Home / Latest recalls / 18V024

Lexus ES 350 Recall 18V024: Passenger airbag inflator may explode in a crash

NHTSA campaign 18V024, reported January 9, 2018, 628,018 vehicles potentially affected.

What this recall means for you

Certain passenger frontal airbag inflators in these vehicles can rupture when the airbag deploys in a crash. Long-term exposure to humidity and temperature changes can degrade the inflator's propellant, causing it to explode and send sharp metal fragments toward the driver or other occupants. This can result in serious injury or death.

If your vehicle is included in this recall, a dealer will replace the passenger airbag inflator or the entire airbag assembly, depending on the model. The repair is free at an authorized dealer. Toyota will notify Toyota, Scion, and Lexus owners, and General Motors will contact Pontiac owners. Affected vehicles are grouped by region, so check whether your state is listed in the notice.

To find out whether your vehicle has an open recall, check your VIN on the NHTSA recall lookup or with your dealer. For help, Toyota customer service can be reached at 1-800-331-4331, and Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737.

Check whether this recall is open on your vehicle

The repair is normally free at an authorized dealer.

Official recall notice

Safety recall 18V024Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Component
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Problem
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013 Scion xB, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sienna, 4Runner, Lexus IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, IS-F, and GX460 vehicles sold, ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP (Saipan), and the U.S. VI or "Zone A." Toyota is also recalling certain 2010 Scion xB, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Yaris, 4Runner, Lexus IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, ES350, IS-F, GX460, and Pontiac Vibe vehicles sold, ever registered, in the states of AZ, AR, DE, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV or "Zone B." Toyota is also recalling certain 2009 Scion xB, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Yaris, Lexus IS250, IS350, ES350, IS-F, and Pontiac Vibe vehicles ever registered in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
Toyota will notify the Toyota, Scion and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, or replace the air bag assembly. The recall began on January 29, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. Toyota's numbers for this recall are "Zone A" Toyota: G0P, Lexus: GLG; "Zone B" Toyota: G0R, Lexus GLH; "Zone C" Toyota: H0A, and Lexus: HLA.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Affected vehicles

Lexus ES 35020092010
Lexus GX46020102013
Lexus IS 250200920102013
Lexus IS 250C20102013
Lexus IS 350200920102013
Lexus IS 350C20102013
Lexus IS F200920102013
Pontiac Vibe20092010
Scion XB200920102013
Toyota 4 Runner20102013
Toyota Corolla200920102013
Toyota Corolla Matrix200920102013
Toyota Sienna2013
Toyota Yaris20092010