Toyota is issuing an urgent ‘Do Not Drive‘ advisory for approximately 50,000 vehicles. The company is urging owners to obtain a free air bag safety recall repair due to potential hazards associated with faulty Takata air bags.
This recall includes specific model year vehicles: 2003 to 2004 Corolla, 2003 to 2004 Corolla Matrix, and 2004 to 2005 RAV4, which are equipped with Takata air bags. Owners should be aware that these air bags could malfunction, posing life-threatening risks.
According to Toyota, “Due to the age of the vehicles, if the air bag deploys, a part inside is more likely to explode, shooting sharp metal fragments that could cause serious injury or death to drivers or passengers.” Therefore, it is crucial for owners to refrain from driving these vehicles until the free safety recall repair has been administered.
Toyota Advises Contacting Dealers
Instead of driving the affected vehicles to the dealership for repairs, Toyota strongly advises owners to contact a local dealer. Dealers are equipped to provide several free repair options, which may include mobile repairs at the vehicle’s current location, towing to the dealership, vehicle pickup and delivery, or alternative transportation solutions.
In an effort to communicate effectively, Toyota is notifying known owners of the affected vehicles monthly via various communication channels. For direct inquiries, owners can reach out to Toyota customer support by calling 1-800-331-4331.
How to Check for Vehicle Recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) provides a website section dedicated to spotlighting problems with Takata air bags. This alarming recall affects about 67 million of these air bags, known to explode when deployed, thereby causing serious injuries or fatalities.
In a previous recall event, Toyota announced the recall of 1.85 million RAV4 sports utility vehicles due to issues with battery hold-down assembly. This recall affected vehicles from the model years 2013 to 2018, with potential risks of shifting batteries leading to fires. Toyota has committed to replacing the battery hold-down clamp, battery tray, and positive terminal cover at no cost to consumers.
Vehicle recalls are commonplace in the automotive industry. Manufacturers routinely monitor car safety and operational issues to notify drivers of necessary repairs, ensuring public safety.
Owners can check for manufacturer recalls of any vehicle model by visiting the NHTSA website. To find specific recall information for any Toyota model, the company’s safety recall website is also available.
When using these websites, vehicle owners will need to enter their vehicle identification number (VIN) or license plate information to perform a recall search effectively.
