Toyota Falls Prey to Takata Air Bag Flaw, Recalls Tundra Pickups
Tim Esterdahl | May 18, 2015 | Comments 3
Editor’s Note: Toyota recently expanded this recall to include: nearly 160,000 2004 and 2005 RAV4 SUVs; an additional 177,000 2003 and 2004 Tundra pickups and Sequoia SUVs.
Toyota is recalling specific Tundra trucks to fix airbags provided by Takata. These airbags have been causing havoc throughout the automotive segment with multiple manufactures issuing recalls.
Toyota is recalling certain 2002-2005 Tundra pickups due to an air bag flaw.
Officially, Toyota is recalling 247,000 cars, SUVs and pickups. The affected vehicles are 2002 through 2005 Lexus SC coupe, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sequoia and Tundra pickups. Also, these vehicles have been either registered or were originally sold in areas of South Florida, along the Gulf Coast, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Saipan and American Samoa, according to the NHTSA documents.
The issue seems to be that the airbags can rupture and spray metal shrapnel in high humidity areas.
After an investigation by the National Highway Safety Transportation Administration, Takata and several automakers have been trying to determine what role humidity plays.
“At this point, the issue appears to be a problem related to extended exposure to consistently high humidity,” NHTSA said in a statement today. “However, we are leaving no stone unturned in our aggressive pursuit to track down the full geographic scope of this issue.”
Toyota says they worked with the NHTSA after it collected airbag samples and are now recalling the vehicles as a result of the investigation. Currently, there have been no reported deaths or injuries.
The Takata air bag recall “flu” has hit just about every major automaker and was the reason behind several high profile recalls like the all-new Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon being recalled on their way to dealerships.
Toyota says it will replace the affected air bags with a newly made replacement. Dealers may also disable the air bag if a temporary replacement isn’t available.
With the consolidation of automotive manufacturing and more companies going to a shared platform, massive, multi-company recalls like this air bag recall are likely to occur more often in the future. This is the big downside to sharing parts. The upside is considerable cost savings for manufactures and perceivable better parts through increased usage and testing.
Humidity issues seem to affect manufactures more than we think they should. This story reminds us the Ford EcoBoost humidity issue.
Why do you think humidity seems to be so misunderstood by manufactures?
Filed Under: Auto News
Watching the NHTSA in action is far better than any sitcom on TV.
Things that are very dangerous for the car buying public are completely (and intentionally?) ignored and yet items like this one and the NHTSA can only say “However, we are leaving no stone unturned in our aggressive pursuit to track down the full geographic scope of this issue.”
I honestly do not see how they get anything thing done, because all their time is spent patting themselves on the back.
If NHTSA was REALLY doing what they are supposed to i could name off several extra recalls Ford “should” have……… 5.4 plugs. 5.4 timing chain tensioner, ecoboost issues (humidity issue)but somehow they avoid the recalls….. HHHmmmmmm
I bought my 2005 Toyota Tundra from my widowed sister in law in Connecticut and brought it back to North Carolina. Toyota’s bought in North Carolina are covered in the recall but mine is not because the VIN does not match southern sales. Sales origin should not be the determination but current permanent location. Shame on Toyota for waiting for mine to explode in my face!