Toyota Recalls 2014 Highlanders Due to Air Bag Software Error
Toyota is recalling 2014 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles because improper air bag software may fail to properly restrain larger front passengers in a crash.
What this means for you
Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 3/5 (High).
Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.
Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a risk-of-harm product where injury has not yet been reported, fitting the High severity criteria for potential injury in a crash without confirmed fatalities or hospitalizations.
Plain-English summary
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling certain model year 2014 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The recall affects 48,840 vehicles that may have improper software installed in the air bag electronic control unit (ECU) for the operation of the front passenger seat belt force limiter.
The defect causes the force limiter to use the restraint setting designed for small occupants, such as those weighing approximately 110 pounds, for all occupants regardless of their size. As a result, these vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection." In the event of a crash, a larger front passenger seat occupant may not be properly restrained and may be at an increased risk of injury.
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will install a software update in the air bag electronic control unit free of charge. The recall began on June 27, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.
The recalled product
- Product
- TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID, HIGHLANDER
- Brand
- TOYOTA
- Manufacturer
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
- Category
- Vehicle — SUV
- Affected units
- 48,840
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 (2)
- HIGHLANDER HYBRID
- HIGHLANDER
Distribution
Distributed nationwide across the United States.
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