Toyota and General Motors have issued an urgent warning to owners of approximately 61,000 older Corolla, Matrix, RAV4, and Pontiac Vibe models, advising them to refrain from driving their vehicles due to the risk of Takata airbag inflators exploding and causing harm.
The warning, issued on Monday, specifically targets certain Corolla compact cars and Matrix hatchbacks from the 2003 and 2004 model years, along with the RAV4 small SUV from 2004 and 2005. Additionally, it includes approximately 11,000 Pontiac Vibes from 2003 and 2004, which share similarities with the Matrix and were manufactured at the same California factory. The majority of these vehicles are located in the United States.
According to Toyota, if the airbag deploys, there is an increased likelihood of a part inside exploding and releasing sharp metal fragments, posing a serious risk of injury or death to the driver and passengers.
The recalled RAV4s are equipped with Takata driver’s airbags, while the Corolla and Matrix models have them on the passenger side. Additionally, the Corolla and Matrix are subject to a separate recall due to the possibility of their airbags deploying without a crash.
Both Toyota and General Motors have advised owners to refrain from driving their vehicles and instead contact a local dealer for repairs. Dealers will offer options such as mobile repair, towing the vehicle to a dealer, or vehicle pickup and delivery.
Owners can visit nhtsa.gov/recalls and enter their 17-digit vehicle identification number to check if their cars are affected by the recall.
Takata utilized volatile ammonium nitrate to create a small explosion for inflating airbags during a crash. However, over time, the chemical propellant can deteriorate when exposed to high temperatures and humidity, leading to a potential explosion with excessive force, resulting in the rupture of a metal canister and the dispersal of shrapnel.
Since May 2009, at least 26 fatalities in the United States have been linked to Takata inflators, with an additional 30 deaths reported worldwide, including incidents in Malaysia and Australia. Moreover, approximately 400 individuals have sustained injuries due to the exploding airbags, ultimately leading Takata of Japan into bankruptcy.
The significant risk of a dangerous malfunction prompted the largest series of auto recalls in U.S. history, with approximately 100 million inflators recalled worldwide.
