So far this year, Toyota has been hit by two major safety recalls regarding the airbags in its vehicles. After the Takata-built units were deemed potentially faulty in March and June, the time has come for the fourth-generation Prius to be called in over an underlying airbag inflator problem on the front passenger's side.
The model year 2016 Toyota Prius is affected. In the United States, the manufacturer reckons that 7,600 units or thereabout were sold with the problematic airbags. Speaking of which, the compressed gas in the front passenger airbag is what prompted Toyota to call in the eco-friendly car.
As per the report card published on the website of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, we’re told that an undisclosed piece “in the airbag assembly may have been improperly welded and/or misassembled.” The Japanese manufacturer further adds that “the stored gas may escape without a deployment signal and result in the partial inflation of the airbag.”
Toyota highlights that the problem has been observed when the Prius is “parked and unoccupied for a period of time.” In plain English, when the vehicle isn’t used for a prolonged time. Under exceptional circumstances, a front passenger airbag that doesn’t inflate as intended is sure to increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash. Happily, however, this potential airbag problem has been identified before anyone got to experience it in real life.
The automaker made a solemn promise to the NHTSA that all the known owners of the 2016 Toyota Prius will be notified by first class mail starting from November. I still can’t get my head around why Toyota North America doesn’t send an e-mail or make a phone call first, then send the recall notice in a snow-white envelope. In the meantime, fourth-gen Prius owners can verify if their hybrid vehicles are due to be fixed by visiting toyota.com/recall.
In this situation, the fix comes in the form of replacing the entire passenger airbag assembly with a brand new unit at no cost to the owner.
As per the report card published on the website of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, we’re told that an undisclosed piece “in the airbag assembly may have been improperly welded and/or misassembled.” The Japanese manufacturer further adds that “the stored gas may escape without a deployment signal and result in the partial inflation of the airbag.”
Toyota highlights that the problem has been observed when the Prius is “parked and unoccupied for a period of time.” In plain English, when the vehicle isn’t used for a prolonged time. Under exceptional circumstances, a front passenger airbag that doesn’t inflate as intended is sure to increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash. Happily, however, this potential airbag problem has been identified before anyone got to experience it in real life.
The automaker made a solemn promise to the NHTSA that all the known owners of the 2016 Toyota Prius will be notified by first class mail starting from November. I still can’t get my head around why Toyota North America doesn’t send an e-mail or make a phone call first, then send the recall notice in a snow-white envelope. In the meantime, fourth-gen Prius owners can verify if their hybrid vehicles are due to be fixed by visiting toyota.com/recall.
In this situation, the fix comes in the form of replacing the entire passenger airbag assembly with a brand new unit at no cost to the owner.
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