Michelle ThompsonAdvisory covers earlier versions of Corolla, Matrix, and Rav 4, whose airbag inflator could burst and could kill drivers.
Toyota announced on Monday that it is encouraging owners of 50,000 older US vehicles to seek quick recall repairs because an airbag inflator might burst, potentially killing drivers.
The Japanese carmaker stated that the “do not drive” advise applies to some 2003-04 model year Corolla, 2003-04 Corolla Matrix, and 2004-05 Rav 4s equipped with Takata air bag inflators.
Since 2009, Takata air bag inflators have been linked to over 30 deaths worldwide, including 26 in the United States, as well as hundreds of injuries in other automakers’ vehicles.
Over the previous decade, more than 20 automakers have recalled more than 67 million Takata air bag inflators in the United States, as well as more than 100 million inflators internationally, in the largest car safety recall ever.
Toyota stated that the Rav 4 recall solely affects the driver’s airbag, whereas the other recalls only involve the front passenger airbag. Certain Corolla and Corolla Matrix models are also subject to a second recall, which can cause the airbag to deploy even in the absence of an incident.
Following tragic crashes, several automakers issued “do not drive” warnings for vehicles equipped with older Takata air bag inflators. Toyota failed to answer if the “do not drive” notice had been prompted by a serious injury or mortality occurrence involving one of the vehicles.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration did not immediately respond.
