Toyota expands recall for air bag inflator issue

PanARMENIAN.Net - Toyota Motor Corp. is recalling nearly 650,000 vehicles in Japan and repeating a recall for problems with front passenger air bag inflators announced last year, seeking to fix some 2.27 million vehicles, the Associated Press reported.

The company, the world's biggest automaker, said Wednesday, June 11, that it was "renotifying" owners of some vehicles involved in a 2013 safety recall of 2.14 million vehicles. It said the initial recall was based on incomplete serial numbers from the part supplier, Japan's Takata Corp.

The inflators contained improperly made propellant that could cause them to work abnormally, and possibly cause fires, in case of a crash. Toyota said it had received one report of a burn on a seat cover from faulty air bag deployment.

The recall involves about 20 Toyota models, including some Corolla compacts and Tundra pickups made in 2003-2004 and some 2002-2004 Lexus SC 430 coupes made in the U.S. The models being recalled in Japan were made in 2000-2003.

Toyota has been striving to restore its reputation for quality after a slew of big recalls and safety problems.

In April 2013, Toyota, Honda Motor Corp. and Nissan Motor Co. recalled nearly 3.4 million older-model vehicles worldwide due to the potential problem with the air bags.

Among the vehicles affected by the recall are 380,000 Toyota vehicles that were inspected after that recall but did not receive new air bag inflators. Toyota now plans to replace them.