Toyota recalls over 20,000 cars for airbag fault in Vietnam

Toyota is recalling nearly 17,000 Toyota Corolla Altis and 3,500 Hilux, Prius and Lexus in Vietnam due to airbag fault.

Toyota recalls thousands of cars over airbag fault

The announcement was made after the recall was approved by Vietnam Registration. Toyota Vietnam will recall the cars to inspect and replace the airbag system on nearly 17,000 cars made in Vietnam from January 4, 2010, to December 29, 2012. Those cars have defective Takata airbags.

Takata airbag inflators without a drying agent or with a calcium sulphate desiccant had a design flaw. The faulty airbag device may deploy improperly and shoot metal fragments into the driver and passengers.

Toyota Vietnam will provide free inspection and replacements for passengers with affected cars starting from March 22.

Toyota Vietnam will also inspect and replace airbag sensors on over 3,500 Toyota, Hilux, Prius and Lexus models produced in 2015 and 2016. According to Toyota, the recall is due to the possibility that the insulation layers around the pressure sensor may peel over time, causing the airbag sensors to malfunction. As a result, the warning light may illuminate and when there is an accident, the front airbags may become deactivated.

Last year, Toyota Vietnam recalled 26,036 cars with Takata airbag over defective inflator and propellant devices. According to Toyota, not all cars are affected. The Japanese airbag maker Takata filed for bankruptcy in last June and will be sold for Key Safety Systems under China's Ningbo Joyson Electronic.