Why is this recall unusual?
Recalls happen all the time, but this pair of campaigns from Toyota looks quite unconventional. The Japanese manufacturer has just announced two safety actions involving its pickups. In each case, the concern is the risk that the airbags may not deploy properly. What makes this unusual is that both recalls are linked to replacement airbags that were not on these pickups when they left the factory.
Which vehicles are affected by the recall?
In total, the two recalls cover 4,118 sets of side curtain airbags manufactured by Joyson Safety Systems. These kits were sold as spare parts for 2016–2023 Toyota Tacoma and 2014–2021 Toyota Tundra pickups. If such a replacement airbag was installed after a crash, it may provide less protection than intended exactly when it matters most. And here’s the key point: if your Toyota has never been in an accident that required replacing the factory airbags, this recall does not affect you.
Related: Toyota Recalls 2022–2023 Tundra Pickups Over Flying Bed Covers
The Tacoma defect
The first recall covers 2,381 replacement side curtain airbags for certain 2016–2023 Tacoma models. Toyota reports that the supplier may not have properly secured the airbag to its mounting bracket during assembly. If that happens, parts of the airbag may not end up in the required position during deployment, reducing its ability to restrain occupants and increasing the risk of injury in certain crashes.
The Tundra defect
The second recall covers 1,737 replacement side curtain airbags for 2014–2021 Toyota Tundra Double Cab and CrewMax models. In this case, Toyota says the supplier may have incorrectly rolled the airbag during production.
As with the Tacoma, an improperly manufactured airbag may not fully deploy into the correct position during a collision, and nobody wants that. It appears that internal investigations at Joyson Safety Systems uncovered the problem, after which Toyota confirmed the defect before announcing the recall.
What should owners do?
Toyota will notify owners known to have received one of the affected replacement airbags by the end of September. Dealers will inspect vehicles for the relevant parts and replace any defective side curtain airbag kits for free. Toyota is also asking dealers to identify replacement parts previously sold to auto service centers and body repair shops so that additional affected owners can be contacted.
This is not the first time the quality of replacement components has become a separate reason for a recall. The situation is a reminder that even parts installed after a crash must meet factory standards. Manufacturers should monitor the supply chain more closely, and owners should check the origin of parts during repairs. If you have recently replaced the side curtain airbags in your pickup, it is worth checking with your dealer to see whether your vehicle is covered by this campaign.