Takata Airbag Inflator Recalls in Canada
What is the issue?
Toyota Canada Inc. has initiated Safety Recalls for certain Toyota and Lexus vehicles equipped with Takata Front Passenger Airbag Inflators and one Toyota model equipped with a Takata Driver's Airbag Inflator.
The subject vehicles are equipped with Takata airbag inflators which use a propellant that may degrade over time (time in service until significant propellant degradation may occur is projected at between 15-20 years*) or after experiencing long term exposure to fluctuating high temperatures and environmental moisture.
In some cases, inflators may also have certain manufacturing defects that enable moisture intrusion and propellant degradation. Inflator propellant degradation is accelerated in hot climates with high absolute humidity.
Propellant degradation creates excessive internal pressure when the airbag is deployed and causes the inflator to rupture. In the event of an inflator rupture, metal fragments could pass through the airbag cushion material, striking the vehicle occupants and may result in serious injury or death.
To date, there have not been any inflator ruptures from Takata airbag assemblies in Canada from any manufacturer. Canada is identified as an area having lower temperature cycling and lower absolute humidity.
What you should know...
Based on research to date, the U.S. National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) has concluded that Takata inflators do not pose an unreasonable risk until they reach a certain level of propellant degradation after long-term exposure to fluctuating high temperatures and environmental moisture.
As a global recall affecting multiple manufacturers, NHTSA and Takata are prioritizing the remedy for these recalls based on geographic zones, with the highest priority placed on affected models in the areas of most extreme heat and absolute humidity, and with the longest time of exposure (i.e. early model year vehicles).
What you should do...
For the most up-to-date Safety Recall information on Toyota and Lexus vehicles, Canadian customers should check their vehicle’s status by visiting www.toyota.ca/recall or www.lexus.ca/recall and entering the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
As of late February 2019, Toyota Canada had a remedy available for all affected vehicles under the current recall. The remedy will consist of the replacement of the airbag inflator or the airbag assembly, depending on the vehicle model.
All known owners of the involved vehicles are notified by first class mail when a remedy is available for their vehicle.
For any additional questions, or to ensure that Toyota Canada has their current mailing information, customers are encouraged to contact the Toyota Customer Interaction Centre at 1 888 869‑6828 or Lexus Customer Service at 1 800 26-LEXUS.
To ensure that the proper customer notifications can be provided to the correct owners, Toyota Canada encourages customers to verify that all of their personal information is up to date.
(The foregoing represents the best information currently available to Toyota Canada and is subject to change if additional information is obtained by Toyota Canada.)
* According to a May 2016 NHTSA fact sheet
High absolute humidity
High absolute humidity is related to higher temperature, southern coastal areas and is not the same as high relative humidity. In North America, for example, areas with consistently high absolute humidity include U.S. states such as Florida, Hawaii and the Gulf Coast states.
NHTSA - Takata Airbag Inflator Summary of Zones