Toyota recalls 247,000 cars in U.S. due to air bag issue

PanARMENIAN.Net - Toyota Motor Corp recalled 247,000 cars, SUVs and pickup trucks in the United States on Monday, Oct 20, because of potentially defective front passenger air bag inflators from Japan's Takata Corp that can rupture and spray metal shrapnel, U.S. safety regulators said, according to Reuters.

That raised the number of vehicles affected by regional recalls launched in June by several automakers due to the Takata air bags to more than 4.5 million.

The regional recalls by Toyota and other automakers including Honda Motor and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' Chrysler Group began in certain high-humidity areas of the United States after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) started investigating reports of air bag explosions in Florida and Puerto Rico.

The Toyota vehicles affected by Monday's recall are from model years 2002 through 2005, according to the NHTSA documents. They include the Lexus SC coupe, Toyota Corolla small car, Corolla Matrix small car, Sequoia SUV and Tundra full-size pickup. Also part of the recall is General Motors' Pontiac Vibe, which was built by Toyota.

The vehicles being recalled are registered or originally sold in areas of South Florida, along the Gulf Coast, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Saipan and American Samoa, according to the NHTSA documents.

A Toyota spokeswoman said the automaker was not aware of any crashes, injuries or deaths related to the recall.