2.1 Million Vehicles Recalled For New Air Bag Problem

Federal safety regulators are recalling more than 2.12 million vehicles for a defect that may cause air bags to deploy inadvertently — even if they have been repaired for a separate defect that caused as many as six reported deaths from deployments with excessive force in crashes. The new recall covers Acura MDX, Dodge Viper, Jeep Liberty and Grand Cherokee, Honda Odyssey, Pontiac Vibe, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Matrix, and Toyota Avalon models made in the early 2000s.

All the vehicles were subject to earlier recalls to address a problem with an electronic component manufactured by TRW Automotive that caused some airbags to deploy in the absence of a crash. Some were also covered by a recall for air bags made by Takata that can deploy with excessive force and spray metal fragments inside the vehicle. Of the inadvertent deployments, nine involved ruptures caused by a flawed inflator produced by Takata. Those resulted in three injuries including an eye injury, burns, and scratches. No one was killed.

Fiat Chrysler said that in response to the NHTSA action it is recalling 928,497 vehicles in North America, including 753,156 in the U.S. The recall is national. Climate is not a factor.

According to NHTSA, it could take until the end of 2015 for the three automakers to complete this latest repair on all recalled vehicles.

Affected models are:

2002 through 2004 Jeep Cherokees and Grand Cherokees, 2002 and 2003 Jeep Libertys, and 2003 and 2004 Dodge Vipers.
Just over 1 million Toyota vehicles, including Corollas, Matrixes, and Avalons from 2003 and 2004 model years, as well as Pontiac Vibes from the same years that were assembled in a plant then-jointly owned by Toyota and General Motors.
About 374,000 Honda Odyssey minivans from 2003 and 2004 model years, as well as 2003 Acura MDX utility vehicles.

Consumers who have questions about the recall, or wish to report a possible vehicle safety issue, may call NHTSA's Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236. Fiat Chrysler offered its own number for concerned customers: 800-853-1403.

For Toyota owners, information is available at www.toyota.com/recall or by calling Toyota customer service at 800-331-4331.