Toyota South Africa put out a statement saying that the latest recall of Toyota campaign was not new. It has been ongoing since July 2015. The global recall campaign is due to the Takata airbag inflators installed in their vehicles which are potentially defective.
In early January, Takata revealed that additional 3.3 million inflators were defective. The global recall will allow Toyota SA to replace the potentially faulty Takata airbag inflators. They said that the airbags were a deadly threat to passengers. Reports indicate that the Takata inflators can explode with high force thereby hurling shrapnel contents. So far, at least 20 persons have been recorded as having died from the explosion of Takata inflators worldwide. More than 280 people have been injured worldwide.
The statement revealed that the recall campaign includes Matrix, Toyota Corolla, Scion xB, Lexus 350 and IS250 vehicles. Lexus IS-F from 2013, 20110 and 2009 are also included in the recall campaign. Other cars recalled include Lexus IS350C & 250C, Lexus GX460, Lexus ES350, 2010 & 2013 Toyota 4-Runner, 2013 Toyota Sienna and 2009 & 2010 Toyota Yaris.
On the 25th January this year, Toyota South Africa issued a notice recalling over 700,000 cars. This was in concerns of the safety of their vehicle users with reports of some defectives in the last 15 years. Toyota South Africa supplies Toyota Vehicles to dealers in Swaziland, Botswana, Namibia, and Lesotho. However, total affected Toyota vehicles in Namibia were not revealed. This is because Indongo Toyota Manager, Wilbur Izaaks refused to comment as a Toyota dealer. Mr. Izaaks said that such questions should be directed to Toyota South Africa management. However, Toyota SA did not comment on the number of Toyota in Namibia market questions.
Toyota SA management revealed that owners and dealers of the affected vehicles were being recalled directly and repairs would be done for free. The President and CEO of Toyota SA, Andrew Kirby assured customers that the company would remain focused on their safety. Mr. Kirby also apologized on behalf of the company to all the affected customers. He further said that there were no fatalities and injuries reported in Namibia so far arising from the defective Takata airbag inflators.
