PLANO, Texas, September 2, 2016 – Toyota will phase out the use of Takata frontal air bag inflators in production of new vehicles that contain phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant without a drying agent (“desiccant”) by the end of October 2016.
The only U.S.-market Toyota/Lexus vehicles currently in production receiving Takata frontal PSAN air bag inflators without desiccant are the early production 2017 model year Lexus GX 460 and 2016 model year Toyota 4Runner.
Models that may be in dealer inventory at this time equipped with Takata frontal PSAN air bag inflators without desiccant are:
- 2015 model year Lexus IS 250C/350C
- 2015 model year Scion xB
- 2015 and 2016 model years Lexus GX 460
- 2015 and 2016 model years Toyota 4Runner
- 2017 model year Lexus GX 460
Note, these are all frontal passenger air bag inflators.
Importantly, these non-desiccated Takata passenger frontal PSAN air bag inflators in these new vehicles are not subject to a current recall.
Based on multiple independent investigations and NHTSA’s independent expert, NHTSA has concluded that non-desiccated frontal Takata air bag inflators do not pose an unreasonable risk to safety until they reach a certain level of propellant degradation after long-term exposure to environmental moisture and fluctuating high temperatures. NHTSA and Takata are prioritizing recalls of these components based on when the involved inflators are likely to pose an unreasonable risk to safety, considering time, temperature and environmental moisture, which depends on a vehicle’s operating location. According to NHTSA’s current order, these components will be recalled by the end of 2018.
Additional information about Takata recalls for Toyota, Lexus and Scion vehicles is available at toyota.com/recall.