The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereNHTSA·16V127000·Announced 2016-03-03

Toyota and Lexus Recall for Front Passenger Air Bag Inflator Rupture Risk

Toyota is recalling specific 2008-2010 Lexus SC, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, and Pontiac Vibe vehicles because the front passenger air bag inflator may rupture during deployment.

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 source text explicitly states that the defect could result in 'serious injury or death' due to metal fragments striking occupants, which aligns with the rubric criterion for 'significant injury/property-damage reports' or structural vehicle defects involving high-risk components.

Plain-English summary

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Lexus SC vehicles, 2008 Toyota Corolla vehicles, 2008 Toyota Corolla Matrix vehicles, and 2008 Pontiac Vibe vehicles. The recall addresses a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag inflator, which may produce excessive internal pressure causing the inflator to rupture upon deployment. This recall covers both original equipment and replacement air bags that may have been installed as service parts.

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants, potentially resulting in serious injury or death. The recall began on March 25, 2016, for Toyota and Lexus vehicle owners and on June 23, 2016, for GM owners. This recall expands on recall 15V-285.

Owners should contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331 or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator or the entire front passenger air bag assembly depending on the model. Owners may also contact the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or visit www.safercar.gov.

The recalled product

Product
LEXUS, TOYOTA, PONTIAC SC, COROLLA MATRIX, COROLLA, VIBE
Brand
LEXUS
Manufacturer
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Category
Vehicle — Air Bag Inflator
Hazard
Affected units
147,242

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 (4)

  • SC
  • COROLLA MATRIX
  • COROLLA
  • VIBE

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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