An airbag glitch put Toyota Motor Corporation (TM) on the back foot as it had to recall 1.12 million vehicles globally. A leader in the international automotive industry, the company indicated on Wednesday, 20 December, that a short circuit in a sensor caused issues with the deployment of the vehicular airbags.
Toyota recalls 1.12 million vehicles over alleged airbag problems
This recall affects 2020 to 2022 hybrid models such as the Avalon, Camry, Corolla, RAV4, Lexus ES250, ES300H, ES350, RX350 Highlander, and Sienna versions. One million of these are in the US alone. Reportedly, the sensor fails to deploy the airbag if a child or small adult sits in the front seat.
According to Sky News, the company will examine and replace the sensors on all Toyota and Lexus brands at no additional cost to the owners. It also undertakes to notify vehicle owners by February 2024 if their specific vehicles are being recalled.
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In July 2022, the Japanese-owned auto giant recalled 3,500 RAV4 vehicles in the US due to similar sensing challenges. Reuters indicated that frontal airbags saved an estimated 50,000 lives in this country over the last 30 years.
Toyota changed the initial design as it deployed similarly for all drivers and passengers, regardless of size and weight. This old method injured small adults, children, and those not wearing their safety belts.
The company closed its NYSE trading on Wednesday at $179.94 per share, a 2.18% negative compared to the previous day. At present, its market cap sits at $247.93 billion.
