If you are a Toyota car owner, you need to stop driving your old car immediately!
Toyota itself has asked as many as 50,000 older vehicles to stop driving cars immediately.
Why has Toyota announced this? Let’s find out!
Toyota Recalls Old Cars For Airbag Issue
Toyota has asked owners of 50,000 older vehicles to stop driving their cars immediately and get their airbags fixed at the earliest. In fact, the company has stated in the voluntary recall that the cars should not be driven until the airbags are replaced or repaired.
The models that are included in the voluntary recall are the 2003-2004 Corolla, 2003-2004 Corolla Matrix, and 2004-2005 RAV4. As per reports, there is a possibility that a part inside could explode due to the airbags’ age. It can also result in shooting of sharp metal fragments and some other injuries. It could also result in fatalities.
Toyota’s advisory states, “Certain airbags found in the subject vehicles are under an URGENT airbag safety recall. Due to the age of the vehicles, if the airbag deploys, a part inside is more likely to explode and shoot sharp metal fragments which could cause SERIOUS INJURY or DEATH to the driver or passengers. Owners SHOULD NOT DRIVE these vehicles until the FREE safety recall repair has been conducted. Toyota urges owners to contact their local dealer instead of driving their vehicle to be repaired.”
Airbags To Be Replaced Free of Cost
It further states, “Dealers may provide one of several options FREE of charge, such as mobile repair at the vehicle’s location, towing to the dealership, vehicle pickup and delivery, or other alternate transportation options.”
The Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer has stated that it will be repairing or replacing the airbag free of cost, “Toyota is notifying known owners of these vehicles every month through a variety of communication channels. To see if your vehicle is involved in a safety recall visit Toyota.com/recall or nhtsa.gov/recalls and enter your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) or license plate information.”
As per CBS News, a minimum of 26 people have fallen victim to Takata inflators since May 2009. In Malaysia and Australia, at least 30 people have died across the world. Moreover, 400 people have been injured as well.
