Toyota recalls over 11 lakhs vehicles for possible air bag concerns

Toyota Motor announced a global recall of 1.12 million vehicles due to a potential sensor short circuit that might prevent air bags from deploying as intended. The recall spans model years 2020 to 2022, encompassing various Avalon, Camry, Corolla, RAV4, Lexus ES250, ES300H, ES350, RX350, Highlander, and Sienna Hybrid vehicles, affecting the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensors. Particularly, 1 million vehicles in the United States are included in this recall.

The concern revolves around the OCS sensors' functionality, crucial in ensuring appropriate air bag deployment by detecting the presence of small adults or children in the front seat. Toyota dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace these sensors. The automaker plans to commence owner notifications regarding the recall in February.

This action follows a previous recall in July 2022, where Toyota recalled 3,500 RAV4 vehicles in the United States due to potential internal parts interference, leading to inaccurate occupant detection by the OCS sensor.

Frontal air bags have been instrumental in saving over 50,000 lives in the United States over three decades, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The introduction of these new sensors addresses past issues where older air bags deployed uniformly for all occupants, resulting in injuries and, in rare cases, fatalities among children, small adults, and unbelted passengers in close proximity to the air bag during deployment, as highlighted by the agency.