Toyota Australia recalls 181,000 cars
Faulty airbags supplied by Takata affect 181,000 Toyotas locally but replacements will not be available until 2016A carpark of around 181,000 Toyota Avensis Verso, Corolla, Echo, RAV4 and Yaris models is being recalled by Toyota Australia due to faulty airbags made by Japanese supplier Takata Corp.
The recall campaign is due to the discovery that the airbag inflator for either the driver’s or passenger’s front airbag (either one or the other is affected, depending on model) may rupture during an accident due to gradual moisture ingress.
Toyota Australia said that there have been no reports of incidents or injuries in this country due to the faulty part, although six deaths overseas have been linked to the faulty part in Honda vehicles.
As the Takata airbag fault affects Toyota globally, manufacture of replacements will take time. The backlog has meant that Toyota will not be able to replace the suspect part for its Australian owners until 2016, based on current projections.
It is estimated that a total of 31 million vehicles worldwide have been fitted with the faulty inflator, including 6.5 million Toyotas and Nissans. Nissan has followed suit with its own recall, and it is expected that Honda will also join in a recall campaign for its own vehicles affected. Takata Corp manufactures about 20 per cent of global airbag requirements.
The Toyota Australia recall affects 75,119 Corollas, 44,812 Yaris’, 28,945 RAV4s, 27,444 Echos and 4615 Avensis Versos built between 2003 and 2007.
The driver’s airbag is affected in Echo and RAV4 models, while the Avensis Verso, Corolla and Yaris have a suspect passenger airbag.
Toyota says that when the parts are available, affected vehicle owners will be advised by mail and asked to take their vehicle to any authorised Toyota dealer.
The airbag inflator will be replaced free of charge and will take approximately 1.5 hours.
This recall is not related to the November 2014 recall for Toyota Echo and RAV4 driver’s airbag inflators.
This is not the first time Toyota has had to recall a large number of its vehicles. In April 2014 Toyota’s recalled 300,000 HiLux, Prado and Yaris models, the HiLux and Prado for replacement of a faulty spiral cable that connects the driver’s airbag and the Echo for a faulty seat-rail spring.
For further information, Toyota owners can contact the Toyota recall campaign helpline on 1800 987 366 or visit www.toyota.com.au.
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
