Toyota recalled their SUV's and pickup trucks in the United States on Monday. This is part of the company's 2014 recall list. It was triggered by potentially defective front passenger air bags that were made by Japan's Takata Corporation.
USA Today reported Toyota said Monday that it's re-informing owners of about the 218,000 previously selected vehicles with faulty front air bags and adding 28,515 vehicles in high humidity areas to the recall list this 2014.
The air bags manufactured by Takata Corporation can malfunction, rupture and spray shrapnel to the chest and faces of the front passenger. Toyota also cautioned owners not to carry front-seat passengers until the bags are fixed.
According to Reuters, the recall has raised the number of SUV's and pickup trucks that were affected by the regional pull outs since June 2014 by several others automobile manufacturer. The recall list was due to the defective Takata Air bags, pulling out over 4.5 million vehicles.
Last week, Wall Street Journal said Toyota also recalled 1.67 million vehicles globally to check for defects including faulty brakes and fuel components concerns. It added up to the total number of vehicles on the company's 2014 recall list.
Meanwhile, Takata air bags had been considered by Toyota unsafe that dealers are being told to shut off the passenger bags if an owner brings their car for recall repairs. However, the parts are not yet available at this time.
Dealers will exchange the front passenger airbag inflator with a new replacement. If replacement is not available, dealers attach a warning label to the glove compartment door. Safety belts continue to work when air bags are shut off.
The regional recalls were not just made by Toyota but also by other automobile manufacturers. This 2014, the list of manufacturer includes Honda Motor and Fiat Chrysler. Chrysler Group started their recall in high humidity states in the US after National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigated reports on air bags explosions in Puerto Rico and Florida.
Due to the NHTSA investigation, Takata and the manufacturers have been trying to know the reasons behind for the air bag issues.
"As of this time, the issue looks like to be a problem related to extended exposure to very high humidity," said NHTSA. "But they are not leaving a stone unturned in their aggressive pursuit to track down the full scope of the issue."
Takata Spokesperson Alby Berman stated that the supplier supported Toyota's latest 2014 recall list.
"We will continue to fully support the NHTSA investigation and our customers' recalls in every way possible moving through this processes, including ongoing detailed technical analysis and replacement parts," Berman said.
Other automobile companies also affected by these recalls include BMW, Ford Motor, Mazda Motor, Mitsubishi Motor, Nissan Motor and Fuji Heavy Equipment Industries' Subaru.
With Toyota's recall list this 2014, great changes will be expected on the cars safety in the coming months. Meanwhile, Toyota spokeswoman said the company was not aware of reports for any crashes, injuries or fatalities linked to the recall so far.
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