$299.5M Toyota Faked Forklift Emissions Settlement Been Happening From 14 Years. If Your Fleet Has One of These Four Engines, You’re Owed Money Claim Before September 22

Three Toyota subsidiaries agreed to pay $299.5 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging they manipulated emissions test data on internal combustion forklifts sold in the United States between 2007 and 2021. The settlement covers approximately 272,000 forklifts across four engine families. If your business purchased or leased a qualifying Toyota IC forklift, you can claim between $1,000 and $2,500 per unit in cash, a free on-site service visit, and a potential parts warranty if a recall is issued. The claim deadline is September 22, 2026. The final approval hearing is July 9, 2026.

Field	Detail
Settlement Amount	$299,500,000 (cash) + service plan valued at $83.7M–$189.3M
Cash Per Forklift (Estimated)	$1,000–$2,500 (pro rata; depends on total claims filed)
Claim Deadline	September 22, 2026
Opt-Out / Objection Deadline	June 1, 2026
Final Approval Hearing	July 9, 2026
Service Plan Visit Deadline	August 8, 2029
Who Qualifies	U.S. purchasers or lessees of eligible Toyota IC forklifts bought through January 20, 2026
Eligible Engines	4Y (2007–2021), 1FS (2013–2021), 1KD (2014–2021), 1ZS (2014–2021)
Proof Required	Yes — model/serial number, proof of ownership or lease
Settlement Status	Preliminarily approved (February 26, 2026)
Settlement Administrator	Verita Global LLC
Official Website	ForkliftSettlement.com

Where Things Stand

• U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley granted preliminary approval on February 26, 2026.
• Final approval hearing is set for July 9, 2026 in San Francisco. Cash payments will not be issued until after that hearing and the resolution of any appeals.
• Investigations by U.S. federal and California state authorities concerning forklift engines, as well as discussions with those authorities, are still ongoing separately from the civil settlement.

Step One Before Anything Else: Does Your Engine Make the List?

This settlement is engine-specific. A Toyota forklift built in the right year does not automatically qualify — it must carry one of four specific engine families with specific emissions certification years. Check your forklift’s serial number plate before doing anything else.

The four qualifying engines are:

4Y gasoline engine — emissions certification years 2007 through 2021. This is the broadest group and covers the longest period, including forklifts dating back nearly two decades.

1FS engine — emissions certification years 2013 through 2021.

1KD diesel engine — emissions certification years 2014 through 2021.

1ZS engine — emissions certification years 2014 through 2021.

The Settlement Class includes all individuals and entities that purchased or leased a Settlement Class Forklift through January 20, 2026. More information on the Settlement Class Forklifts is available at ForkliftSettlement.com. If you received a settlement notice by mail or email with a Claim ID and PIN, your forklift is likely already identified in Toyota’s records and your claim will process faster. If you didn’t receive a notice, you can still file — but you must provide supporting documentation.

Related article: $31 Million Doximity Securities Fraud Settlement, Did You Buy DOCS Stock Between 2021 and 2023?

What Toyota Actually Did With the Emissions Data

An amended complaint filed in December alleges that Toyota Industries Corp. and the other Toyota-affiliated defendants “manipulated and falsified” engine tests and emissions test data for forklifts sold in the United States and misled customers to believe the forklifts met U.S. emissions standards.

The lawsuit cites a January 2024 report from Toyota in which the company details findings from an internal probe by a “special investigation committee” into irregularities in emissions data for forklift engines. The report found that the company’s employees sometimes were falsifying emissions results, manipulating software and switching out engines during emissions testing, which allowed forklifts to perform better than they otherwise would.

The practical consequence for businesses: forklifts they believed were certified as compliant with U.S. emissions standards were operating above those limits. The plaintiffs claimed Toyota and its subsidiaries engaged in a pattern of misconduct in the design, development, and testing of gasoline and diesel-powered forklifts and their engines. Toyota Industries Corp., Toyota Material Handling North America, and Toyota Material Handling Inc. deny the allegations but agreed to settle rather than face trial.

Notably, Toyota, the parent automaker, was dismissed as a defendant after claiming it had nothing to do with the emissions testing and forklift sales.

Three Things You Can Claim — And How Each One Works

1. Cash payment: $1,000–$2,500 per forklift

Class members can submit a claim to receive a pro rata cash payment from the net settlement fund for each eligible forklift, estimated between $1,000 to $2,500 each. Final payment amount will be determined by the number of valid claims filed.

If every one of the 272,000 covered forklifts files a valid claim, the per-unit payout drops — if attorneys receive their full requested fees and a valid claim was submitted for every Settlement Class Forklift, each forklift would be allocated approximately $820. Filing early does not change your amount; the pro rata calculation happens after the September 22, 2026 deadline.

If multiple businesses filed claims on the same forklift (common with used equipment): if more than one class member submits a valid claim for the same qualifying forklift, the original owner who purchased the forklift new will receive 60% of the settlement payment. The remaining 40% will be divided evenly among the other class members.

2. Free service plan visit — per forklift, on-site

The class action settlement offers a service plan that allows all covered forklifts to receive a service plan visit at an authorized Toyota dealership. The service plan inspection will include basic services such as lubrication, cleaning, measuring, and retightening of engine components, as well as the class members’ choice of a transmission fluid or oil change.

To schedule a Service Plan visit, you must contact your local authorized Toyota Material Handling dealer with your model and serial number within three years from the Effective Date of the Settlement. The Effective Date is expected around August 9, 2026, making the service visit deadline approximately August 8, 2029. A certified technician travels to your location — you do not need to bring the forklift to a dealer.

3. New parts warranty — conditional on a recall

If Toyota offers a government-approved or government-authorized recall by October 31, 2028, for the settlement class forklift engines, class members will receive a new parts warranty. The warranty will include new engine parts installed in any qualifying forklift. Given that federal and California state investigations are still ongoing, the recall possibility is real — but not guaranteed. You do not need to take any action to preserve this benefit.

How to File a Claim: Four Steps for a Single Forklift, Fleet Option for Five or More

If you have more than one eligible forklift, you must submit a separate Claim Form for each forklift. If you need to submit claims for more than five forklifts, please select the Fleet option on the claim form.

Step 1 — Go to ForkliftSettlement.com This is the only court-authorized claim portal. Do not use any third-party site to file.

Step 2 — Enter your Claim ID and PIN (if you have them) This information is located on the Settlement notice postcard or email and will expedite the processing of your claim. If you do not have this information, click No to submit your claim without it.

Step 3 — Provide your forklift details and proof of ownership You need the model and serial number for each forklift. Class members that did not receive a settlement notice with a Claim ID and PIN must provide supporting documentation showing proof of forklift ownership or lease. This includes vehicle title, registration, purchase agreement, lease agreement, proof of insurance, or other documents showing the claimant’s name and the model and serial number.

Step 4 — Submit by September 22, 2026 File a separate claim for each eligible forklift, or use the Fleet option for six or more units. Print and mail the completed form if preferred — postmarked by September 22, 2026 — to: Toyota Forklift Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 301132, Los Angeles, CA 90030-1132.

Step 5 — Schedule your service visit separately The service plan visit is not part of the claim form process. Contact your local Toyota Material Handling authorized dealer directly with your forklift’s model and serial number to schedule. Use the dealer finder at toyotaforklift.com/find-a-dealer. You have until August 8, 2029 to use this benefit.

Estimated time to complete a single-unit claim online: 10–20 minutes.

Complete Timeline

Milestone	Date
Internal Toyota Investigation Report Released	January 2024
Lawsuit Filed	September 2024
Settlement Agreement Executed	October 31, 2025
Preliminary Approval Granted	February 26, 2026
Opt-Out / Objection Deadline	June 1, 2026
Final Approval Hearing	July 9, 2026 at 2:30 p.m. PT, San Francisco
Estimated Settlement Effective Date	~August 9, 2026
Claim Deadline	September 22, 2026
Service Plan Visit Deadline	~August 8, 2029
Recall Parts Warranty Cutoff	October 31, 2028 (recall must be issued by this date)

Your Questions Answered

Does this settlement cover used Toyota forklifts? 

Yes. The settlement includes both new and used purchases. If you purchased a qualifying used Toyota IC forklift with one of the four covered engines and have documentation showing ownership, you can file a claim. If both the original buyer and a subsequent owner file claims for the same forklift, the original purchaser receives 60% and the remaining claimants share the other 40%.

What documentation do I need if I didn’t get a claim notice?

 You need the model and serial number of each forklift, plus at least one document proving ownership or lease — such as a purchase agreement, lease agreement, registration, vehicle title, or proof of insurance listing the serial number. Pull your equipment records before filing.

How much will I actually receive per forklift? 

The estimate is $1,000–$2,500 per unit, but the final amount depends on how many valid claims are filed across all 272,000 covered forklifts. The court cited an average payment of approximately $1,400 to $2,800 per vehicle. If claim volume is low, per-unit payments could exceed the upper estimate. If every forklift files, payments could drop below $1,000.

Do I need a lawyer to file? 

No. The claim process is straightforward and self-service. Go to ForkliftSettlement.com, enter your forklift details, upload documentation, and submit. Fleet operators with large numbers of units may want administrative support for data gathering, but no legal representation is required.

Is this settlement legitimate?

 Yes. The case is Broadmoor Lumber & Plywood Co., et al. v. Toyota Industries Corp., et al., Case No. 3:24-cv-06640-JSC, pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The court appointed Verita Global LLC as settlement administrator. The only authorized claim website is ForkliftSettlement.com. You can also reach the administrator at 1-888-226-4715 or [email protected].

What if I want to opt out and sue Toyota on my own? 

You can opt out by June 1, 2026. If you exclude yourself, you will not receive a cash payment and will not be eligible for the Service Plan visit or the New Parts Warranty. You will not release any of the claims that this Settlement resolves and will keep your right to sue Defendants on your own for the issues covered by the lawsuit. Given the complexity and cost of individual litigation against Toyota Industries Corp., opting out is rarely the practical choice for most businesses — but consult an attorney if you believe your damages significantly exceed the settlement’s per-unit range.

When will I receive my payment?

 Payments will be issued to approved claimants after the court grants final approval of the settlement, the claim deadline has passed, and all claim processing is completed. With a final approval hearing on July 9, 2026, and a claim deadline of September 22, 2026, payments are unlikely to go out before late 2026 at the earliest, assuming no appeals.

Are there ongoing government investigations separate from this settlement? 

Yes. Investigations by U.S. federal and California state authorities concerning engines for U.S. forklifts, as well as discussions with those authorities, are still ongoing. This civil class action settlement does not resolve any government enforcement actions. That process is separate and could result in additional consequences for Toyota Industries Corp. independent of what class members receive here.

Sources & References

• Official Settlement Website: ForkliftSettlement.com — 1-888-226-4715 — [email protected]
• Preliminary Approval Order (February 26, 2026): courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/preliminary-approval-for-toyota-settlement.pdf
• Courthouse News Service coverage: courthousenews.com
• Reuters / U.S. News & World Report: usnews.com/investing/news/articles/2026-01-21/toyota-affiliates-in-436-million-settlement

Last Updated: April 2, 2026

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal claims and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. For advice regarding a particular situation, consult a qualified attorney.