Louisiana car owners may have heard that Toyota recently announced a recall of 928,000 vehicles with defective Takata air bags. The recall is the last phase of the automaker’s multiyear effort to replace the explosion-prone air bags with safe ones.
Faulty inflators in Takata air bags could cause the devices to deploy with extreme force, shooting shrapnel into a vehicle’s cabin. The risk gets higher as the inflator ages. The latest recall involves Toyota, Scion and Lexus vehicles that initially had their faulty Takata air bags replaced with new Takata air bags of the same type. The replacement was intended to buy time until the automaker could acquire alternative air bags from non-Takata suppliers. Those air bags are now available, and dealerships will replace the interim air bags for free.
The Toyota vehicles involved in the recall include the 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2003-2006 Tundra and 2007-2012 Yaris. The Lexus vehicles involved include the 2007-2012 ES350, 2008-2009 IS-F, 2010-2017 GX460, 2002-2010 SC430, 2006-2012 IS250 and IS350 and 2010-2015 IS250C. The 2008-2012 Scion xB is also part of the recall. According to Toyota, customers will receive official recall notifications in mid-December. Owners can also check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website for more information.
Individuals who are injured by defective air bags or other faulty auto parts might be eligible to receive compensation for their medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost income and other losses. They may want to file a defective products lawsuit against the automaker, parts manufacturer and other responsible parties. Victims could learn more about their legal options by contacting an attorney for advice.