent your payment digitally based on a selection you made when submitting your claim
31. | It looks like I received a digital payment without doing anything. Should I be suspicious? |
Epiq is required to distribute payments digitally to eligible class members. Your payment was required to be sent to you automatically and did not require any action on your part. The emails you may have received from noreply@Epiqpay.com provide you the opportunity to claim your settlement award quickly and securely
32. | What is EpiqPay? |
EpiqPay is the official digital payment platform for Epiq Class Action and Claims Solutions. EpiqPay offers individuals who are eligible to receive payments in mass actions an easy, convenient, fast, and secure way to claim their payments. General information about EpiqPay is available at https://www.epiqglobal.com/en-us/technologies/epiq-pay.
33. | How did Epiq get my information? |
The email address you received your payment notification at, as well as the name listed in your emails, is based on information we received as part of a complete and approved claim submission or provided to Epiq by one or more of the Parties in the Settlement pursuant to a Court Order.
34. | I have questions about EpiqPay. Who do I contact? |
If you have any questions about the EpiqPay email you received, please provide us with your full name and current email address so we can look up your file. If a tracking number was listed at the bottom of your EpiqPay emails, please provide to us that as well.
35. | Do I have a lawyer representing me? |
The Court has appointed the following law firms as Settlement Class Counsel to represent you and all other members of the Classes:
Class Counsel | ||
---|---|---|
Adam Zapala Cotchett, Pitre, & McCarthy LLP 840 Malcolm Road, Suite 200 Burlingame, CA 94010 |
William V. Reiss Robins Kaplan LLP 1325 Avenue of the Americas Suite 2601 New York, NY 10019 |
Marc M. Seltzer Susman Godfrey L.L.P. 1900 Avenue of the Stars Suite 1400 Los Angeles, CA 90067 |
You will not be charged for contacting these lawyers. If you want to be represented by your own lawyer, you may hire one at your own expense.
36. | How will the lawyers be paid? |
At a later date, Settlement Class Counsel will ask the Court for an award of attorneys’ fees and reimbursement of costs and expenses for all of their services to be paid from the total Settlement Amounts established by the Rounds 1 through 5 Settlements, including any interest earned. The total amount of fees requested, combined with all fees previously awarded by the Court, will not exceed 30 percent of the total Settlement Amounts of all of the Rounds 1 through 5 Settlements, including any interest earned.
When it is filed with the Court, Settlement Class Counsel’s application for fees, costs and expenses to be awarded will be made available on this website, and Settlement Class Members who provided their email addresses to the Claims Administrator will also receive an email. Otherwise, Rounds 1 through 5 Settlements Class Members will receive no further notice when this application is filed or the deadline to submit objections about this application.
37. | How do I get more information? |
These FAQs summarize the Round 5 Settlements. More details are in the Round 5 Settlement Agreements. You can get copies of the Settlement Agreements and more information about the Settlements on the Court Documents page of this website. In addition, the full proposed revised Plan of Allocation is available here. You also may write with questions to Auto Parts Settlements, P.O. Box 10163, Dublin, OH 43017-3163, send an email to info@AutoPartsClass.com, or call the toll-free number, 1-877-940-5043. If you file a claim, you will be notified of any future information concerning these cases.
Part | Manufacturer/Defendant | Class Definition | Part Definition |
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