Toyota Provides Update on Takata Air
Bags in New Vehicles
Toyota will
phase out the use of Takata frontal air bag inflators in production of new
vehicles that contain phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant
without a drying agent ("desiccant") by the end of October 2016.
The only
U.S.-market Toyota/Lexus vehicles currently in production receiving Takata
frontal PSAN air bag inflators without desiccant are the early production 2017
model year Lexus GX 460 and 2016 model year Toyota 4Runner.
Models that
may be in dealer inventory at this time equipped with Takata frontal PSAN air
bag inflators without desiccant are:
· 2015 model year Lexus IS 250C/350C
· 2015 model year Scion xB
· 2015 and 2016 model years Lexus GX 460
· 2015 and 2016 model years Toyota 4Runner
· 2017 model year Lexus GX 460
Note, these
are all frontal passenger air bag inflators.
Importantly,
these non-desiccated Takata passenger frontal PSAN air bag inflators in these
new vehicles are not subject to a current recall.
Based on
multiple independent investigations and NHTSA's independent expert, NHTSA has
concluded that non-desiccated frontal Takata air bag inflators do not pose an
unreasonable risk to safety until they reach a certain level of propellant
degradation after long-term exposure to environmental moisture and fluctuating
high temperatures. NHTSA and Takata are prioritizing recalls of these
components based on when the involved inflators are likely to pose an
unreasonable risk to safety, considering time, temperature and environmental
moisture, which depends on a vehicle's operating location. According to NHTSA's
current order, these components will be recalled by the end of 2018.
