Toyota is recalling more than 1.5 million Toyota, Lexus and Scion vehicles in the U.S. to replace Takata airbags at risk of exploding. Toyota names the following models as part of the recall:
- 2009-2011 Toyota Corolla
- 2009-2011 Toyota Matrix
- 2006-2011 Toyota Yaris
- 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner
- 2011 Toyota Sienna
- 2008-2011 Scion xB
- 2007-2011 Lexus ES
- 2010-2011 Lexus GX
- 2006-2011 Lexus IS
The move isn't unexpected after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced 35-40 million additional Takata airbags would be recalled in the U.S. The government made its decision after confirmation of the root cause for the airbags to explode like hand grenades.
The airbags have killed at least 10 people in the U.S. and injured more than 140 because of metal airbag inflators located inside the airbags. NHTSA says three independent investigations prove a combination of time, moisture and high temperatures cause the explosive chemical inside the inflators to become unstable and degrade over time.
The chemical, ammonium nitrate, is used in the inflators as the propellant to deploy the airbags in a crash, but the chemical can burn too quickly and rupture the metal canister.
Exposure to humidity and changes in high temperatures alter the chemical compound, at least in airbags that don't have a drying agent called a desiccant, a separate chemical used to absorb moisture.
Toyota says this latest recall involves defective passenger-side frontal airbag inflators that dealers will handle in two ways. Toyota says a dealership will replace the airbag inflator or the entire airbag assembly based on the model of vehicle.
To date, the automaker has recalled about 4.7 million vehicles in the U.S. because of the dangerous Takata airbags.
NHTSA hasn't released details of the recall and Toyota has only said affected owners should watch the mail.
CarComplaints.com has many complaints about the Toyota, Lexus and Scion vehicles named in the Takata airbag recall: