TOYOTA ANNOUNCES INTENT TO CONDUCT VOLUNTARY SAFETY CAMPAIGN ON CERTAIN RAV4 AND HIGHLANDER VEHICLES TO REPLACE AIRBAG SENSOR ASSEMBLY

Toronto, ON – Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI) today announced that it intends to conduct a voluntary safety campaign involving certain 2007 through 2008 model year RAV4 and certain 2008 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles sold in Canada to replace the airbag sensor assembly.  There are approximately 19,000 RAV4 vehicles and approximately 6,000 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles covered by this safety campaign.

In the curtain shield airbag system of the subject vehicles, there are two sensors in the airbag sensor assembly which are designed to detect vehicle roll angle.  If one of these sensors malfunctions, the airbag warning light will illuminate and the roll detection system will be suspended; however, the airbag remains available in the event of a side collision.  If both sensors fail nearly simultaneously after the initial airbag system check, the seat belt pretensioner and the curtain shield airbag could be inadvertently activated.  

No other Lexus or Toyota vehicles are involved in this recall and this condition only involves vehicles sold in the North American market; vehicles sold in other markets are not equipped with this airbag sensor assembly.

Owners of the involved vehicles will receive an interim notification letter advising them of this recall by first class mail in May 2011.  Toyota will also post this information on its website.  Toyota dealers will replace the airbag sensor assembly with a new one at no cost to the customer.

 

Customers who have any questions are asked to contact their local Toyota dealership, visit www.toyota.ca or contact Toyota Canada at 1-888-TOYOTA-8 (1-888-868-6828).