Toyota Recalls Prius, Lexus CT for Curtain Airbag Flaw

By Chris Chase

Jun 29, 2016

Summary

Airbag assembly could separate and enter vehicle cabin.

Toyota Canada has voluntarily recalled nearly 12,931 Prius and Lexus CT hybrids to fix curtain airbag assemblies that could crack and allow the airbag to inflate unexpectedly.

The airbag module consists of a pair of chambers welded together; Toyota says a crack may develop at that weld and grow over time, leading to the chambers separating. If that happens, the airbag could partially inflate and "sections of the inflator could enter the vehicle's interior" and possibly injure those inside. Toyota adds this has occurred mainly in vehicles parked and left unoccupied for "a period of time."

Dealers are being asked to install retention brackets on the airbag inflators designed to prevent the inflator chambers from entering the vehicle should the two chambers separate.

Meet the Author

As a child, Chris spent most of his time playing with toy cars in his parents’ basement or making car sounds while riding his bicycle. Now he's an award-winning Algonquin College Journalism grad who has been playing with real cars that make their own noises since the early 2000s.