Toyota has issued a critical advisory for approximately 50,000 older vehicles in the United States, urging drivers to refrain from driving these cars immediately and get their airbags repaired. The notice, published by the car manufacturer last Thursday, specifically applies to the following models: 2003-2004 Corolla, 2003-2004 Corolla Matrix, and 2004-2005 RAV4.
These vehicles are part of the Takata airbag recalls, according to Toyota. The company highlighted that “certain airbags found in the subject vehicles are under an urgent airbag safety recall.” Due to the age of these vehicles, there’s an increased risk that the airbag deployment could lead to an explosion, shooting sharp metal fragments that could cause serious injury or even death to the driver or passengers.
In light of these safety concerns, Toyota strongly advises owners not to drive these vehicles until the necessary safety recall repair has been performed. Instead, owners are instructed to contact their local dealer to arrange for the repair. Toyota dealers are offering various options free of charge, including mobile repair at the vehicle’s location, towing to the dealership, vehicle pickup and delivery, or alternative transportation arrangements.
The company has committed to repairing or replacing the airbags at no cost to the owners. For further assistance, owners can visit the nhtsa.gov/recalls website and enter their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) or license plate information. Additionally, owners with additional questions can contact the Toyota Brand Engagement Center at 1-800-331-4331.
This advisory comes in the wake of other recent Toyota recalls. In late December, the company recalled nearly 1 million vehicles due to the risk of a short circuit in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, potentially preventing the deployment of the front passenger airbag. The affected models include various Toyota and Lexus vehicles manufactured between 2020 and 2022. Dealers will inspect and replace the OCS sensor free of charge, with notification letters set to be sent to vehicle owners starting February 4th.
