Toyota Recall Due to Malfunctioning Airbags

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on February 1, 2018

A few days ago, Toyota issued a recall that affects around 645,000 of their vehicles throughout numerous models and years. Although this comes on the heels of a recently expanded recall by the Takata company (maker of many Toyota airbags), the most recent recall from Toyota does not seem to relate to the ongoing Takata scandal and is instead an entirely different hazard that Toyota owners should stay aware of.

Out of the over half-a-million cars recalled, almost 50,000 are currently being used in the United States. Models affected in the recall include Prius, Lexus RX, NX SUVs, Sienta, Noah, Esquire, Corolla, Alphard, Levin, Hilux, and Highlander. All of the affected vehicles were manufactured between May, 2015, and March, 2016.

The statement from Toyota did not include whether or not this new recall notice was connected in any way to recent crashes and deaths or if this is simply an advanced precaution taken on the part of the Toyota company in order to prevent consumers from suffering deadly injuries as a result of the defective airbags. Regardless, it is important that if you own one of the cars manufactured between the above-mentioned time period that you bring your vehicle to a Toyota dealership for proper repair and/or replacement of the parts in question.

As opposed to the Takata recall, which concerns airbags that have the alarming habit of exploding rather than inflating when a collision occurs, the Toyota specific recall concerns an electrical element within the airbags that causes them to fail to inflate at all during an accident. A statement from the Toyota company further explains the issue, saying that a circuit within the airbag that should remain closed could begin to widen and open up as time passes. The opening of this circuit could cause the illumination of the airbag warning light and a subsequent malfunction of the airbag mechanism when the car is involved in a crash.

Anyone who suspects themselves of owning one of the affected vehicles can bring their car to a dealership where the serial number on the suspected part will be scanned to confirm whether or not it belongs with the recall. If so, the dealership will replace the part without charging the owners.

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.