Toyota Recalls 1.12 Million Vehicles Worldwide Due to Air Bag Sensor Issue

Toyota Motor has announced a global recall of 1.12 million vehicles due to a potential air bag sensor malfunction. The recall includes various Avalon, Camry, Corolla, RAV4, Lexus ES250, ES300H, ES350, RX350 Highlander, and Sienna Hybrid models from 2020 to 2022. The issue could result in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensors not working properly, leading to air bags not deploying as intended.

Impacted Vehicles and Regions

The recall affects approximately 1 million vehicles in the United States and covers a wide range of popular Toyota and Lexus models. Owners of the affected vehicles will be notified by Toyota starting in February.

Reason for the Recall

The OCS sensors play a crucial role in ensuring that air bags do not deploy if a small adult or child is seated in the front passenger seat. The malfunctioning sensors could lead to incorrect detection of occupants, potentially causing air bags to deploy when they shouldn’t or failing to deploy when necessary.

Previous Recall

This recent recall follows a previous recall in July 2022, where Toyota recalled 3,500 RAV4 vehicles in the United States due to potential interference between internal parts that could cause the OCS sensor to incorrectly detect the occupant.

The Importance of Air Bags

Frontal air bags have been instrumental in saving more than 50,000 lives in the United States over the past three decades, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). However, older air bags deployed in the same manner for all occupants, which posed risks to children, small adults, and unbelted passengers who were too close to the air bag during deployment.

Dealership Inspection and Replacement

To address the issue, Toyota dealerships will inspect the OCS sensors in the affected vehicles and replace them if necessary. This proactive measure aims to ensure the safety of occupants and prevent potential injuries caused by air bag malfunctions.