Toyota recalls nearly 2 million Vehicles because the air bag inflator could rupture and send out metal fragments

Washington, D.C. – Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on May 13th, 2015 that they are recalling certain model year 2004 Sequoia vehicles manufactured August 18th, 2003, to August 19th, 2004, and 2003-2004 Tundra vehicles manufactured March 18th, 2003, to August 25th, 2004.

On June 16th, 2015, Toyota expanded the recall to include an additional 1,270,468 vehicles, including model year 2002-2003 and 2005-2007 Sequoia, 2005-2006 Tundra, 2003-2007 Corolla, 2003-2007 Corolla Matrix, 2003-2007 Pontiac Vibe and 2002-2007 Lexus SC vehicles.

This recall addresses both the passenger side frontal air bags that were originally installed in the vehicles, as well as replacement air bags that may have been installed as replacement service parts. A replacement air bag may have been installed, as one example, if a vehicle had been in a crash necessitating the replacement of the passenger side frontal air bag.

Recall Information

Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Report Receipt Date: May 13th, 2015
NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V285000
Component(s): Air Bags
Potential Number of Units Affected: 1,973,468

Consequence

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger’s frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac Vibe owners will be notified by GM. Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1.800.331.4331. Pontiac owners may call 1.800.762.2737.

Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 15V-285 and supersedes recall 14V-312 in its entirety.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1.888.327.4236 (TTY 1.800.424.9153), or go to www.safercar.gov