Toyota has announced a major recall of approximately 1 million vehicles in the United States due to a potential defect in air bag deployment. The issue, identified in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensors in the front passenger seat, could lead to a short circuit.
This malfunction may prevent the air bag system from accurately detecting the passenger's presence and weight, potentially failing to deploy correctly in the event of a crash.
The recall encompasses various 2020-2022 models of Toyota and Lexus, including popular models like the Toyota Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Highlander, RAV4, Sienna Hybrid, and Lexus models such as the ES250, ES300H, ES350, RX350, and RX450H.
Toyota and Lexus dealers are set to inspect the affected vehicles and, if necessary, replace the OCS sensors free of charge. Vehicle owners are expected to be notified by mid-February 2024.
This recall is one of several recent major recalls by Toyota. In November, the company recalled 1.9 million RAV4 SUVs in the U.S. due to a battery issue that could potentially cause a fire.
Additionally, in October, Toyota recalled about 751,000 Toyota Highlander SUVs to address a problem with the tabs securing the vehicles' front lower bumper covers, which could fall off even in minor crashes.
Vehicle owners can check if their vehicle is part of this safety recall by entering their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) or license plate information at Toyota.com/recall or nhtsa.gov/recalls. For further information, Toyota customers can contact the Toyota Brand Engagement Center, and Lexus vehicle owners can reach out to the Lexus Brand Engagement Center.
This series of recalls underscores the ongoing challenges automakers face in ensuring vehicle safety and the importance of prompt action to address potential safety issues.
