In a safety report published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on June 20th, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) issued a voluntary recall of certain 2024 Toyota Highlander and Lexus vehicles. The recall comes after the vehicle manufacturing company discovered that its curtain-shield airbags might not properly deploy in the event of an accident, making over 145,000 of its vehicles noncompliant with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 226, "Ejection Mitigation."
Below, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the recalled Toyota vehicles and what you can do to ensure your and your loved ones' safety should you discover you are in possession of an affected vehicle.
Toyota Recalls Highlander and Lexus Models Due to Issues With Airbags
According to the safety report, Toyota discovered the issues with the crash safety feature lie within the airbags located on the driver's side and when the driver's window is rolled down. In the event of a crash, the driver's side curtain airbag may not "unroll as intended" and could partially deploy outside of an open window, increasing the risk of injury. This defect means that the affected vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 226, Ejection Mitigation.
In order to stay in compliance with FMVSS No. 226, vehicles must be capable of reducing the number of vehicle occupants ejected during a crash, especially in the event of a rollover. The standard applies to the side windows next to the first three rows of seats, which in this case includes the driver’s seat. Toyota is warning drivers that the recall affects approximately 145,254 models from the 2024 model year, including the Toyota Grand Highlander, Grand Highlander Hybrid, Lexus TX350, TX500 Hybrid, and TX550 Hybrids.
Toyota To Provide Affected Vehicle Owners With Solutions
According to Toyota, a corrective repair action has not yet been determined as the cause of the defect is still under investigation; however, once it is available, customers can expect to receive a repair or replacement for the defective airbags free of charge. Until then, Toyota has advised its customers to drive with the driver's window rolled up to reduce the risk of injury. On June 20th, Toyota issued a notice regarding the recall to Toyota and Lexus dealerships across the nation, warning them of the current issues.
Affected vehicle owners should also expect to receive a notice for the recall in the mail by August 5th. Until then, those who believe their vehicles are affected by the recall can enter their vehicle's identification number into the NHTSA's web portal to verify that their vehicle is, in fact, impacted by the recall. Drivers can locate their car's 17-character VIN on the lower left of the vehicle's windshield and registration card, and in some cases, it may also be located on their insurance card.
For questions behind the recall or if their vehicle is affected by the recall customers may also contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB09/24TA09, and Lexus' numbers are 24LB05/24LA05. This recall is also listed on the NHTSA's website under the campaign number 24V461000.
Victims of the Faulty Toyota Airbags Can Connect With a Morgan & Morgan Attorney
Those who have suffered an injury due to the defective airbags may be eligible to recover financial compensation. Working with a Morgan & Morgan attorney can increase your chances of recovering compensation for your injuries or any damages you or a loved one may have sustained after the airbags in your vehicle did not deploy during an accident. Owners of the affected Toyota vehicles who have been involved in an accident, or who have questions regarding their vehicles can speak with an experienced defective airbag attorney to learn more about what their legal options are.
For more information or if you believe you or a loved one were affected by a faulty Toyota airbag, contact a Morgan & Morgan attorney today to receive a free case evaluation.