Toyota is recalling more than 844,000 vehicles to address a safety defect in the front passenger air bag inflator. It may produce excessive pressure causing the inflator to rupture when the air bag is deployed.
During a crash, the ruptured inflator could blast out metal fragments that have the potential to seriously injure occupants.
Vehicles involved include: 2002-2004 Toyota Sequoia; 2002-2004 Lexus SC; and 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, and Tundra and Pontiac Vibe.
Toyota will notify owners of Toyota and Lexus vehicles involved and General Motors will notify owners of Pontiac Vibe vehicles. Toyota, Lexus, and GM dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge.
The manufacturer hasn’t provided a notification schedule. Owners can contact Toyota customer service at 800-331-4331. Pontiac Vibe owners may contact GM at 800-521-7300.
This recall supersedes recall 13V-133: Some vehicles were inspected under it and received a replacement inflator, while others were inspected but didn’t have their inflator replaced.
All owners of vehicles that didn’t get an inflator replacement, or owners that don’t know if they got an inflator replacement, should contact their Toyota or Lexus dealer.
Owners can also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236, or go to www.safercar.gov.
