Toyota South Africa has revealed that it will be recalling certain Prius and Lexus CT 200h models due to faulty airbags.
The campaign comes in the wake of other global recall campaigns by the automaker involving over 3,3 million vehicles for faults such as defective airbags and fuel emissions controls. Toyota SA says this latest action is not linked to any other current recall campaigns.
According to Toyota SA, 270 Prius models produced between 2008 and 2012, and 261 CT 200h models built between 2010 and 2012, are affected. The problems stem from the fitment of curtain airbag inflators, with a chance of the inflator being separated from its holder and falling into the cabin when the vehicle is parked up for “long periods of time”.
Toyota states that should this occur while the vehicle is occupied, it could increase the risk of injury. To date, however, there are no reports of incidents linking the above to any injuries or fatalities.
Toyota SA says owners of the affected models will be notified by authorised dealers to bring their cars in for corrective servicing.
The global recall was announced on 28 June and relates to airbags being deployed without a signal. The cause of the defect, which is still under investigation, affects 1,43 million vehicles and the cost is estimated to be between $10-million and $40-million.
The second recall, announced the day after, relates to the coating of emission control parts that could result in fuel leakage. The defect affects 1,55 million vehicles around the world, which include various Toyota and Lexus models produced between April 2006 and August 2015.
