Toyota Motor Corp. is recalling more than 120,000 Toyota Avalon 2003 and 2004 models to fix an electrical issue that may inadvertently cause the airbags to deploy.
The Japanese automaker announced last week the vehicles are being recalled because certain circuits in the airbag control module may be susceptible to internal shortening resulting from exposure to electrical noise from nearby electrical components. This electrical short may create an abnormal current flow and increased heat, which could damage the circuits and result in accidental deployment of the front airbags and/or seat belt pretensioners.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in the recall notice that Toyota received at least three reports of the issue before initiating a voluntary safety recall. Testing completed by the automotive company indicated that excessive electrical noise was created by operation of the power front passenger seats, such as moving the seat or seat back forward or backward. According to the recall notice, the level of noise observed “could cause latch-up and electrical overstress to be applied to the ASIC.”
Dealers will address the issue by installing an electrical noise filter between the air bag control module and the wire harness.
The NHTSA noted this recall is not related to the airbag recall that affected Toyota Corolla and Toyota Matrix 2003 and 2004 models.
