Takata scandal draws in 180,000 more Toyotas

Toyota has announced today that its recall program for faulty Takata airbags now includes Avensis Verso, Corolla and Yaris models manufactured between March 2007 and December 2011.

According to the press release issued by Toyota, the subject vehicles are to have the front-passenger airbag replaced at the earliest convenience. Preliminary advice will be mailed to vehicle owners from around November 10. Replacement parts will become available during the second quarter of next year, at which time Toyota will contact owners of the affected vehicles again by mail to arrange for the cars to be repaired at an authorised dealer.

Toyota advises that the 179,710 vehicles named in the press release are fitted with faulty airbags on the passenger side only; the driver's front airbag is unaffected in Australia. Rectification will take between one and three hours, depending on the vehicle specification.

Takata airbags fitted to over a million cars sold in Australia over the past two decades are being replaced, due to improper manufacture. Propellant may degrade in high-humidity environments and cause the airbag inflator to rupture, discharging metallic fragments (shrapnel) during the airbag deployment.

Toyota invites owners of the affected vehicles to contact the helpline set up to deal with the recall, on 1800 987 366.

Like a viral epidemic, the Takata fiasco has been no respecter of market position and brand cachet, with companies such as BMW and Ferrari joining the long list of brand names compelled to recall their products for the faulty airbags to be replaced.

It's believed that the number of vehicles now subject to recall for Takata airbags in Australia is up around 1.5 million. Among those vehicles are:
BMW 3 Series 1998-2005
BMW 5 Series 2002-2005
BMW X5 2002-2005
Chrysler 300C 2005-2012
Chrysler Grand Voyager 2008-2010
Dodge Journey 2009-2010
Dodge RAM 2004-2010
Ferrari 458 Italia
Ferrari 458 Spider
Ferrari 458 Speciale/Speciale A
Ferrari California T
Ferrari FF
Ferrari F12 Berlinetta
Honda Accord 2001-2006
Honda Accord Euro 2004-2007
Honda City 2009-2012
Honda Civic 2004-2011
Honda CR-V 2002-2008
Honda CR-V 2007-2011
Honda Insight 2010-12
Honda Jazz 2004-2009
Honda Jazz 2006-2012
Honda Jazz 2012-2014
Honda Jazz Hybrid 2012
Honda Legend 2007-2012
Honda MDX 2003-2006
Jeep Cherokee manual 2006
Jeep Wrangler manual 2006
Jeep Wrangler 2007-2012
Lexus IS 2005-11
Lexus SC430 2003-2007
Mazda2 2007-2014
Mazda6 2002-2007
Mazda B2500/2600 2002-2007
Mazda B Series 2006
Mazda BT-50 2006-2011
Mazda E-Series 2002-2007
Mazda T-Series 2002-2007
Mazda RX-8 2002-2007
Mazda RX-8 2003-2012
Mercedes-Benz SL 2014
Mercedes-Benz SLK 2014
Mitsubishi CH Lancer 2003-2008
Mitsubishi CY/CZ Lancer EVO 2003-2008
Mitsubishi ML and MN Triton 2007-2014
Nissan Maxima 2001-2007
Nissan Maxima (J31) 2007-2008
Nissan Micra 2010-2011
Nissan Navara 2001-2007
Nissan Navara (D22) 2007-2008
Nissan Navara (D40) 2008-2014
Nissan Patrol 2001-2007
Nissan Patrol (Y61) 2007-2008
Nissan Pulsar 2001-2007
Nissan Tiida (C11) 2006-2012
Nissan X-TRAIL 2001-2007
Nissan X-TRAIL (T30) 2007-2008
Subaru Impreza 2004-2007
Toyota Avensis 2003-2009
Toyota Corolla 2003-2009
Toyota Echo 2003-2005
Toyota RAV4 2003-2005
Toyota Yaris 2005-2011