Toyota and Nissan recalling thousands of cars in Ireland

The potential for the largest recall of cars we have seen in Ireland over safety concerns has come to light overnight with 6.5 million cars globally being recalled to replace potentially faulty airbag inflators.

Due to the latest safety concerns over potentially faulty airbags made by Japanese parts supplier Takata, we could be looking at a global recall of 6.5 million vehicles from Toyota and Nissan to replace potentially faulty airbag inflators. Honda also said it was preparing to file additional recalls related to Takata air bags, but did not specify which models would be affected.

This follows on from major recalls over the same issue. Automotive News says that these included Honda, BMW, Ford, GM, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Subaru and Chrysler. In total about 25 million cars have been recalled since since 2008 over Takata air bag inflators that have erupted with too much force, spraying shrapnel inside the car.

The Toyota recall involves 27,000 Toyotas in Ireland. These are made up of 24,000 Corolla, Yaris and Avensis and Verso models built between April 2004 and November 2007 for potential issues with passenger airbags and 3,000 Rav4 and Hi-Lux models built between July 2003 and November 2005 for potential issues with driver airbags.

This is the second recall by Toyota in relation to issues with Takata airbags, the first being in April 2013 when 26,000 Yaris, Corolla and Avensis models were recalled.

Globally, the Toyota recall involves 35 different models including 1.36 million cars in Japan, 1.27 million in Europe, 637,000 in the U.S. and 18,000 in Canada, the company said in an email.

Toyota said it will replace the affected front driver-side air-bag inflators with newly manufactured parts produced by Daicel Corp. Takata will supply the replacements for front passenger-side air-bag inflators because compatible parts from a different supplier are not available, Toyota said.

Nissan's recall includes 1.56 million cars globally, including 563,000 cars in Europe, but the company has not given details about which models affected.