The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereNHTSA·11V245000·Announced 2011-04-21

Toyota Recalls 2007-2008 Models for Airbag Sensor Defect

Toyota is recalling certain 2007-2008 Highlanders and RAV4s because a faulty airbag sensor may cause the side airbag to deploy unexpectedly, potentially injuring occupants.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).

The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a structural vehicle defect where inadvertent airbag activation can cause injury to occupants, meeting the criteria for a Severe (4) rating.

Plain-English summary

Toyota Motor North America, Inc. is recalling approximately 307,848 model year 2008 Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, and model year 2007-2008 RAV4 vehicles. The recall addresses a defect in the curtain shield airbag (CSA) system's sensor assembly, which contains two sensors designed to detect vehicle roll angle.

If both sensors fail nearly simultaneously after the initial system check, the curtain shield airbag and seat belt pretensioner could be inadvertently activated. This unintended deployment can cause injury to vehicle occupants. If only one sensor malfunctions, the airbag warning light will illuminate and the roll detection system will be suspended, but the airbag remains available for side crashes.

Toyota will replace the airbag sensor assembly with a new one containing improved roll rate sensors at no charge to the owner. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331 for more information. Toyota intends to send interim owner notifications when sufficient parts and remedies become available.

The recalled product

Product
TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, HIGHLANDER HYBRID, RAV4
Brand
TOYOTA
Manufacturer
TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Category
Vehicle — Airbag System
Hazard
Affected units
307,848

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (3)

  • HIGHLANDER
  • HIGHLANDER HYBRID
  • RAV4

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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