Toyota Motor Corp.'s headquarters is pictured in Toyota, central Japan, in this file photo. The company is urging owners of vehicles with defective airbags to stop driving and get repairs immediately. (Yuriko Nakao/Reuters)
Toyota Motor Corp. has issued a critical warning, urging owners of certain older vehicle models to cease driving immediately and seek urgent repairs due to potential airbag defects. The advisory targets specific models, including 2003-04 Corolla, 2003-04 Corolla Matrix, and 2004-05 RAV4s equipped with Takata airbag inflators.
Philippe Crowe, Toyota Canada spokesperson, emphasized that while the airbag warning isn't new, it serves to alert drivers who have yet to respond to the Takata recall initiated in 2015. The "stop driving" notice targets owners who have not complied with previous recall communications.
Crowe noted that the Canadian recall impacts 7,300 vehicles, and affected owners can visit a Toyota dealership for complimentary recall procedures. Those uncertain about their vehicle's inclusion can verify through Toyota's website.
Takata airbag inflators have been linked to over 30 deaths globally since 2009, with explosions releasing metal shrapnel inside vehicles. In 2015, Takata Corp. declared 33.8 million airbags defective, triggering the largest auto recall in history, involving 11 automakers, including Honda and Toyota, recalling 36 million vehicles worldwide.
