2016 4Runner getting recalled for Takata airbags...

[00Sebby]

After all of this discussion about what Toyota could or couldn't do to disable the suspect airbag, liability, etc. I just remembered with my Wranglers and Miatas I can turn off the passenger airbags at will with my ignition key. Most pickups are set up the same way. No liability issues there. Just a light reminding you the airbag has been turned off.


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[cbreze]

After all of this discussion about what Toyota could or couldn't do to disable the suspect airbag, liability, etc. I just remembered with my Wranglers and Miatas I can turn off the passenger airbags at will with my ignition key. Most pickups are set up the same way. No liability issues there. Just a light reminding you the airbag has been turned off.


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Yep, my Miata also. Was in case a small child was riding in front. I wonder if this was because there was no backseat in a Miata. Although jeeps have the back seat usually. Nice feature IMHO

 

[Salvo Jimmy]

[MENTION=66389]BlackWorksInc[/MENTION] But I have a 2010 model that has lived near the coast and in the south and still can't get a replacement soon so I would rather it be disabled.:frusty:

Ditto for my wife's 2008 Lexus

 

[Salvo Jimmy]

( wfo9 Quote)Toyota, including its Lexus and Scion brands, began replacing passenger-side inflators starting last October. The threat is so great that the company even advised its dealers to disable the passenger-side airbags if the replacement was not available, and attach a sticker to the dashboard that says “Do Not Sit Here.”
(Unquote)

Now that is interesting. Think I'll see what the Lexus dealer says about my wife's 2008 that is in the "don't ride in the passenger seat" status.

 

[johnbt]

"or selling them as is, with no problems likely to occur in the first 6 years."

Well heck, it's not likely anyone will ever need the airbag at all. But it should be the best, not some stand in piece of junk that's not likely to malfunction. It's not just a junk NAV system after all, it's essential safety equipment I've been told. They've known about the problem long enough to build a factory of their own. If they cared.

Leather helmets? I almost got one, so I must be almost old. I remember taking long trips in the '50s Chevys my parents owned. I'd stand on the hump and peer over the back of the front seat. They wouldn't let me ride in the rear shelf like some of my friends could. I always wanted to stretch out in the sun in the back window and watch the clouds go by.

John

 

[BlackWorksInc]

@Wfo9

Toyota, including its Lexus and Scion brands, began replacing passenger-side inflators starting last October. The threat is so great that the company even advised its dealers to disable the passenger-side airbags if the replacement was not available, and attach a sticker to the dashboard that says “Do Not Sit Here.”

Not sure what they are talking about I haven't seen either dealership I have worked at (in the Bay Area or in Central Oregon where I am now) have to put a "Do not sit here sticker", nor am I aware of any instructions to disable the airbag system. It's possibly, but I'd like to see their quote.

[MENTION=134890]00Sebby[/MENTION]

Look into Recall F0S for 3rd gen Prius. It's a temporary measure until they amass enough side inflators to replace them due to a potentionally faulty weld causing them to split.

~

Additionally there's a point I was trying to make, the 2016 5th gens are not "faulty" from the factory. They have a sticker indicating that within a certain amount of time in the near future they will potentionally become faulty and require replacement. This goes back to the "most likely in the near future airbags will have a service interval like everything else" comment I was making.

They are saying that they will degrade within a set amount of time depending on region and they are aware of it and will address it when it becomes an issue. The majority of the issue right now is the propellant degrading over time and based on region. They aren't all ticking time bombs yet according to Takata. Basically they are saying, "it works now, but in the future they might end up being in a 'caution' category and at which time we'll fix it." Though the media and some people want to say that they are intentionally selling them with broken parts (which is half true).

 

[00Sebby]

Anyone else waiting on AIRBAGS?

[MENTION=134890]00Sebby[/MENTION]



Look into Recall F0S for 3rd gen Prius. It's a temporary measure until they amass enough side inflators to replace them due to a potentionally faulty weld causing ...

I understand the faulty weld thing. All I'm saying is since mine is on the borderline of age and humidity I would opt for disabling over the current risk. I fixed my crappy "panic assist" brake feature to where it works properly and I may get the key operated passenger airbag disable switch found in trucks and add to my 4Runner. I trust seat belts more than this particular inflator.



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[Salvo Jimmy]

The way I see it re my wife's 2008 Lexus since we have received notice from Lexus that the passenger front bag is a problem and no one should ride in the passenger seat, why not just put in another eventually bad bag. They seem available as they were going into new vehicles. Then it's another 8 yrs until a problem again exists and likely the car will be ready for the bone yard by then.

 

[wfo9]

@Wfo9



Not sure what they are talking about I haven't seen either dealership I have worked at (in the Bay Area or in Central Oregon where I am now) have to put a "Do not sit here sticker", nor am I aware of any instructions to disable the airbag system. It's possibly, but I'd like to see their quote.

I'm not sure how accurate it is... It came from this article..
The Takata Airbag Recall Is Now a Full-Blown Crisis

Just search for Toyota (I think the second occurrence is where they make that statement).

 

[wfo9]

The way I see it re my wife's 2008 Lexus since we have received notice from Lexus that the passenger front bag is a problem and no one should ride in the passenger seat, why not just put in another eventually bad bag. They seem available as they were going into new vehicles. Then it's another 8 yrs until a problem again exists and likely the car will be ready for the bone yard by then.

Yea, the entire thing is confusing. I'm not sure what Toyota's plan is... It seems it would be cheaper to put a passenger airbag into a car (that will go bad again in 5 years) then it is to pay for a rental for 6+ months....

There seems to be a real lack of information....

 

[johnbt]

"Senator Bill Nelson (D-Fla) was animated during a recent hearing on the recall to find out automakers were selling new vehicles with the recalled airbags in them. “What’s troubling here is that consumers are buying new cars not realizing they’re going to be recalled…These cars shouldn’t be sold until they’re fixed,” he said."

Imagine that, me agreeing with a member of the Democratic Party. John

 

[samrebel]

I haven't fully dug into all of the options that Toyota has in this situation, but I have trouble believing that the company hasn't explored them all and is implementing the countermeasure that maximizes safety. I used to be a project manager at a Toyota manufacturing plant, so I have some experience with how decisions like these are made within the company. Don't get me wrong, the situation sucks all the way around (I have an '11 SR5 that has spent it's whole life in Zone A, so I'm right there with you), but I truly believe that they're trying to make the best decisions for everyone within a bad situation. The bottom line is, there just aren't enough inflators that can be manufactured quickly enough to go around, so they're having to prioritize the ones that pose the greatest risk.

Regarding disabling the airbag, I have attached a document that explains the company's position on this: essentially, they think the risk is higher not having an airbag than the risk of the inflator exploding:

Q14: If my vehicle may potentially be included in a future Safety Recall, will Toyota disconnect the involved Passenger airbag or the other airbags in my vehicle until the remedy is available?

A14: No, Toyota will not disconnect airbags as part of this recall action. Based on multiple independent investigations and NHTSA’s independent expert, NHTSA has concluded that the non-desiccated frontal Takata airbag 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. NHTSA and Takata are prioritizing these recalls based on when affected inflators are likely to pose an unreasonable risk to safety, considering time, temperature, and environmental moisture, which depends on a vehicle’s operating location.

Also, the NHTSA remedy order was just amended this month with updated dates. OP, the 2011 is in Priority Group 6, which means they now have until Sept. 30, 2017 to have the remedy (i.e., new parts) available. I have attached the FAQ that I quoted above and the amendment to the remedy order to this post for everyone's convenience.

 

[Salvo Jimmy]

Samrebel,

Great info.

As I read the amend my wife's 2008 Lexus ES350 (group 5) should have parts available by 30 Jun 2017 and my 2016 4Runner (group 10) by 31 Mar 2019.

Also as I read the answer on bag disconnect, it seems odd that it is safer to have a potential inflator explosion, even if no one is in the seat (as recommended). Seems other passengers could be at risk. Seems safest solution is disconnect the bag AND don't use the seat.

But then again I'm old enough to remember when there were no seat belts and as a child rode standing up on the front seat so I could see out.:biggrin1:

 

[jhebert9]

Airbag Recall

I have a 2010 4R, Trail. Toyota says that they have found a solution and are waiting on parts. My local dealer says that Toyota is lying and they have not done anything because they don't yet know what to do. I will not accept a Camry or 2wd min-SUV because I go off-roading in Colorado and I will not let my 4R sit in a lot somewhere exposed to the weather for several months. We all need to get together and file a lawsuit or something to put pressure on toyota. Chevrolet had the same problem a few years ago and had the problem solved within a few months

 

[johnbt]

"essentially, they think the risk is higher not having an airbag than the risk of the inflator exploding"

That's all well and good; they can do what they want with vehicles they own.

Meanwhile, it's my vehicle and my life - or the lives of my loved ones. It should be my decision and they should respect that. I'll sign a release if they like.

They didn't even bother to put a sticker on the window that said, "...if you buy this new vehicle...we think the risk is higher not having an airbag than the risk of the inflator exploding..."


No transparency - iow no honesty. Thanks Toyota.

John

 

[wfo9]

I haven't fully dug into all of the options that Toyota has in this situation, but I have trouble believing that the company hasn't explored them all and is implementing the countermeasure that maximizes safety. I used to be a project manager at a Toyota manufacturing plant, so I have some experience with how decisions like these are made within the company. Don't get me wrong, the situation sucks all the way around (I have an '11 SR5 that has spent it's whole life in Zone A, so I'm right there with you), but I truly believe that they're trying to make the best decisions for everyone within a bad situation. The bottom line is, there just aren't enough inflators that can be manufactured quickly enough to go around, so they're having to prioritize the ones that pose the greatest risk.

Regarding disabling the airbag, I have attached a document that explains the company's position on this: essentially, they think the risk is higher not having an airbag than the risk of the inflator exploding:



Also, the NHTSA remedy order was just amended this month with updated dates. OP, the 2011 is in Priority Group 6, which means they now have until Sept. 30, 2017 to have the remedy (i.e., new parts) available. I have attached the FAQ that I quoted above and the amendment to the remedy order to this post for everyone's convenience.

I can't imagine being such a fanboy and not seeing the reality of the situation. They are prioritizing profits over existing customers safety. Simple as that. They don't mind you being pissed off without your truck as long as they can sell new ones. They will stall until the government starts to fine them. Simple as that. Toyota builds a good product but never been impressed with their customer service....

I can't help but think there would be a different reaction if it was the driver air bag.

Also your quotes about disconnecting the airbag are misleading. They are talking about future recalls, not active ones. If you truck is a 2010, 2011, and I think 2012(or soon to be sometime this month) in Zone A it is under active recall now. Technically, those 3 years in that Zone should not be driven with a passenger. I really doubt they are all parked though. Mine is not, but I'm warning people before letting them sit in the passenger seat and mostly not driving it unless i go off-road.

 

[Salvo Jimmy]

Samrebel,

Great info.

As I read the amend my wife's 2008 Lexus ES350 (group 5) should have parts available by 30 Jun 2017 and my 2016 4Runner (group 10) by 31 Mar 2019.

Also as I read the answer on bag disconnect, it seems odd that it is safer to have a potential inflator explosion, even if no one is in the seat (as recommended). Seems other passengers could be at risk. Seems safest solution is disconnect the bag AND don't use the seat.

But then again I'm old enough to remember when there were no seat belts and as a child rode standing up on the front seat so I could see out.:biggrin1:

I quizzed the Lexus dealer here. They know no more than I do. Say they are just awaiting parts with no info on when.

 

[alico268]

The following blog from Car and Driver breaks down all models affected by the Takata bags.

Massive Takata Airbag Recall: Everything You Need to Know ? News ?*Car and Driver | Car and Driver Blog

It doesn't show the 2017 4Runner as being affected, but not sure as to the accuracy. Interestingly, makers such as Audi, Merc-Benz, Ferrari and McLaren are utilizing the faulty bags in their some of their 2017 models.

 

[mgproudfit]

What am I missing here? I just checked my '16 TEP on toyota.com/recall and it says it is not under recall but Im reading here that people are saying 2016 models ARE affected. Which is correct?

 

[sdchris]

My 2011 SR5 is worthless at this point now that my family has grown to 4. I haven't received any further updates from Toyota beyond the initial letter and the dealer that sold the car to me dodged my questions on when the fix will be ready. That's been at least 6 months.

I'm very frustrated with having an unsuable family car and no response or update from the company. I'm a pretty reasonable person but it seems like calm and patient people like me get stomped on for such. Its unfortunate, but I will have to get nasty with the Company now so that they realize they are affecting their customers and future purchases.