Problems with Toyota Mirai Hydrogen Cars
Toyota, recently hit with a massive $5.7 billion lawsuit accusing it of engaging in “criminal activity” by concealing safety issues in its Mirai hydrogen cars, now faces a new wave of outrage from owners of these vehicles. They claim that the company, despite prior agreements, handed their cases over to collection agencies for debts.
Contradictory Company Promises
As reported by attorney Jason Ingbir, who represents the plaintiffs, Toyota informed some clients that they could suspend monthly payments due to systemic problems with the hydrogen refueling station network. These problems left many Mirai owners trapped: they own expensive cars they can barely use. Customers received written assurances from Toyota that no payment demands would be made while the lawsuit was ongoing.
It was a huge relief, but due to the uncertainty, some people started making payments again. Others just threw up their hands because they had already received negative information on their credit history. This is a fiasco within a fiasco, which in my opinion is truly cruel.
Devastating Consequences for Credit Scores
One owner, Anthony Escobedo, recounted that he had raised his credit score to 814 points. Acting on Toyota’s recommendation, he suspended payments on his Mirai. Soon after, his case was handed over to collectors, and his credit score dropped by 100 points overnight. This deprived him of the opportunity to obtain an interest-free loan needed to cover his wife’s medical expenses. Although Toyota later canceled the delinquency report, his credit score did not fully recover.
A similar situation happened to Julie Dumit. She suspended payments, acting on Toyota’s instructions, after 46 months of flawless payments. Despite this, she was also handed over to collectors, and her credit score dropped by 70 points.
Personal Stories of Owners
Another owner, Alejandro King, reported that his score also dropped sharply—by about 150 points from a peak of 835—after suspending payments.
I’ve been building my credit history since I was 18. I never missed a payment, always paid for everything. My credit score was around 835, which is phenomenal, and I always maintained it at that level. Seeing what happened, I was so depressed I couldn’t sleep.
Internal Problems at Toyota
According to some assumptions, Toyota representatives in some cases simply failed to notice notes on customer accounts about payment suspensions. As a result, these accounts were mistakenly marked as problematic and handed over to collection agencies.
The lawsuit against Toyota, filed under the RICO statute, alleges that the company coordinated with its financial divisions and dealers in California to promote and finance the Mirai, despite technicians describing these cars as “ticking hydrogen bombs.” It is also alleged that Toyota concealed numerous defects of the Mirai, including the risk of hydrogen leakage near hot engine components.
This payment situation is unfolding against the backdrop of a broader crisis of trust in Toyota’s hydrogen technology. Infrastructure problems that make the car almost unusable for daily use are now compounded by administrative chaos from the manufacturer itself. The stories of owners who spent decades building their financial reputations demonstrate that the consequences of corporate decisions and mistakes can be deeply personal and devastating, extending far beyond technical malfunctions. Such cases could set a dangerous precedent for relations between automakers and consumers, especially in new and risky markets like hydrogen transportation.