The automaker says an Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor in the front passenger seat of these vehicles could short circuit due to a manufacturing defect. As a result, Toyota says the front passenger airbag may not deploy as designed in some types of crashes.
OCS is designed to detect if there is a small adult or child in the front seat and calibrate airbag deployment to protect them from being injured by the safety system designed for larger occupants. However, the possibility of interference between internal components could disrupt the operation of the OCS sensor, leading to inaccurate assessments of occupant size.
This recall of the affected vehicles mirrors a previous recall involving just 3,500 Toyota RAV4s, which was initiated in 2022. That issue was specifically related to the eight-way power-adjustable front passenger seat. A stopper in the seat frame was to blame for the problem at that time, and caused the OCS to incorrectly detect the occupant load in the seat.
In order to remedy the situation, Toyota has determined that a recall campaign must be initiated. It will ask owners to return their vehicles to a nearby dealer. The automaker said it will notify owners by mid-February 2024 and will inspect and replace the OCS sensors at no charge if they are defective.
Source: Reuters, Car and Driver
