119K Toyota Avalon sedans recalled over airbag woes

Thu, 27 Mar 2014

Toyota has issued a voluntary safety recall for 119,000 2003-2004 Avalon models because in some cases the airbags could inadvertently deploy.

The automaker says that circuits within the airbag control module could be damaged by electrical noise, which could cause the front airbags and seatbelt pre-tensioners to activate. Dealers are going to repair cars by adding an electrical noise filter to the module. Owners will be notified by first class mail.

Toyota Public Affairs Manager Cindy Knight told Autoblog that there was one reported injury caused by the sudden deployment, but there have been no accidents or crashes. The company is currently preparing the parts for dealers now, and the component takes 90 minutes to two hours to install. "We don't believe there are any other affected models," said Knight.

Toyota previously recalled 373,000 2000-2004 Avalons in 2010 due to a fault with the steering lock. The company installed a new steering column bracket on the models.

Toyota Announces Voluntary Safety Recall

March 27, 2014
TORRANCE, Calif., March 27, 2014 – Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. today announced that it will conduct a voluntary safety recall of approximately 119,000 MY 2003-2004 Avalon sedans.

In the involved Toyota Avalon vehicles, certain circuits within the airbag control module may be susceptible to damage if exposed to electrical noise from other electrical components. In some instances, front airbag(s) and/or seat belt pre-tensioners could inadvertently deploy.

Dealers will remedy the condition by adding an electrical noise filter to the airbag control module.

Owners of vehicles subject to these recalls will receive a notification by first class mail.

Detailed information is available to customers at www.toyota.com/recall and by calling the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.

By Chris Bruce