Toyota has announced a recall of 1.12 million vehicles due to a potential air bag issue.
The automaker has identified a defect in passenger side air bag inflators in certain Avalon, Corolla, Highlander, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Venza models. The recall impacts cars from 2013 to 2019.
Toyota believes that the faulty inflators could cause the air bag to deploy unexpectedly, increasing the risk of injury and/or fatality. The company is urging owners of these vehicles to take them to an authorized dealer for inspection and repair.
The recall affects almost 2,000 vehicles in Canada, where government safety standards require that all affected vehicles be repaired before being legally driven.
Vehicle owners can check if their car is part of the recall by entering its Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on Toyota’s “recall check” website. If the car is part of the recall, owners will receive a repair coupon and the necessary instructions for repairing their vehicle.
Toyota estimates that the total cost of the recall will be about 1.6 billion US dollars. The company has set aside approximately 200 million US dollars to cover the cost of replacement parts and other related expenses.
The recall is a reminder of the need for regular vehicle maintenance and inspection. Inspecting the air bag system is part of routine maintenance and can help alert owners of potential safety issues before they become a problem.
In this case, the cause of the potential issue has been identified before any serious accident or injury occurred, helping to ensure the safety of Toyota drivers around the world.