Toyota is recalling 543,000 vehicles as part of an expansion of Takata airbag recalls, this time to replace front passenger-side airbag inflators.
The recall comes with an announcement that Takata is recalling 5.7 million inflators used by numerous automakers, some that include vehicles previously recalled.
Included in the Takata recall are the following Toyota, Lexus and Scion vehicles and model years:
- 2008-2009 and 2012 Scion xB
- 2009 and 2012 Toyota Corolla
- 2009 and 2012 Toyota Corolla Matrix
- 2007-2009 and 2012 Toyota Yaris
- 2012 Toyota 4Runner
- 2012 Toyota Sienna
- 2006-2009 Lexus IS 250C / 350C
- 2012 Lexus IS 250C / 350C
- 2008-2009 and 2012 Lexus IS-F
- 2007-2009 and 2012 Lexus ES 350
- 2012 Lexus GX 460
- 2012 Lexus LFA
The front passenger airbag inflators in the vehicles use ammonium nitrate as the propellant to deploy the airbags, but the chemical is susceptible to heat, high humidity, age and especially moisture.
The recalled airbag inflators don't have a desiccant, a drying agent to counteract moisture that creeps into the inflators. Without the desiccant, the ammonium nitrate that should provide a small explosive force instead causes a massive explosion that turns the metal inflators into grenades.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration hasn't released details, but Toyota says it expects to start contacting customers in February 2017.
Toyota dealers will decide how to conduct the recall repairs based on the vehicle model. Some vehicles will have the front passenger airbag inflators replaced, and some vehicles will have the entire airbag assemblies replaced.
Customers with questions should contact Toyota at 800-331-4331 or Lexus at 800-255-3987.