Toyota IC Forklift Emissions $299.5M Settlement, Did You Buy or Lease a 2007–2021 Model? Here’s How to Claim

Toyota Industries Corporation and two U.S. subsidiaries agreed to pay $299.5 million in cash — plus a service plan valued at up to $189.3 million — to settle a class action lawsuit alleging they manipulated emissions testing on more than 272,000 gasoline and diesel-powered forklifts. If your business or organization purchased or leased a Toyota IC Forklift with an internal combustion engine built between 2007 and 2021, you may qualify for $1,400 to $2,800 per vehicle. You must file a claim form to receive any cash payment. The claim deadline is September 22, 2026.

Quick Facts

Current Status and What Happens Next

• Preliminarily approved — U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley granted preliminary approval. The settlement is now open for claims while the court review continues.
• Opt-out and objection deadline: June 1, 2026 — businesses and individuals who want to preserve their right to sue Toyota independently must exclude themselves before this date.
• Final approval hearing: July 9, 2026 at 2:30 p.m. at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, CA. Cash payments distribute after final approval and resolution of any appeals.

What Is the Toyota Forklift Emissions Lawsuit About?

Plaintiff Broadmoor Lumber & Plywood Co. and 21 other businesses across 17 states filed the class action lawsuit Broadmoor Lumber & Plywood Co., et al. v. Toyota Industries Corp., et al., Case No. 3:24-cv-06640-JSC, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in September 2024. The lawsuit alleged Toyota Industries Corporation (TICO), Toyota Material Handling North America Inc., and Toyota Material Handling Inc. engaged in a pattern of misconduct in the design, development, and emissions certification testing of nine forklift engine models — covering forklifts manufactured between 2007 and 2021.

The misconduct allegations stem from Toyota Industries Corporation’s own internal investigation. In January 2024, Toyota detailed findings from an internal probe by a special investigation committee into irregularities in emissions data for forklift engines. According to a Reuters report at the time, the case was filed in 2024 in San Francisco federal court, and the internal investigation found that Toyota employees sometimes falsified emissions results, manipulated software, and switched out engines during emissions testing, which allowed forklifts to perform better than they otherwise would.

The plaintiffs argued these practices meant purchasers and lessees paid for forklifts that did not meet the emissions standards they were certified to meet — amounting to a misrepresentation of the product’s true nature and value. Toyota parent company was dismissed as a defendant after it demonstrated it had no involvement in emissions testing or forklift sales. All three named defendants denied plaintiffs’ claims, and the court has not made any finding of wrongdoing. The parties agreed to settle to avoid the cost and uncertainty of continued litigation.

Which Toyota Forklifts Are Covered?

The settlement covers Toyota IC Forklifts — meaning forklifts powered by internal combustion engines (gasoline, diesel, or LPG), as opposed to electric forklifts. The covered forklifts must meet all of the following criteria:

• Engine build years: Internal combustion engine built between 2007 and 2021
• Sale location: Sold in the United States
• Purchase/lease date: Purchased or leased through January 20, 2026

For the full list of specific Toyota IC Forklift models and engine types covered by the settlement, visit ForkliftSettlement.com — the official settlement website provides a complete list of settlement class forklifts. If you are unsure whether your specific forklift model qualifies, contact the settlement administrator at 1-888-226-4715 or [email protected].

Who Is Eligible to File a Claim?

• You may qualify if you are an individual or business entity that purchased or leased a Settlement Class Forklift through January 20, 2026.
• You may qualify if you purchased your forklift directly from Toyota or through an authorized Toyota Material Handling dealer.
• You may qualify if you leased a covered Toyota IC Forklift — both owners and lessees are eligible class members.
• You may qualify whether you still own the forklift or have since sold or returned it — former owners and lessees qualify based on their ownership or lease during the class period.
• You may qualify for multiple payments if your business owned or leased multiple covered forklifts — each qualifying forklift generates a separate claim.
• You do not qualify if your Toyota forklift runs on electric power rather than an internal combustion engine.
• If multiple class members claim the same forklift — the original owner receives 60% of that forklift’s payment, and the remaining 40% splits equally among all other valid claimants for that vehicle.

How Much Can You Receive?

The settlement provides $299.5 million in cash distributed pro rata across all valid claims, plus a free service plan for forklifts still in operation.

Cash payment estimate: $1,400–$2,800 per qualifying forklift

The exact amount per forklift depends on the total number of valid claims submitted. Fewer valid claims mean a higher payment per vehicle — more valid claims mean a lower payment. The $1,400–$2,800 range reflects the court’s estimate based on anticipated claim volume across approximately 272,422 covered forklifts.

Service plan benefits (for forklifts still in operation):

The service plan carries an estimated total value of $83.7 million to $189.3 million across all class forklifts — meaning the full settlement package is worth an estimated $436 million in combined cash and services.

How to File a Claim

Step 1 — Visit the official settlement website at ForkliftSettlement.com and locate the claim form. You can file your claim online or download and print the PDF claim form to mail to the settlement administrator.

Step 2 — Gather your ownership or lease documentation for each qualifying Toyota IC Forklift you owned or leased. You will need to identify each covered forklift by model, engine type, build year, and proof of purchase or lease.

Step 3 — Complete the claim form for each qualifying forklift separately. If your business owned or leased multiple covered forklifts, submit a separate claim for each vehicle.

Step 4 — If you are a current forklift owner with a vehicle still in operation, schedule your free service plan visit through ForkliftSettlement.com. You have until August 8, 2029 to schedule this visit — do not wait, as this deadline is separate from the cash claim deadline.

Step 5 — Submit your completed claim form online or mail it to: Toyota IC Forklift Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 301132, Los Angeles, CA 90030-1132. All cash payment claims must be submitted by September 22, 2026.

Step 6 — Save your claim confirmation number or mailed claim copy for your records.

Estimated time to complete: 10–20 minutes per forklift depending on records available. Businesses with large forklift fleets should begin gathering documentation now to meet the September 22, 2026 deadline.

Important Deadlines and Dates

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a lawyer to file a claim in this settlement? 

No. You can file your claim directly at ForkliftSettlement.com without hiring an attorney. Class counsel from Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein LLP and Baron & Budd PC already represents all class members at no individual cost. If you want independent legal advice about your specific fleet losses, you may hire your own attorney at your own expense.

Is this Toyota forklift settlement legitimate? 

Yes. The settlement, Broadmoor Lumber & Plywood Co., et al. v. Toyota Industries Corp., et al., Case No. 3:24-cv-06640-JSC, is a court-supervised class action in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, with preliminary approval granted by Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley. The official settlement website is ForkliftSettlement.com, administered by Verita Global LLC. Contact the administrator at 1-888-226-4715 or [email protected] to verify any communication.

When will I receive my cash payment? 

The final approval hearing is scheduled for July 9, 2026. If the court approves the settlement and no appeals follow, Verita Global will process all claims submitted by September 22, 2026 and distribute payments after that process concludes. Given the size of the settlement and number of class members, payment distribution may take several months after final approval.

What if I miss the September 22, 2026 claim deadline?

 If you do not file a claim by September 22, 2026, you will not receive any cash payment from this settlement. You may still schedule a service plan visit for qualifying forklifts still in operation — the service plan deadline is August 8, 2029. You will also still be bound by the settlement’s release of claims against Toyota Industries and its subsidiaries unless you opted out before June 1, 2026.

Will this settlement payment affect my taxes?

 Settlement payments received by businesses for property-related claims are typically treated as ordinary income or a reduction in the asset’s cost basis, depending on how your accountant classifies the payment. Consult a qualified tax professional or CPA to understand how to report your payment correctly on your federal and state business tax returns.

What exactly did Toyota allegedly do wrong with the forklift emissions?

 According to Toyota’s own internal investigation and allegations in the lawsuit, Toyota Industries employees falsified emissions test results, manipulated software settings, and switched out engines during official emissions certification testing. These practices allegedly allowed forklifts to pass emissions standards during testing that they would not have met under real-world operating conditions. The affected engines cover nine separate forklift engine models built between 2007 and 2021.

My business owned multiple covered forklifts — do I get paid for each one?

 Yes. Each qualifying Toyota IC Forklift generates a separate claim and a separate payment. If your fleet included five covered forklifts, you may submit five separate claims and receive a payment for each qualifying vehicle. Gather purchase or lease documentation for each forklift before filing to ensure your claims are processed correctly.

What if my forklift was leased and both the leasing company and my business want to file a claim?

 If multiple class members submit valid claims for the same forklift, the settlement has a specific allocation rule. The original owner receives 60% of that forklift’s payment. The remaining 40% splits equally among all other valid claimants for the same vehicle. If your business leased a forklift and the leasing company also files a claim, both parties will receive a share — but you should file your own claim to ensure you receive your portion.

Sources and References

1. Official Settlement Website — ForkliftSettlement.com

Businesses that own Toyota vehicles and want to check whether other Toyota settlements affect their fleet should review the Toyota Camry $9 million HVAC settlement with a claim deadline of May 31, 2026 for 2014–2015 California Camry owners. Companies that purchased other commercial equipment with alleged emissions irregularities may also want to review how the Cummins $2 billion emissions settlement affected RAM truck owners and commercial engine operators for context on how large-scale emissions cases are resolved.

Last Updated: March 14, 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.

About the Author

Sarah Klein, JD, is a licensed attorney and legal content strategist with over 12 years of experience across civil, criminal, family, and regulatory law. At All About Lawyer, she covers a wide range of legal topics — from high-profile lawsuits and courtroom stories to state traffic laws and everyday legal questions — all with a focus on accuracy, clarity, and public understanding.
Her writing blends real legal insight with plain-English explanations, helping readers stay informed and legally aware.
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