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.