Urgent Safety Alert: Toyota Recalls 50,000 Older Models, Do Not Drive

Leave your Toyota from 20 years ago parked at home – it may be time to upgrade!

Toyota has recently released a warning to American consumers regarding approximately 50,000 vehicles equipped with faulty Takata airbags. In an effort to prioritize safety, the Japanese car manufacturer has taken the unprecedented measure of advising owners not to drive these affected vehicles. This urgent advisory is aimed at encouraging individuals to promptly take advantage of the free safety recall repair for specific models, including the 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla, 2003-2004 Corolla Matrix, and 2004-2005 RAV4.

Toyota has reiterated its commitment to providing complimentary repair or replacement for faulty airbags. Additionally, the company has announced that it informs owners of affected models on a monthly basis. If there are any doubts about whether the driver’s airbag in your vehicle requires replacement, you have the option to either access Toyota’s designated recall website or utilize the NHTSA Vehicle Identification Number system.

The situation has deteriorated to the point where Toyota is advising against driving their cars to the dealership for repairs. In order to address the problem, Toyota will offer mobile repair services, tow affected vehicles to the closest dealership, or utilize a pickup and delivery system for vehicles. The specific approach will be determined by the dealer, but will not come at any cost to the customer.

It is astounding that there are still vehicles equipped with faulty Takata airbags, and Toyota is only one of the numerous car manufacturers facing this issue.

It is possible that a gentle nudge about the gravity of the matter may spur individuals to take action at last. Takata had issued a recall for 3.6 million vehicles in 2013 following reports of airbag explosions that caused severe injury and death to several people. This issue, which surfaced ten years ago, has resulted in the recall of over 60 million cars in the United States alone. It is important to keep in mind that prior to going bankrupt in 2017 due to this recall, Takata was a prominent provider of airbags.

In 2013, when the problem first came to light, its airbags held a significant 20% share in the market. This issue has been predominantly linked with Japanese car manufacturers, however, it’s important to note that North American-made models such as the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Ram are also equipped with these faulty airbags, resulting in fatalities. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is currently in dire straits, appealing to the public to take action in light of the alarming number of deaths caused by these airbags in 2022 and 2023.

If you are not yet convinced, allow us to present a concise and straightforward explanation of the problem. When driving, you have a bomb in your car in the form of the airbag, due to the components and fuel used by Takata in its manufacturing, which deteriorate over time, especially in extreme temperatures. Rather than serving as a comfortable cushion for your head, one of the parts inside the airbag detonates, causing dangerous metal fragments to spray across the interior of the vehicle.

Five years ago, a Takata airbag explosion was documented by the NHTSA and its aftermath can be viewed in the video below.

It is important to note that this issue escalates over time. The longer one procrastinates in addressing it, the greater the likelihood of an airbag detonating in close proximity to one’s face. This has now reached a critical stage, where even a seemingly minor collision can potentially result in fatality. While wearing a seatbelt can save your life, the possibility of an explosion poses a serious threat in the opposite direction.

Takata Air Bag Explosion - Full View