Recalls in the automotive industry are common occurrences. Some may be larger and more serious than others, but we’ve grown used to them and no longer pay as much attention as we probably should. Until something really serious happens and forces carmakers to go one step further: they issue Do Not Drive notices.
I’m pretty sure none of you now reading this have forgotten the Takata problem. It is, by all accounts, the largest recall the world has ever seen. And despite being quite old, it still continues to wreak havoc.
It all started back in 2013, when the industry began noticing an increasing number of death and injuries that should not have occurred. That’s because they were not related to an accident per se, but to the deployment of the cars’ airbags, the very ones meant to protect lives in the event of a crash.
Investigation into the problem eventually revealed that the airbag systems themselves were at fault. They were supplied by a Japanese automotive parts company called Takata, and they were so popular that they were used by most of the planet’s carmakers, and deployed in millions of cars.
As per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), to date no less than 67 million vehicles from 19 carmakers and belonging to 34 brands have been declared at risk and are in various stages of the recall procedure.
Japanese carmaker Toyota did not escape the deluge, and it too has its share of affected vehicles. On its end, the company seems to be doing its job, and has taken the proper steps in ensuring nothing bad happens. It’s the drivers, it seems, who don’t listen.
So much so, in fact, that in a bid to further urge owners to obtain an urgent and free safety recall repair related to the Takata problem, Toyota issued an immediate Do Not Drive advisory this week.
The advisory covers approximately 50,000 vehicles from the Corolla range (made from 2003 to 2004), the Matrix (same years), and RAV4 (2004-2005). All of these vehicles are involved in an urgent Takata recall, but so far they haven’t been fixed.
Toyota is worried that the age of the vehicles makes them particularly prone to being a danger to their owners. More specifically, in case of a crash that leads to the deployment of the airbags, a part inside the system is more likely to explode and shoot sharp metal fragments inside the cockpit. This, naturally, could lead to serious injury and even death for both the driver and passengers.
The carmaker urges owners of the affected car to not drive the cars until the problem is addressed. They should contact their local dealers for options on how to transport the vehicle for repair, or arrange for mobile repair, and not drive the vehicles there themselves. As usual in such cases, repairs are conducted free of charge.
If you are unsure if your Toyota vehicle is affected by the recall and this Do Not Drive notice you can check that here, or call the Toyota Brand Engagement Center at 1-800-331-4331.
