Toyota Motor issues a “Do Not Drive” advisory to approximately 50,000 owners of older US vehicles, urging them to undergo immediate recall repairs due to a potentially lethal airbag inflator defect. The advisory, issued on Monday, emphasizes the risk of an airbag inflator explosion that could lead to fatalities.
Affected Models and Recall Details
The advisory pertains to specific models, including the 2003-2004 Corolla, 2003-2004 Corolla Matrix, and 2004-2005 RAV4s, all equipped with Takata airbag inflators. The RAV4 recall involves the driver’s airbag, while recalls for Corolla and Corolla Matrix models relate to the front passenger airbag only. Some of these vehicles are also part of a second recall due to a defect that can cause the airbag to deploy without a crash.
Takata Airbag Inflator Issues
Takata airbag inflators have been associated with numerous incidents globally, resulting in over 30 deaths worldwide, including 26 in the US, and hundreds of injuries since 2009. The defective inflators are known to explode, releasing metal shrapnel inside vehicles.
Recall Efforts and Industry Response
Over the past decade, recall efforts have been extensive, involving more than 67 million Takata airbag inflators in the US alone. This marks the most significant auto safety recall in history, with over 20 automakers recalling more than 100 million inflators globally. Other automakers have also issued “Do Not Drive” warnings for vehicles equipped with older Takata airbag inflators following fatal incidents.
Toyota’s Swift Action and NHTSA Response
Toyota’s advisory follows a pattern of automakers swiftly addressing dangers linked to faulty Takata airbag inflators. While Toyota has not disclosed whether the advisory is in response to a serious injury or a fatal incident, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not issued an immediate comment on Toyota’s advisory.
Industry-wide Measures
This move aligns with industry-wide measures, as seen with Stellantis and Honda Motor taking similar actions in response to fatalities linked to the inflators. Stellantis issued warnings in 2022 for certain Dodge Ram pickups, while Honda issued a “Do Not Drive” warning in February 2023 for Acura and Honda vehicles after a fatal incident in Kentucky. Honda has reported 17 US deaths and over 200 injuries related to Takata inflator ruptures.