Toyota, Lexus recalling 1 million vehicles over airbag defect
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A range of Toyota and Lexus vehicles in the US are included in the recall, with model years from 2020 to 2022, such as Toyota Avalons, Camrys, Highlanders, RAV4s, Siennas, and Corollas, alongside some hybrids.
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A logo of Toyota Motor Corp. is seen at its dealership in Lakewood, Colorado, on March 21, 2021. (AP)
1 million vehicles are being recalled by Toyota Motor Corp. as a result of a defect that could cause airbags not to deploy, leading to a risk of hazard or death.
A range of Toyota and Lexus vehicles in the US are included in the recall, with model years from 2020 to 2022, such as Toyota Avalons, Camrys, Highlanders, RAV4s, Siennas, and Corollas, alongside some hybrids.
Meanwhile, the Lexus models include the ES250 sedan and the RX350 SUV.
The defect includes sensors in the front passenger seat that may have been manufactured incorrectly, which could short circuit and thus prompt the airbag system to not determine the driver's correct weight, and may fail to deploy in crashes.
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The car companies will inspect the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensors in the defective vehicles and replace them if needed, at no cost, as Toyota stated it will notify customers by mid-February 2024 if their cars are included.
Recounting recalls
This is considered Toyota's third major recall in recent months, according to a report from CBS News.
Last month, 1.9 million RAV4 sport utility vehicles in the US were recalled because, during sharp turns, the batteries can shift and cause a fire.
Then in October, over 700,000 Toyota Highlander SUVs were recalled to have the mounting tabs that hold the front bumper cover system replaced.
Toyota was not the only manufacturer that had cars recalled recently, as Kia and Hyundai have had similar issues
South Korean automakers Kia and Hyundai recalled around 3.4 million vehicles from the US after increased incidents of engines catching fire due to flawed parts, US auto safety regulator NHTSA said in September.
The recalls covered various car and SUV models from the 2010 through 2019 model years, including Hyundai’s Santa Fe SUV and Kia’s Sorrento SUV.
The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit in these cars "may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving."
Documents released on Wednesday by the NHTSA added that the vehicles' anti-lock braking system (ABS) module "may leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving."
