Toyota recalls 1.7m cars

NEW YORK: Toyota on Wednesday announced a recall of 1.7 million vehicles in North America as part of a general effort to replace defective Takata airbags tied to some 20 deaths worldwide.

The Japanese car manufacturer did not say whether it had been notified of injuries or serious incidents related to the latest recall.

The sprawling recall concerned 4Runner sport utility vehicles (SUVs) from model years 2010 to 2016, Corolla sedans and Matrix hatchbacks from 2010 to 2013 and Sienna minivans from 2011 to 2014.

The recall also involves Luxury Lexus models: ES 350 sedans (2010-2012), GX 460 SUVs (20102017), IS 250C and IS 350C convertibles (2010-2015), IS 250 and IS 350 sedans (2010-2013) and Lexus IS-F sedans (2010-2014).

Scion XB compacts from the 2010 to 2015 model years are also involved.

Dealerships will replace either the airbag inflators or entire airbag systems.

Last week, US carmaker Ford recalled 953,000 vehicles to address Takata airbag problems.

This is Toyota’s third largescale Takata-related recall in five months. In November, the firm recalled 1.6 million vehicles worldwide.

The United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said the Takata matter concerned 34 million vehicles and 46 million airbags in the US, but this could rise to 70 million by year-end.

Founded in 1933, Takata went of business in June 2017.