The recall notice was reissued on more than 20 Toyota models including the highly popular Vitz hatchback subcompact model that were produced between 2004 and 2008, Toyota said, following an initial recall being announced in May and June based on faulty Takata-made air bag inflators.
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They’re recalling 1.6 million vehicles for the airbags that have been supplied by Takata, who were at the centre of the last scandal which saw huge amounts of vehicles recalled worldwide.
The airbags, which have been a problem for the past two years, present a danger to drivers’ safety, as the ammonium nitrate propellant can destabilize and, in some cases, cause the airbags to explode and send shrapnel flying out at people inside the vehicle, according to BBC News. After previously saying over one million Takata-sourced airbag inflators in Toyota vehicles were safe, the automaker has reversed course and requested that all previously-recalled vehicles return to dealerships for prompt part replacement.
Honda, the automaker with the most vehicles affected in the recall and also Takata’s largest customer, said it had chose to discontinue the use of Takata airbags as the company had “manipulated and misrepresented test data for certain airbag inflators”.
The Takata airbag problem has resulted in eight deaths and 100 injuries. It doesn’t include any vehicles in North America. The national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) this month ordered Takata to phase out a propellant used to inflate its air bags, citing a lack of confidence in its safety.
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This month, it reported a half-year loss of 5.6bn yen ($45.8 million) due to recall costs and cut its profit forecast for the full year by 75%.
