Toyota Motor Co said Wednesday it is recalling 1m vehicles over a defect that could cause airbags not to deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
The recall covers a range of Toyota and Lexus vehicles in the US with model years from 2020 to 2022. Included in the recall are Toyota Avalons, Camrys, Highlanders, RAV4s, Siennas and Corollas, plus some hybrids of those models.
The Lexus models in the recall include the ES250 sedan and the RX350 SUV, among others.
The vehicles being recalled have sensors in the front passenger seat that may have been manufactured improperly. Those sensors could potentially short circuit, causing the airbag system to not determine the occupant’s correct weight and potentially not deploy in certain kinds of crashes.
Toyota and Lexus dealers will inspect the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensors and replace them if necessary at no cost to owners. Toyota will notify customers by the middle of February 2024 if their cars are in the recall.
Toyota owners who think their car might be included in the recall can call 1-800-331-4331 for details. For Lexus vehicles, owners can call 1-800-255-3987 for more information.
It is the third major recall for Toyota in recent months, a report from CBS News said. In November, the company recalled 1.9m RAV4 sport utility vehicles in the US because the batteries can shift during sharp turns and potentially cause a fire.
The automaker recalled more than 700,000 Toyota Highlander SUVs on 26 October to replace the mounting tabs that hold the front bumper cover assembly in place. According to the company’s release, even a minor impact would cause the assembly to fall off, creating a potential hazard to drivers.
