Toyota Motor Corporation has issued a recall of about 10 lakh vehicles in the US due to a flaw with its airbags. As a part of this recall, it is suspected that a defect in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensors in the front passenger seat could potentially lead to a short circuit. In such a case, the sensor would not allow the airbag system to "properly classify the occupant’s weight", preventing the airbag from being deployed as designed in certain crashes, thereby increasing the risk of injury to drivers. The cars and SUVs produced between 2020 and 2022 fall under this recall. Here's a list of Toyotas to be recalled:
| Toyota Vehicles | Model Year |
| Avalon, Avalon Hybrid | 2020-2021 |
| Camry, Camry Hybrid | 2020-2022 |
| Corolla | 2020-2021 |
| Highlander, Highlander Hybrid | 2020-2021 |
| RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid | 2020-2021 |
| Sienna Hybrid | 2021 |
The recall also affects Toyota's premium brand, Lexus.
| Lexus Vehicles | Model Year |
| ES250 | 2021 |
| ES300H | 2020-2022 |
| ES350 | 2020-2021 |
| RX350 | 2020-2021 |
| RX450h | 2020-2021 |
Also Read: New Toyota Crown Sport PHEV Launched in Japan, Claims 298bhp and 90Km EV Range
Toyota's Response
In response, Toyota said that the dealer workshop technicians would inspect the OCS sensors and replace them at no cost to owners. The automaker plans to begin notifying customers by mid-February 2024 about the recall. Alternatively, owners of affected vehicles can get in touch with the company at their authorised service outlets in the US to see if their vehicles are involved in a safety recall.
Of the models recalled, Toyota only sells the Camry Hybrid in the Indian market, starting at Rs 46.17 lakh (ex-showroom). The Camry sits on Toyota’s TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) platform, and comes equipped with a 176bhp, 2.5-litre petrol engine that is hooked up to a 119bhp electric motor, resulting in a combined 215bhp. Transmission duties are taken care of by a CVT automatic unit. In terms of rivalry, the Camry Hybrid competes with the Skoda Superb.
Tesla Issues a Recall Too: Over 20 lakh Vehicles Impacted
Not so long ago, Elon Musk-owned Tesla issued a recall of more than 20 lakh vehicles produced between October 5, 2012 and December 7, 2023. The recall was due to defects with the brand's Autopilot Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) placed in the Model S, Model X, Model 3, and Model Y.
Also Read: 2025 Toyota Camry Breaks Cover Globally with All-Hybrid Powertrain, Drops V6 Engine
The largest-ever recall came after the US government launched an investigation, dating back to 2021, into Tesla's Autopilot technology following a series of accidents involving Tesla vehicles hitting parked emergency vehicles. In its Safety Recall Report, NHTSA cited safety concerns and reportedly said that Tesla's Autopilot could provide "inadequate driver engagement" resulting in "foreseeable misuse of the system". How did Tesla respond? Find out here.
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