Toyota Urges 50,000 Owners to Stop Driving Older Corolla, Corolla Matrix, and RAV4 Models Due to Takata Air Bag Risk
DETROIT (AP) — In a recent urgent warning, Toyota has advised the owners of approximately 50,000 older Corolla, Corolla Matrix, and RAV4 models to refrain from driving their vehicles. The reason behind this cautionary measure is the potential risk of the Takata air bag inflators exploding, posing a threat of hurling dangerous shrapnel.
The warning, issued on Monday, specifically applies to certain Corolla compact cars and Matrix hatchbacks from the 2003 and 2004 model years, as well as the RAV4 small SUVs from 2004 and 2005.
Toyota explained that if the air bag were to deploy, there is a higher likelihood of an internal component exploding and projecting sharp metal fragments, which could result in severe injury or even death to the driver or passengers.
The affected RAV4s are equipped with Takata driver’s air bags, while the Corolla and Matrix models have them installed on the passenger side. Additionally, the Corolla and Matrix are subject to a separate recall due to their air bags being capable of deploying without a crash, according to the company.
Owners are advised to contact their local dealer instead of driving the affected vehicles in for repairs. Dealers will offer various options, such as mobile repair services, towing the car to a dealer, or vehicle pickup and delivery.
To determine if their cars are affected, owners can visit nhtsa.gov/recalls and enter their 17-digit vehicle identification number.
Since May 2009, at least 26 fatalities in the United States have been linked to Takata inflators, with a global death toll of 30, including individuals from Malaysia and Australia. Furthermore, approximately 400 individuals have sustained injuries. These incidents ultimately led to Takata, a Japanese company, filing for bankruptcy.
The potential for a hazardous malfunction prompted the largest series of auto recalls in U.S. history, with approximately 100 million inflators recalled worldwide.
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Toyota is urging owners of around 50,000 older Corolla, Corolla Matrix, and RAV4 models to stop driving their vehicles due to the risk of Takata air bag inflators exploding and causing harm. The warning applies to specific models from the 2003 and 2004 model years. The affected vehicles have air bags that could deploy and shoot metal fragments, potentially causing serious injuries or death. Toyota has advised owners to contact local dealers for repair options instead of driving the vehicles themselves. The recalled vehicles have Takata air bags on either the driver’s or passenger’s side. Additionally, the Corolla and Matrix models are also under a separate recall as their air bags can deploy without a crash. The Takata air bag inflators have caused numerous fatalities and injuries globally, leading to massive auto recalls.
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