Toyota is recalling model year 2023 Corolla, Corolla Cross, Corolla Cross Hybrid, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Tacoma, 2023 Lexus RX350, RX350 Hybrid, RX500 Hybrid, 2023-2024 Lexus NX250, NX350, and NX350 Hybrid vehicles because of potentially defective airbags.
According to documents release this morning by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) An electrical connector inside the steering column’s spiral cable assembly may be poorly welded, causing the connection to separate and deactivate the driver’s air bag. These vehicles, ~110,000, fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, “Occupant Crash Protection.”
In Mid-May, 2023, the spiral cable assembly supplier, American Furukawa of Plymouth Michigan, notified Toyota of a manufacturing process investigation that found “contamination in a washing station for certain spiral cable components that caused a poor welding condition between the FFC and the bus bar. The FFC provides connectivity to various controls on the steering wheel.”
During late-May to late-June, testing indicated that the FFC could separate from the bus bar at the poor weld connection area. Toyota determined on 6 July 2023, that the involved vehicles may have a condition present at the time of manufacturing and point of first sale in which the FFC weld separation can deactivate the driver’s airbag, which would cause the vehicle not to meet certain requirements of FMVSS No. 208 where driver’s airbag deployment is needed. An immediate stop sale and delivery was put in place at dealers.
Dealers will inspect and replace the spiral cable assembly, if necessary, free of charge as required by US regulations. Notification letters are expected to be mailed 27 August 2023. Owners may contact Toyota’s customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota’s number for this recall is 23TA08. Lexus’ number for this recall is 23LA02. owners can also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or go to www.nhtsa.gov about NHTSA recall 23V480.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Toyota and Lexus Recalling Numerous Vehicles for Bad Airbags
Toyota is recalling model year 2023 Corolla, Corolla Cross, Corolla Cross Hybrid, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Tacoma, 2023 Lexus RX350, RX350 Hybrid, RX500 Hybrid, 2023-2024 Lexus NX250, NX350, and NX350 Hybrid vehicles because of potentially defective airbags.
According to documents release this morning by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) An electrical connector inside the steering column’s spiral cable assembly may be poorly welded, causing the connection to separate and deactivate the driver’s air bag. These vehicles, ~110,000, fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, “Occupant Crash Protection.”
In Mid-May, 2023, the spiral cable assembly supplier, American Furukawa of Plymouth Michigan, notified Toyota of a manufacturing process investigation that found “contamination in a washing station for certain spiral cable components that caused a poor welding condition between the FFC and the bus bar. The FFC provides connectivity to various controls on the steering wheel.”
During late-May to late-June, testing indicated that the FFC could separate from the bus bar at the poor weld connection area. Toyota determined on 6 July 2023, that the involved vehicles may have a condition present at the time of manufacturing and point of first sale in which the FFC weld separation can deactivate the driver’s airbag, which would cause the vehicle not to meet certain requirements of FMVSS No. 208 where driver’s airbag deployment is needed. An immediate stop sale and delivery was put in place at dealers.
Dealers will inspect and replace the spiral cable assembly, if necessary, free of charge as required by US regulations. Notification letters are expected to be mailed 27 August 2023. Owners may contact Toyota’s customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota’s number for this recall is 23TA08. Lexus’ number for this recall is 23LA02. owners can also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or go to www.nhtsa.gov about NHTSA recall 23V480.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.