Source: Automotive News / February 2, 2016
Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. today said it is recalling about 320,000 vehicles from the 2003-06 model years for an airbag-related defect.
The recall affects the 2003-06 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2004-06 4Runner, 2005-06 Tundra, 2005-06 Sequoia, 2003-06 Lexus LX 470 and 2004-06 Lexus GX 470.
The vehicles come with side airbags that deploy from the roof during some crashes. Toyota said “improper programming in the airbag control modules” can lead to the airbags and seat belt pretensioners improperly activating in certain conditions after starting the vehicle, raising the risk of injury.
Toyota spokeswoman Cindy Knight said Toyota issued the recall after the company received reports of the airbag deploying, leading to an unspecified number of minor injuries including scratches and ringing ears.
Toyota said vehicle owners will be notified via mail. Dealerships will replace the control module with “one which has an improved programming” for free.
Knight said the defective parts were supplied by Denso Corp., a member of the Toyota Group that is 22 percent owned by Toyota. The defect is unrelated to the ongoing Takata airbag recall, which has affected about 20 million vehicles in the U.S.
Last week, Lexus announced the recall of 6,000 new Lexus RX350 and RX450h crossovers from the 2016 model year for a different airbag-related issue. Lexus said those vehicles have a driver’s knee airbag that “may not have been properly manufactured.”
