Toyota is recalling over 1 million vehicles in the U.S. due to a problem with the airbags. According to a notice posted online on Wednesday, there’s a potential defect in the front passenger seat airbag, which might prevent it from properly deploying during a crash. This increases the risk of injury or worse.
The recall affects several Toyota and Lexus models from the years 2020 through 2022, including:
– Avalon, Avalon Hybrid (2020-2021)
– Camry, Camry Hybrid (2020-2021)
– Corolla (2020-2021)
– Highlander, Highlander Hybrid (2020-2021)
– RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid (2020-2021)
– Sienna Hybrid (2021)
– ES250 (2021)
– ES300H (2020-2022)
– ES350 (2020-2021)
– RX350 (2020-2021)
– RX450H (2020-2021)
Toyota explains that these vehicles have Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensors in the front passenger seat that may have been improperly manufactured, which can cause a short circuit. This defect could prevent the system from correctly classifying the occupant’s weight, which means the airbag might not deploy as it should in certain accidents.
Owners of the affected vehicles will be notified by mid-February. Toyota and Lexus dealers will inspect the OCS sensors and replace them for free if necessary.
To check if your Toyota vehicle is part of this recall or any other recall, you can visit Toyota’s recall website and enter the required information. You can also check for recalls by entering your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website.
For any questions or additional information about this recall, owners can contact the Toyota Brand Engagement Center at 1-800-331-4331 or the Lexus Brand Engagement Center at 1-800-255-3987.
Earlier this year, Toyota also recalled about 750,000 Highlander SUVs due to a safety issue with the front lower bumper cover. In another incident, Toyota revealed that the locations of over 2 million of its customers’ vehicles had been at risk of breach for a decade starting from 2013.