Faulty Airbags Prompt Toyota RAV4 SUV Recall

Toyota recently announced that it is recalling some 3,500 RAV4 sport utility vehicles over a passenger airbag defect.

A seat construction problem in certain SUVs is to blame for the recall, according to Toyota. The defect could prevent passenger-side airbags from properly deploying in the event of an accident.

“The Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor in the front passenger seat may not operate as designed and can affect airbag deployment,” the company said in a press release. “This can result in noncompliance with a federal safety standard and increase the risk of an injury to a front seat passenger in a crash.”

The recall covers certain 2022 RAV4 SUVs. Toyota said it plans to notify owners of recalled cars by mid-September. It will ask owners to bring vehicles to a local dealer for inspection and repairs.

“For all involved vehicles, Toyota dealers will inspect the OCS sensor and, if necessary, adjust a stopper and seat frame assembly near the sensor and recalibrate the system,” the company said.

This is not the first time that Toyota has had to recall vehicles over serious safety issues, long after the cars have been sold to unsuspecting buyers.

The company recently called back 75,000 Tacoma pickup trucks because of a defect that could put child passengers at risk, for example. The company said child seat anchor welds could fail, causing a seat to suddenly move during a crash or sudden stop.

In May, Toyota said it was recalling some 460,000 vehicles across models. A software glitch may inadvertently disable the cars’ electronic stability control systems, increasing the risk of a crash, the company said at the time.

Defective Car? Know Your Lemon Law Rights

Toyota is not alone. The world’s major vehicle manufacturers call back millions of cars every year, citing serious defects that put everyone on the road at risk.

Fortunately, California car owners have some valuable rights and protections under the state’s lemon law. A California lemon law attorney can help you understand those rights and take action.

The lemon law, formally known as the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, requires car manufacturers to perform a full range of repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty. The law also forces manufacturers to buy back (or replace, in certain cases) vehicles that they are not able or flat out refuse to fix. That includes compensating the owner for the vehicle’s purchase price, as well as other related fees and costs.

There is no specific number of repair requests or attempts that must happen before the buyback or replace requirement kicks in. That is one reason why it is important to consult an experienced lemon law attorney.

Speak with a San Diego Lemon Law Attorney

If you are stuck with a lemon or locked in a dispute with a car manufacturer over repairs, the San Diego lemon law attorneys at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help. 

Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a San Diego lemon law attorney.