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What: Certain 2023 models of Toyota and Lexus vehicles.
Who: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Why: A faulty electrical connection may prevent the driver’s-side airbag from inflating in a crash.
When: The recall was issued on July 12, 2023.
Where: Toyota has recalled their affected vehicles in the United States.
How Can I Identify the Recalled Product: Drivers of the affected vehicles can contact their local Toyota or Lexus dealership in order to identify if their vehicles are affected. Owners of the vehicles can also head to the NHTSA’s website and enter their vehicle's 17-digit vehicle identification number.
On July 12, 2023, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released information behind the latest Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recall involving over 110,000 vehicles. The recall comes after the company discovered an issue with the wiring in the steering wheel that affected a wide variety of Toyota and Lexus vehicles from the 2023 model year.
Toyota first became aware of the defect in May 2023, when its supplier alerted it to a production issue it had experienced. According to their report, the problem stems from contamination in the washing station for certain parts, which ultimately led to poor welding in the "Flexible Flat Cable" or the FFC. Once notified, the vehicle company ran tests to determine the dangers behind the issue. Unfortunately, their tests found that weld separation in the FFC can lead it to detach and could cause the driver-side airbag to become disconnected.
In the event of a crash, the driver-side airbag may not deploy, which lowers the safety level and increases the risk of injury or death in an accident. Fortunately for vehicle owners, the FCC comes equipped with a warning light in the vehicle that will illuminate in case it becomes detached from the cable's bus bar. Currently, this recall affects 110,047 units.
Toyota and Lexus Vehicles Are Recalled
As mentioned, due to the faulty wiring connection located in the steering wheel for the airbag, Toyota has decided to recall over 110,00 vehicles. The Toyota vehicles that have been impacted by the recall include the following:
- Toyota Corolla sedans manufactured between Feb. 21, 2023, and May 22, 2023
- Toyota Corolla Cross SUVs manufactured between Feb. 21, 2023, and May 30, 2023
- Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid SUVs manufactured between March 27, 2023, and June 7, 2023
- Toyota Highlander SUVs manufactured between March 14, 2023, and May 18, 2023
- Toyota Highlander Hybrid SUVs manufactured between March 14, 2023, and May 17, 2023
- Toyota Tacoma pickup trucks manufactured between March 24, 2023, and June 22, 2023
The Lexus models that have been impacted by the recall include the following:
- Lexus RX350 SUVs manufactured between Feb. 21, 2023, and June 1, 2023
- Lexus RX350h SUVs manufactured between March 13, 2023, and May 4, 2023
- Lexus RX500h SUVs manufactured between Feb. 22, 2023, and May 12, 2023
- Lexus NX250 SUVs manufactured between Feb. 21, 2023, and May 31, 2023
- Lexus NX350 SUVs manufactured between Feb. 22, 2023, and May 19, 2023
- Lexus NX350h SUVs manufactured between March 6, 2023, and May 30, 2023
In order to for vehicle owners to learn more information behind the recalls, the NHTSA, Toyota, and Lexus have listed more information under their own recall campaign numbers.
- NHTSA: 23V480
- Toyota: 23TA08
- Lexus: 23LA02
Toyota customers may also head to the NHTSA’s website and enter their vehicle's 17-digit vehicle identification number or VIN, in order to determine if their vehicle is part of the recall. Drivers can find their VIN located on the lower left of their car's windshield or on their car's registration card. In some cases, a vehicle's VIN may be shown on the driver's insurance card.
Drivers Can Expect Free Repairs if Their Car Is Affected
According to the report listed on the NHTSA’s website, they claim if drivers find that their vehicle has been affected by the recall, they should contact their local Toyota dealership. There a technician will inspect the spiral cable assembly and, if necessary, they will replace it free of charge. The vehicle company plans to mail out notification letters regarding the ongoing issue to its customers by August 27, 2023. Until then, drivers may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331 for more information regarding their vehicle.
If you or a loved one owns one of the recalled Toyota or Lexus vehicles involved in this recall and were in an accident, and have suffered an injury, we may be able to help you. For more information regarding this recall and how one of our attorneys may be able to help your case, you can contact us today by completing our free, no-obligation case evaluation form.