Toyota advises 50,000 drivers in the US to cease driving and get repairs done right away.

January 29, WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Because an air bag inflator has the potential to explode and kill drivers, Toyota Motor (7203.T), opens new tab, said on Monday that it is advising the owners of 50,000 older American vehicles to get recall repairs done right away.

According to the Japanese carmaker, certain Corolla, Corolla Matrix, and 2004–2005 RAV4 models with Takata air bag inflators from the 2003–2004 model year are covered by the “Do Not Drive” advice.

Since 2009, Takata air bag inflators have been connected to over 30 deaths globally (26 in the United States) and hundreds of injuries in vehicles made by different automakers. These explosions can release metal shards inside cars and trucks. More than 20 automakers have recalled more than 67 million Takata air bag inflators in the US throughout the past ten years and more than 100 million inflators globally, in the largest-ever auto safety recall.

The Defect:

According to Toyota, the driver’s airbag is included in the RAV4 recall, but the front passenger airbag is the only one covered by the other recalls. There is also a second recall involving specific Corolla and Corolla Matrix models, which may result in the airbag deploying even in the absence of a collision. Other automakers have also issued “Do Not Drive” advisories for cars with earlier Takata air bag inflators following tragic collisions. Toyota refused to comment when asked if a fatal accident or significant injury involving one of the cars had caused the “Do Not Drive” alert.

After one person was killed when a Takata air-bag inflator detonated, the parent company of Chrysler, Stellantis (STLAM.MI), opened a new tab in July alerting 29,000 owners of 2003 Dodge Ram trucks to stop driving right away while repairs were being made. In November of 2022, Stellantis strongly advised owners of 276,000 older U.S. vehicles to cease driving immediately. This precautionary measure came in the wake of three fatal crashes linked to defective Takata airbag inflators reported during the year.

Warning: Do Not Drive:

In February 2023, Honda Motor (7267.T) took similar action by issuing a “Do Not Drive” warning for 8,200 Acura and Honda vehicles. This decision was prompted by the tragic death of a 2002 Accord driver in Bowling Green, Kentucky, attributed to a faulty Takata airbag inflator. Honda has disclosed a total of 17 U.S. fatalities and over 200 injuries connected to Takata inflator ruptures in the United States.