A Toyota RAV4 sits on the gross sales lot at a Toyota dealership in February 2011 in Oakland, Calif.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Photographs
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Justin Sullivan/Getty Photographs
A Toyota RAV4 sits on the gross sales lot at a Toyota dealership in February 2011 in Oakland, Calif.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Photographs
Toyota is warning the house owners of roughly 50,000 U.S. automobiles to cease driving and get speedy recall repairs because of the danger of a defective air bag inflator that has the potential to blow up and severely injure or kill the driving force or passengers.
In a “Do Not Drive” advisory issued by Toyota on Thursday, the Japanese automaker mentioned the recall covers sure fashions of the 2003-2004 Corolla, 2003-2004 Corolla Matrix and the 2004-2005 RAV4 which can be a part of the continuing Takata air bag recall.
“Homeowners SHOULD NOT DRIVE these automobiles till the FREE security recall restore has been performed,” mentioned the assertion.
The Toyota advisory famous that due to the previous age of those automobiles, faulty Takata air bag inflators are notably more likely to explode and shoot out sharp steel fragments, inflicting critical harm and even demise. Lengthy-term publicity of the air bag’s chemical propellant to excessive warmth and humidity is the main reason for danger, in accordance with the Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration.
Many different automobiles are additionally lined by a “don’t drive” advisory for a similar recall.
Takata’s provide of faulty air luggage has resulted in “one of many largest and most advanced remembers in U.S. historical past,” mentioned the NHTSA.
The federal company mentioned roughly 67 million faulty Takata air luggage, involving a minimum of 19 automobile producers, have been recalled up to now. The historical past of the recall dates again to 2004, in accordance with the NHTSA.
No less than 27 individuals have been killed and greater than 400 individuals have allegedly been injured because of a faulty Takata air bag inflator exploding within the U.S., in accordance with the NHTSA.
A Toyota spokesperson mentioned that the corporate’s newest warning is an added effort to help the on-going Takata recall, as “an advisory may help improve restore charges for extra difficult-to-reach proprietor populations who’ve acquired a number of communications about this recall.”
Whereas Toyota says it should restore or exchange the air bag freed from cost, Erin Witte, the director of client safety for the Client Federation of America, says the recall factors to broader issues within the U.S. auto market, and underscores how “we’re placing this burden on shoppers to make it possible for their automobiles get fastened.”
“The true subject is that sellers are allowed to promote these automobiles to shoppers,” says Witte.
A 2021 investigation from the Client Federation of America discovered that tens of millions of used automobiles are routinely bought with recognized life-threatening security defects.
The “Do Not Drive” advisory from Toyota comes after the Japanese automaker recalled tens of millions of their automobiles again in December for a distinct air bag subject — a sensor defect that might stop air luggage from deploying.
Drivers can see if their automobile is concerned in a security recall by visiting Toyota.com/recall or nhtsa.gov/remembers, and coming into their Car Identification Quantity (VIN) or license plate info.
The VIN is both on the decrease left driver facet of the automotive’s windshield or the automotive’s registration card. It might even be proven on the insurance coverage card.
A client truth sheet from the NHTSA is accessible for straightforward reference.
For extra questions, Toyota buyer help may be reached by calling the Toyota Model Engagement Heart (1-800-331-4331).
