The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereNHTSA·19V005000·Announced 2019-01-09

Toyota Recalls Vehicles for Front Passenger Air Bag Inflator Defect

Toyota is recalling approximately 1.3 million vehicles because front passenger air bag inflators may explode due to humidity, potentially causing serious injury or death.

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 an inflator explosion may result in serious injury or death, which aligns with the rubric criterion for 'Severe' (score 4) involving significant injury or death reports.

Plain-English summary

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling approximately 1,299,448 vehicles, including 2010-2017 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, 4Runner, Sienna, Scion xB, Lexus IS250, IS350, IS-F, ES350, IS250C, IS350C, and GX460 models. The recall is divided into three geographic zones (Zone A, B, and C) based on the states where the vehicles were sold or registered, reflecting varying levels of humidity exposure.

The defect involves front passenger air bag inflators that may explode due to propellant degradation after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature, and temperature cycling. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death. The affected inflators may have been installed as original equipment or as replacement equipment after a vehicle crash.

Toyota began the recall on February 15, 2019. Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator or the air bag assembly, depending on the vehicle model. 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, LEXUS, SCION SIENNA, COROLLA, 4RUNNER, IS F
Brand
TOYOTA
Manufacturer
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Category
Vehicle — Air Bag Inflator
Hazard
Affected units
1,299,448

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 (12)

  • SIENNA
  • COROLLA
  • 4RUNNER
  • IS F
  • COROLLA MATRIX
  • XB
  • GX460
  • IS 250C
  • ES350
  • IS 350C
  • IS 350
  • IS 250

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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