Toyota recalls 50,000 vehicles in US over airbag death or injury threats

Toyota has stress owners of 50,000 automobiles in the US to get immediate repairs as airbag inflators made by Takata could explode and murder them.

Since 2009 more than 30 deaths have been linked to air bag inflators produced by Takata. The Do not Drive advisory covers world mega carmakers from 2003 to 2005.

Those fragments could cause death to driver or passenger or serious injury. Toyota says. “If the airbag deploys a part inside is more likely to explode and shoot sharp metal fragments”.

The vehicles involved in the recall are 2003-2004 model Corolla, 2004-2005 RAV4 and Corolla Matrix 2003-2004.

Lot of concerns with Takata airbag inflators have resulted in the biggest motor industry safety recall in history, involving over 100 million products and over 20 carmakers.

This week , the japanese car giant suspended shipments of some vehicles due to irregularities in certification tests for diesel engines which were developed by Toyota Industries.

Toyota Industries employees manipulated horsepower output tests. After more than a decade and half of recalls, criminal investigation and lawsuits in the US, Takata filed for bankruptcy in 2017. It assets were sold to Chinese owned key safety system for about $1.6bm.

The affected engines are used in 10 models sold globally including Land Cruiser sport utility vehicle and Hiace Van. Toyota added

Toyota expressed it sold a record of 11.2 million vehicles in 2023 cementing its position as the world top selling carmaker for a 4th year in a row.

Toyota is also seeking to resolve a case of misconduct at small car specialist Daihatsu after admitted falsifying safety tests dating back over than 3 decades.

Daihatsu headquarters were raided by Japan transport ministry and global shipment of the vehicles were suspended. The government has since revoked certification of 3 Daihatsu models.

Germany Volkswagen sold 9.2 million vehicles previous year.