Toyota Recalls One Million Vehicles That May Have Defective Air Bags

Air bags are a crucial component of any modern car. Many of our vehicles are equipped with sensors that detect whether or not a person is seated in the passenger seat and whether they're an adult or child that needs protection in the case of a possible accident. But for hundreds of thousands of Toyota owners, this technology might present an issue that could possibly have deadly consequences. 

Toyota Motor announced Dec. 20 that the company is recalling one million vehicles in the U.S. because of the possibility of short circuits in its Occupant Classification System sensors. The technology automatically detects whether a child or an adult is seated in the passenger seat and deploys air bags based on that evaluation; if a child or small adult is sitting in the seat, the sensors ensure that air bags do not deploy. With this defect, the bags might not deploy as designed at all. 

Related: Tesla Recalls Nearly 2 Million Vehicles After Multi-Year Investigation

According to U.S. News, the recall affects 2020 through 2022 model year vehicles. This includes the Avalon, Corolla, RAV4, Highlander, and Sienna. Some Lexus models are also affected, as the luxury brand is owned by Toyota and often contains similar technology in its cars. This includes the Lexus ES250, ES300H, ES350, and RX350 vehicles. 

There's no need to panic just yet. Toyota will begin notifying affected owners about the recall in February. And if you need help, dealers will inspect your vehicle and replace the sensors if necessary. 

Now more than ever, never forget to wear your seat belt.