Toyota is recalling 844,277 cars to swap out airbag inflators that can shoot shrapnel in a passenger’s face. The 2002–2004 Lexus SC430 and Toyota Sequoia, along with the 2003–2004 Tundra, Corolla, Matrix, and Pontiac Vibe (the re-badged Matrix built by Toyota) are included.
The automaker is expanding an unprecedented airbag recall from April 2013 that simultaneously affected 3.6 million cars from six automakers, including Nissan, Mazda, Honda, BMW, and Pontiac. In that case and with this most recent recall, Japanese supplier Takata had shipped defective airbag inflators with propellants that were “botched” and “improperly stored” during production, according to Reuters. As a result, the inflators can deploy the front passenger-side airbag with too much pressure and explode, sending metal fragments in the air. (Despite the restriction of the recall to the passenger side bag, NHTSA’s investigation also cited reports of problems with the driver’s airbag.)
Toyota’s recall also includes 650,000 cars in Japan for the same problem. The automaker said an incomplete list of serial numbers and Takata’s inability to fully track the problem led to the new action, which adds more of the same 170,000 U.S. models Toyota recalled last year. Before, dealers were only replacing passenger-side inflators that appeared to be damaged; they’re now going to replace all of them regardless of condition. Since Takata is unsure how many airbag inflators are in question, expect the other automakers to expand their respective recalls. Earlier this morning, Reuters also reported Honda may be planning to recall 1 million additional cars for the airbag problems, although the company hasn’t released an official statement saying so.
Toyota said it had not determined a repair schedule but would notify first those owners in “consistently high humidity conditions.” Toyota and Lexus owners can call 1-800-331-4331. Pontiac owners can call 1-800-521-7300.
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In October, Toyota recalled 803,000 cars from 2012–2013 for electrical problems with airbag modules that could cause the airbags to accidentally deploy, or in some cases, not at all.
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