Toyota, Lexus extend airbag recall

Toyota has announced an extension in the number of Australian vehicles affected by the Takata airbag debacle, which now includes about 800,000 vehicles here and more than 53 million globally.

Yesterday's announcement expands on the 181,000 vehicles recalled by the Japanese giant in Australia in May and now includes Yaris and Avensis Verso models produced until December 2008.

However, the world's biggest car-maker has not yet determined how many cars are affected by the expanded recall, which previously included more than 75,000 Corollas, almost 45,000 Yaris models, almost 29,000 RAV4s, more than 27,000 Echo vehicles and 4615 Avensis wagons.

Toyota sold nearly 50,000 Yaris and 2000 Avensis vehicles in the extended recall period, but how many are affected remains unknown.

Meantime, Lexus has also recalled an unspecified number of SC 430 sports cars built between May 2003 and December 2007 due to the same problem.

Toyota and Lexus say owners of affected vehicles will be contacted to arrange replacement parts, which may not be available for some time. Owners can contact the Toyota recall campaign helpline on 1800 987 366 or the Lexus Customer Assistance Centre on 1800 023 009.

Today's recall extension is in addition to top-selling Toyota models including the Corolla (2003-2007), RAV4 and Echo (both 2003-2005), the passenger's or driver's airbag in which could rupture and release shrapnel during a crash, potentially injuring or even killing the vehicle's occupants.

Toyota says no such cases have been reported in Australia, but at least eight people have been killed in Honda cars and more than 100 injured overseas.

The news comes as Takata Corporation president Shigehisa Takada appeared at a press conference in Japan yesterday for the first time since the airbag drama was revealed, apologising on behalf of his company and its defective airbags.

"I want to first offer my heartfelt condolences for those who have lost their lives because of our damaged inflators. I also want to again apologise for the worry this may have caused everyone," he said, according to a translation published by CNBC.

"I had been in discussions with auto-makers and regulatory authorities. In doing so I realised how I missed several opportunities to speak and for that I apologise," he said in response to questions asking why he had taken so long to speak publicly about the issue.

Takata continues to investigate the cause of its potentially lethal airbag problem, delaying replacement parts in some cases until next year.

The company has ruled out speculation the problem is ammonium nitrate, which it continues to use as a propellant in its replacement airbags but is not employed by other airbag manufacturers.

In Australia, the Takata recall affects now a range of models from a number of brands, including BMW (E46 3 Series), Chrysler (300C), Honda (Accord, Accord Euro, Civic, CR-V, Jazz and MDX), Lexus SC430), Mazda (6, B2500/B2600, E-Series, T-Series and RX-8), Mercedes-Benz (SL and SLK), Nissan (Maxima, Patrol, Pulsar and X-TRAIL, Subaru (Impreza), Toyota (Avensis, Corolla, Echo, RAV4 and Yaris).

BMW 3 Series 1998-2005
Chrysler 300C 2005-2010
Honda Accord 2001-2006
Honda Accord Euro 2004-2007
Honda Civic 2004-2005
Honda CR-V 2002-2008
Honda Jazz 2004-2009
Honda MDX 2003-2006
Lexus SC430 2003-2007
Mazda6 2002-2007
Mazda B2500/2600 2002-2007
Mazda E-Series 2002-2007
Mazda T-Series 2002-2007
Mazda RX-8 2002-2007
Mercedes-Benz SL 2014
Mercedes-Benz SLK 2014
Nissan Maxima 2001-2007
Nissan Micra 2010-2011
Nissan Navara 2001-2007
Nissan Patrol 2001-2007
Nissan Pulsar 2001-2007
Nissan X-TRAIL 2001-2007
Subaru Impreza 2004-2007
Toyota Avensis 2003-2009
Toyota Corolla 2003-2007
Toyota Echo 2003-2005
Toyota RAV4 2003-2005
Toyota Yaris 2005-2009