- Toyota issues voluntary recall for 50,000 older vehicles due to risk of airbags exploding and shooting sharp metal fragments, posing serious injury or death.
- Models affected include 2003-2004 Corolla, 2003-2004 Corolla Matrix, and 2004-2005 RAV4.
- Takata airbags have caused at least 26 deaths globally, prompting Toyota to offer free repairs or replacements and advising owners to contact local dealerships for repair options.
Additional Coverage:
Toyota has issued a voluntary recall for 50,000 older vehicles, urging owners to stop driving their cars immediately and get their airbags fixed. The affected models include the 2003-2004 Corolla, 2003-2004 Corolla Matrix, and 2004-2005 RAV4. The recall is due to a risk of the airbags exploding and shooting sharp metal fragments, which could cause serious injury or death. Toyota is advising owners to contact their local dealer for repair options, such as mobile repair or towing the vehicle to the dealership.
The RAV4s included in the recall have Takata driver’s airbags, while the Corolla and Matrix have them on the passenger side. The Corolla and Matrix are also under a separate recall as their airbags can deploy without a crash. This latest recall comes just one month after Toyota recalled about 1 million cars in the US for front passenger airbags that may not deploy properly in a crash, posing an additional risk of injury.
Takata, the manufacturer of the airbags, used ammonium nitrate to create an explosion and inflate the airbags during a crash. However, this chemical propellant can deteriorate over time, leading to a potentially dangerous explosion. At least 26 people in the US and 30 people worldwide have been killed by Takata airbag inflators, with about 400 people injured. This has caused Takata to go into bankruptcy.
Toyota has stated that the airbags will be repaired or replaced free of charge. Owners can check if their vehicle is part of the recall by entering their VIN number or license number on Toyota’s website or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website. They can also contact Toyota customer support for further assistance.