Current:Home > NewsToyota warns drivers of 50,000 vehicles to stop driving immediately and get cars repaired -Secure Horizon Growth
Toyota warns drivers of 50,000 vehicles to stop driving immediately and get cars repaired
View
Date:2025-04-12 12:11:51
Toyota is urging the owners of 50,000 older vehicles to stop driving the cars immediately and get their airbags fixed. According to the voluntary recall, the vehicles should not be driven until their faulty airbags have been repaired or replaced.
The recall notice, issued on Thursday, covers these models:
- 2003-2004 Corolla
- 2003-2004 Corolla Matrix
- 2004-2005 RAV4
Because of the age of the airbags, it's more likely that a part inside could explode and shoot sharp metal fragments, which could lead to serious injury or even death, the automaker said.
"Owners SHOULD NOT DRIVE these vehicles until the FREE safety recall repair has been conducted," Toyota said in the statement.
Toyota said it is recommending that owners not drive the vehicles to get fixed. Instead, vehicle owners should contact their local dealer, which can arrange for a number of other options, such as performing a mobile repair at the vehicle's location or tow the car to the dealership.
Takata air bags
The recalled RAV4s have Takata driver's air bags while the Corolla and Matrix models have them on the passenger side. The Corolla and Matrix also are under a separate recall because their air bags can be deployed without a crash, the company said.
The voluntary recalls comes about one month after Toyota recalled about 1 million cars in the U.S. because the front passenger air bags may not deploy properly in a crash, posing additional risk of injury to riders.
Takata used volatile ammonium nitrate to create a small explosion to inflate air bags in a crash. But the chemical propellant can deteriorate over time when exposed to high temperatures and humidity. It can explode with too much force, blowing apart a metal canister and spewing shrapnel.
At least 26 people have been killed in the U.S. by Takata inflators since May 2009, and at least 30 have died worldwide including people in Malaysia and Australia. In addition, about 400 people have been injured. The exploding air bags sent Takata of Japan into bankruptcy.
The automaker said the airbag will be repaired or replaced for free.
You can check if your vehicle is part of the recall by entering your VIN number or license number at Toyota.com/recall or nhtsa.gov/recalls. Car owners can also call Toyota customer support at the Toyota Brand Engagement Center at 1-800-331-4331.
The potential for a dangerous malfunction led to the largest series of auto recalls in U.S. history. About 100 million inflators were recalled worldwide.
– With reporting by the Associated Press.
- In:
- Product Recall
- Toyota
Aimee Picchi is the associate managing editor for CBS MoneyWatch, where she covers business and personal finance. She previously worked at Bloomberg News and has written for national news outlets including USA Today and Consumer Reports.
TwitterveryGood! (2)
Related
- In ‘Nickel Boys,’ striving for a new way to see
- Leah Remini announces split from husband Angelo Pagán after 21 years
- Winners and losers of the Brandon Aiyuk contract extension
- One Tree Hill Sequel Series in the Works 12 Years After Finale
- Kylie Jenner Shows Off Sweet Notes From Nieces Dream Kardashian & Chicago West
- Man charged with killing ex-wife and her boyfriend while his daughter waited in his car
- USA TODAY Sports' 2024 NFL predictions: Who makes playoffs, wins Super Bowl 59, MVP and more?
- You Have 24 Hours To Get 50% Off the Viral Clinique Black Honey Lipstick Plus Ulta Deals as Low as $10.50
- US appeals court rejects Nasdaq’s diversity rules for company boards
- Lionel Messi's Inter Miami already in MLS playoffs. Which teams are in contention?
Ranking
- Scoot flight from Singapore to Wuhan turns back after 'technical issue' detected
- A Georgia Democrat seeks to unseat an indicted Trump elector who says he only did what he was told
- Slash’s Stepdaughter Lucy-Bleu Knight’s Cause of Death Revealed
- Reactions to the deaths of NHL star Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew Gaudreau
- A South Texas lawmaker’s 15
- Jaw-Dropping Old Navy Labor Day Sale: Tanks for $4, Jumpsuits for $12, and More Deals Up to 70% Off
- Judge allows smoking to continue in Atlantic City casinos, dealing blow to workers
- Dancing With the Stars Alum Cheryl Burke Addresses Artem Chigvintsev’s Arrest
Recommendation
Kylie Jenner Shows Off Sweet Notes From Nieces Dream Kardashian & Chicago West
Murder conviction remains reinstated for Adnan Syed in ‘Serial’ case as court orders new hearing
One Tree Hill Sequel Series in the Works 12 Years After Finale
Angelina Jolie Shares Perspective on Relationships After Being “Betrayed a Lot”
'Squid Game' without subtitles? Duolingo, Netflix encourage fans to learn Korean
'DWTS' pro dancer Artem Chigvintsev arrested on domestic violence charge
How many points did Caitlin Clark score today? Fever rookie nets career high in win vs. Sky
Justices promise at least 5 weeks between backlogged executions in South Carolina