Toyota urges owners of older Corolla, Matrix and RAV4 models to park them until the air bags are replaced

[ad_1]

DETROIT (AP) — Toyota and General Motors are telling owners of about 61,000 older Corolla, Matrix, RAV4 and Pontiac Vibe models to stop driving them because their takata air bag There is a risk of inflators bursting and causing shrapnel.

The immediate warning on Monday covers certain Corolla compact cars and Matrix hatchbacks of the 2003 and 2004 model years, as well as the 2004 and 2005 RAV4 small SUVs. Also covered are approximately 11,000 Pontiac Vibes from 2003 and 2004, which are basically identical. Matrix and were created at the same time California factory. Most of the cars are in America

“If the air bag deploys, there is a high probability that the interior will explode and sharp metal fragments will fall out, which could cause serious injury or death to the driver or passengers,” Toyota said in a statement.

The recalled RAV4s have Takata driver’s air bags while Corolla and Matrix models have those on the passenger side. The Corolla and Matrix are also being recalled separately because their air bags can deploy without causing a crash, the company said.

Both companies said owners should contact a local dealer instead of taking the cars for repairs. Dealers will offer options such as mobile repair, towing the car to the dealer, or vehicle pickup and delivery.

political cartoon

boss can go nhtsa.gov/recalls And enter your 17-digit vehicle identification number to see if their cars are affected.

Takata used volatile ammonium nitrate to create a small explosion to inflate the air bag in a crash. But chemical propellants can degrade over time when exposed to high temperatures and humidity. It can detonate with great force, blowing out a metal canister and spewing shrapnel.

At least 26 people have been killed by Takata inflators in the US since May 2009, and at least 30 around the world, including people in Malaysia and Australia. Apart from this, about 400 people have been injured. Exploding air bag blows up Japan’s Takata in bankruptcy,

The potential for a dangerous defect triggered the largest series of auto recalls in US history. Nearly 100 million inflators were recalled worldwide.

Copyright 2024 The associated Press, All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

[ad_2]

Source link

Leave a Comment