Toyota has announced a voluntary safety recall involving more than 300,000 RAV4 sport utility vehicles model years 2007 and 2008 and 2008 Highlander and Highlander HV vehicles sold in the United States to replace the airbag sensor assembly.
The recall will involve approximately 214,000 RAV4 vehicles and approximately 94,000 Highlander and Highlander HV vehicles.
In the roll sensing curtain shield airbag system of the subject vehicles, two sensors in the airbag sensor assembly designed to detect vehicle roll angle.
If one of these sensors malfunctions, the airbag warning light (malfunction indicator 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 initial airbag system check, the seat belt pretensioner and the curtain shield airbag could be inadvertently activated.
Owners of involved vehicles will receive an interim notification letter advising them of this recall by mail in May 2011.
Toyota will also post this information on its website. Toyota dealers will replace the roll sensing sensor assembly with a new one at no cost to the customer.
Additional information is available via phone, 800-331-433 or via the automaker’s website, www.toyota.com/recall.
Article Last Updated: April 21, 2011.
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
A sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004.
In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida.
An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and online publications, co-hosted The Weekly Driver Podcast from 2017 to 2024.
