Lexus Recalls 5,000 RX 350 and RX 450h Models Over Airbag Fault
Toyota is recalling around 5,000 2016 Lexus RX 350 and RX 450h crossovers in the US to address a manufacturing defect in the driver’s knee airbag.
Toyota Motor has announced a recall of approximately 5,000 Lexus RX 350 and RX 450h crossovers from the 2016 model year in the United States, due to a potential defect in the driver’s knee airbag. The company stated that the airbag may not have been properly manufactured, raising the risk of injury in the event of a collision.
According to Toyota, no accidents or injuries have been linked to the issue so far. The company is contacting affected owners by mail, instructing them to bring their vehicles to a Lexus dealer for inspection. If necessary, the dealer will replace the knee airbag assembly at no cost to the owner.
Scope of the recall
The recall covers both the RX 350 and RX 450h hybrid, two of Lexus’s core SUV models. Both were launched for the 2016 model year, with the RX 350 powered by a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine and the RX 450h using a hybrid system based on the same engine. The number of affected vehicles delivered to customers has not been specified by Toyota.
The knee airbags in question were supplied by Gosei, a Japanese manufacturer in which Toyota owns a significant stake. Toyota made clear that this recall is unrelated to the Takata airbag crisis that affected millions of vehicles globally.
What owners should do
Owners of affected 2016 Lexus RX 350 and RX 450h vehicles will receive notification letters with instructions. Lexus dealers will conduct the inspection and, if required, replace the airbag assembly free of charge. Drivers concerned about their vehicle’s safety can contact their local dealer for further information or check for updates on the Lexus or Toyota recall websites.
For more on Lexus safety systems, see Lexus LFA Launches with World-First SRS Seat Belt Airbag. For wider recall news, see Suzuki Recalls Splash, Swift and SX4 in Germany, Nissan Tiida in China for Safety Fixes.
