Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling 2023 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Cross, Corolla Cross Hybrid, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Tacoma, Lexus RX350, 2023-2024 NX250, and NX350 vehicles that may have been incorrectly repaired under previous NHTSA recall number 23V-480. (Read AutoInformed.com on: Toyota and Lexus Recalling Numerous Vehicles for Bad Airbags)
“An electrical connection inside the steering column’s spiral cable assembly may be insufficiently welded, causing the connection to separate and deactivate the driver’s air bag. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, “Occupant Crash Protection,” Toyota said in the mandatory safety defect filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this morning.
“This relates to the Noncompliance Information Report (23V-480) filed on July12, 2023, which described the noncompliance as follows: “The steering column assembly in the subject vehicles contains electrical connections to the driver’s airbag module housed in a spiral cable assembly, which includes a Flexible Flat Cable (FFC). Due to an insufficient weld condition of the FFC to the spiral cable’s bus bar, there is a possibility that the FFC can separate, resulting in one or more open circuits connected through the FFC. This separation could occur on the circuit that provides connectivity to the driver’s airbag module. If connectivity is lost, the SRS warning light will illuminate and the driver’s airbag could become deactivated, causing it to not deploy in the event of a crash of the type that would cause deployment. As a result, the vehicles may not comply with some requirements of FMVSS No. 208 where driver’s airbag deployment is needed. This could result in an increased risk of injury to the driver in a crash,” Toyota said.
Dealers will inspect and replace the spiral cable assembly as necessary, free of charge as required by Federal safety regulations. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed 30 March 2025. Owners may contact Toyota’s customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota’s number for this recall is 25TA02. Lexus’ number for this recall is 25LA02. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at nhtsa.gov about NHTSA recalls 23V-480 and 25V-040.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, publisher (kzhw@aol.com), 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.
Zino is at home on test tracks, knows his way around U.S. Congressional hearing rooms, auto company headquarters, plant floors, as well as industry research and development labs where the real mobility work is done. He can quote from court decisions, refer to instrumented road tests, analyze financial results, and profile executive personalities and corporate cultures.
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 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 Recalls a Previous Bad Airbag Recall
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling 2023 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Cross, Corolla Cross Hybrid, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Tacoma, Lexus RX350, 2023-2024 NX250, and NX350 vehicles that may have been incorrectly repaired under previous NHTSA recall number 23V-480. (Read AutoInformed.com on: Toyota and Lexus Recalling Numerous Vehicles for Bad Airbags)
“An electrical connection inside the steering column’s spiral cable assembly may be insufficiently welded, causing the connection to separate and deactivate the driver’s air bag. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, “Occupant Crash Protection,” Toyota said in the mandatory safety defect filing made public by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this morning.
“This relates to the Noncompliance Information Report (23V-480) filed on July12, 2023, which described the noncompliance as follows: “The steering column assembly in the subject vehicles contains electrical connections to the driver’s airbag module housed in a spiral cable assembly, which includes a Flexible Flat Cable (FFC). Due to an insufficient weld condition of the FFC to the spiral cable’s bus bar, there is a possibility that the FFC can separate, resulting in one or more open circuits connected through the FFC. This separation could occur on the circuit that provides connectivity to the driver’s airbag module. If connectivity is lost, the SRS warning light will illuminate and the driver’s airbag could become deactivated, causing it to not deploy in the event of a crash of the type that would cause deployment. As a result, the vehicles may not comply with some requirements of FMVSS No. 208 where driver’s airbag deployment is needed. This could result in an increased risk of injury to the driver in a crash,” Toyota said.
Dealers will inspect and replace the spiral cable assembly as necessary, free of charge as required by Federal safety regulations. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed 30 March 2025. Owners may contact Toyota’s customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota’s number for this recall is 25TA02. Lexus’ number for this recall is 25LA02. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at nhtsa.gov about NHTSA recalls 23V-480 and 25V-040.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, publisher (kzhw@aol.com), 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. Zino is at home on test tracks, knows his way around U.S. Congressional hearing rooms, auto company headquarters, plant floors, as well as industry research and development labs where the real mobility work is done. He can quote from court decisions, refer to instrumented road tests, analyze financial results, and profile executive personalities and corporate cultures. 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 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.