Japanese automakers recall 3.4 million vehicles with faulty airbag
Toyota is recalling about 1.73 million vehicles produced between November 2000 and March 2004, including 580,000 vehicles in North America and 490,000 vehicles in Europe. Honda is recalling about 1.14 million vehicles, while Nissan said it may call back 480,000 vehicles. Mazda said it recalled 45,463 units.
Toyota spokeswoman Shino Yamada said that five incidents of malfunctions have been reported, though there were no accidents or injuries. The vehicles affected were built between November 2000 and March 2004, she said.
In the United States, vehicles involved include certain Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sequoia, and Tundra, and Lexus SC 430 models manufactured from 2001–2003, according to a statement from Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc. in California.
"More precise vehicle information is being developed, but about 510,000 vehicles may have to be inspected to locate the suspect inflators," the company said.
For Toyota it's the second time this year that the company has announced a recall involving more than 1 million vehicles. Last year, Toyota announced a recall involving 7.43 million units in October, followed by one involving 2.77 million vehicles the next month.
A Takata spokesman said the recall is the supplier's biggest since 1995. More recently, in 2010, Honda recalled 437,763 vehicles to inspect for faulty airbag modules supplied by Takata.