Toyota and Lexus owners could be owed compensation over claims their keyless cars can easily be stolen

It claims that criminals would be able to use a cheap device to override the computer system inside the vehicle.

The Controller Area Network (CAN) device can allow thieves to target the vehicles by gaining access to the security, locks and ignition, allowing them to drive the car away without causing damage.

Leigh Day claims that these devices, matched with system flaws inside the vehicles, have contributed to an increase in thefts of certain Toyota and Lexus vehicles.

The models affected include the Toyota Rav 4, Toyota Landcruiser, Lexus UX, Lexus RX, Lexus CT, Lexus IS and the Lexus NX.

Estimates from the law firm show that more than 120,000 Lexus and Toyota vehicles fitted with a smart key have been sold in the UK since 2012 and may be vulnerable to the CAN Invader device.

Lawyers at Leigh Day are now investigating a potential group legal claim for compensation against the two companies for “breach of contract and consumer rights legislation”.

One affected driver, Declan Kelly from London, claimed his Toyota Land Cruiser was taken in March last year, although it was fitted with an aftermarket tracker. Criminals had used a CAN device to start the car via the front wheel arch.

He added: “I immediately reached out to Toyota (GB) PLC and asked if they had developed security measures to protect against this device. The car was stolen again a few weeks later despite us fitting a steering wheel lock.

“It was recovered again via the tracker but this time the thieves had caused £8,000 worth of damage to the interior whilst searching for the tracker.

“Since then, there have been two further attempts to take the car and whilst it’s now impossible to drive it away the front wheel arch sustains damage each time they attempt to use the CAN Invader.”

According to the police, drivers can armour plate the wheel or use steering locks, although these can be broken by determined thieves.

Gene Matthews, partner at Leigh Day, said: “The fact that such high value vehicles are so vulnerable to theft using a cheap tech device has left many owners fearing what might happen to their Toyota or Lexus.

“Instead of alerting owners to the problem and recalling vehicles to have it remedied, Toyota/Lexus has sought to keep the issue quiet and avoid having to fix the problem and avoid an expensive recall of thousands of vehicles.

“Anyone who owns one of the affected models should consider joining this claim for compensation for the worry and inconvenience this issue has caused.”

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GB News has contacted Toyota and Lexus for a comment in relation to the claims made by Leigh Day.

In a statement to Car Dealer Magazine, a spokesperson for the two companies said: “We take the issue of vehicle theft very seriously. We are continuously developing technical solutions to make our vehicles more secure, to help reduce the risk of theft.

“An enhanced security hardware system was introduced in October 2021 on the latest models targeted by criminals. Since which, we have seen a significant drop in thefts of those models. For older models, we endeavour to create solutions that can offer enhanced protection to our customers.

“Following communication from Toyota and Lexus in the coming weeks, owners should contact their local dealer to arrange free of charge fitment. Customers can already speak to their local dealer about the fitment of a protective plate to block access to the vehicle’s electronics. This is a nationwide customer care offering.