Defective Airbags Trigger Toyota’s Recall of 1.4 Million Cars

Faulty airbags manufactured by AutoLiv, the second largest automotive airbag maker after Takata, have triggered a 1.4 million vehicle recall by Toyota. The affected models include the Prius, Prius Plug-In and Lexus CT200h. These vehicles are being recalled due to the airbag’s two connected chambers, which can separate when the vehicle is parked and unoccupied for a period of time, and which can cause pieces of the inflator to be shot into the vehicle when the airbag deploys. The cars included in the recall were manufactured between October 2008 and April 2012, according to Autoweek.

The New York Times reports that there have not been any injuries associated with the defective airbags so far, as they have only deployed in parked vehicles, with metal shards from the inflator being shot into the car’s cabin. Autoliv, which is based in Stockholm, supplies airbags to many of the big automakers, and they are also supplying some of the replacement parts for cars affected by the Takata recall.

According to Car and Driver Magazine, Toyota has disclosed that it still uses Takata airbag inflators in some of its new model cars. The 2015-2016 4Runner and Lexus GX460, the Lexus IS250C and IS350C, and the 2015 Scion XB include the non-desiccated Takata inflators and they will be recalled by the end of 2018 despite the fact that they are still legal to sell. This potential recall will affect about 175,000 vehicles in the U.S.

Next steps you can take

Information about the non-desiccated airbags can be found in this update from Toyota, which included frequently asked questions and answers about the faulty airbags and the recalls.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) maintains an interactive database that tracks vehicle safety recalls called, Safercar.gov. Vehicle owners can visit safercar.gov and lookup their vehicle by VIN number and find out if their vehicle is affected by any safety recalls. You can also subscribe to updates and receive an email if a recall comes up that affects your vehicle.

Making sure that your vehicle is in safe condition is an important part of being a responsible owner. Checking to make sure that your car does not contain any defective parts that are subject to recall will help keep you, your passengers and those with whom you share the road safer.

If you have suffered an injury that was caused by defective automotive equipment in West Tennessee, we invite you to schedule a free consultation with a knowledgeable Memphis auto accident attorney from the law offices of Bailey & Greer, PLLC, who will discuss your case and explain your legal options. Please feel free to contact us or to call 901-680-9777 to schedule a consultation at our Memphis or Jackson office to answer your questions.