Toyota said the separation of the inflator chambers has been observed when vehicles are parked and unoccupied for a length of time.
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In Taiwan, about 1,413 Prius models and 3,586 Lexus CT200h cars are affected over a fuel tank defect, the Central News Agency reported, citing Hotai Motor Co (和泰汽車), which distributes Toyota and Lexus vehicles in the nation.
According to Toyota, the curtain airbags on models like the Prius and Prius Plug-In Hybrids produced between 2010 and 2012 and the Lexus CT 200h models made between 2011 and 2012, come with airbag inflators which comprise of two chambers welded together.
Of the 2.87m vehicles recalled for this reason, Toyota said 1.55m were in Japan; 713,000 in Europe; 35,000 in China; and 568,000 in other areas. Almost one million of vehicles have both types of defects.
The recalled units were manufactured between November, 2009, and April, 2012, it added.
Toyota said airbag inflators may have a crack in a weld which could cause airbags to suddenly inflate and rupture, especially in conditions of high humidity.
The statement further read that the Japanese automaker began the voluntary recall from June 29, 2016, for the inspection and installation of the inflator retention brackets of the possibly faulty side curtain airbags.
Several issues have resulted in a global recall of 3.37 million cars by Toyota Motor Corp.
The cars affected were equipped with a canister mounted in the fuel tank and there is a possibility that cracks could develop in the coating of the canister which could expand over time and leak fuel when the vehicle has a full tank.
The company said in an April regulatory filing that it was investigating six incidents related to its air bags and a possible recall could cost it between $10 million-$40 million, net of expected insurance recoveries.
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Autoliv signaled that it would spend about $10 million to $40 million to aid Toyota in the recall.
