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Toyota warns drivers of 50,000 vehicles to stop driving immediately and get repaired
Toyota is urging the owners of 50,000 older vehicles to stop driving the cars immediately and get their airbags fixed. According to the voluntary recall, the vehicles should not be driven until their faulty airbags have been repaired or replaced.
The recall notice, issued on Thursday, covers these models:
- 2003-2004 Corolla
- 2003-2004 Corolla Matrix
- 2004-2005 RAV4
Because of the age of the airbags, it’s more likely that a part inside could explode and shoot sharp metal fragments, which could lead to serious injury or even death, the automaker said.
“Owners SHOULD NOT DRIVE these vehicles until the FREE safety recall repair has been conducted,” Toyota said in the statement.
Toyota said it is recommending that owners not drive the vehicles to get fixed. Instead, vehicle owners should contact their local dealer, which can arrange for a number of other options, such as performing a mobile repair at the vehicle’s location or tow the car to the dealership.
Takata air bags
The recalled RAV4s have Takata driver’s air bags while the Corolla and Matrix models have them on the passenger side. The Corolla and Matrix also are under a separate recall because their air bags can be deployed without a crash, the company said.
The voluntary recalls comes about one month after Toyota recalled about 1 million cars in the U.S. because the front passenger air bags may not deploy properly in a crash, posing additional risk of injury to riders.
Takata used volatile ammonium nitrate to create a small explosion to inflate air bags in a crash. But the chemical propellant can deteriorate over time when exposed to high temperatures and humidity. It can explode with too much force, blowing apart a metal canister and spewing shrapnel.
At least 26 people have been killed in the U.S. by Takata inflators since May 2009, and at least 30 have died worldwide including people in Malaysia and Australia. In addition, about 400 people have been injured. The exploding air bags sent Takata of Japan into bankruptcy.
The automaker said the airbag will be repaired or replaced for free.
You can check if your vehicle is part of the recall by entering your VIN number or license number at Toyota.com/recall or nhtsa.gov/recalls. Car owners can also call Toyota customer support at the Toyota Brand Engagement Center at 1-800-331-4331.
– With reporting by the Associated Press.
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NEW YORK — The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade officially kicked off the holiday season Thursday in New York City.
A steady rain fell over the festivities, and pro-Palestinian demonstrators briefly disrupted the parade for a second year in a row.
The NYPD said a25 people were arrested after sitting down on the parade route with Palestinian flags and a banner reading, “Don’t Celebrate Genocide.” All of them were charged with trespassing and received summonses.
Julia Demaree Nikhinson / AP
Despite the dreary weather, CBS News New York’s Jenna DeAngelis reported it didn’t get in the way of the magic.
“You feel it and forget about it, so we’re happy to be here,” said one person who traveled from Baltimore.
Linwood Burden, who is 72 years old, came from Georgia to check the parade off his bucket list .
“I’m so excited about being here, the weather’s no problem,” she said. “Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to be here, so this is an opportunity.”
Yuki Iwamura / AP
The annual holiday tradition stepped off at 8:30 a.m. from Central Park West, then marched down Sixth Avenue to Macy’s flagship store at Herald Square.
It featured more than 5,000 volunteers, 34 fan-favorite floats and 22 giant balloons, including some newcomers like Minnie Mouse and Marshall from “PAW Patrol.” One new float celebrated the Bronx Zoo’s 125th anniversary with a tiger, giraffe, zebra and gorilla.
There was also an appearance from the WNBA champion New York Liberty and, of course, the one and only Santa Claus.
“Just being here with the people I love, celebrating Thanksgiving with all these people, and I have to thank the NYPD for keeping us safe today,” said Nanuet resident Shane Cullen.
Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Wednesday there were no credible threats against the parade, but law enforcement agencies would be prepared to keep people safe.
The city’s new police commissioner spent time Thursday thanking the officers who were on duty.
“I started my career as an intelligence analyst at the NYPD and have incredible intelligence analysts working here,” Tisch said.
The parade has only been canceled three times — from 1942 to 1944 during World War II. The giant balloon characters are not allowed to fly if sustained winds exceed 23 mph or gusts are over 35 mph, but winds stayed around 10 mph Thursday morning.
Following the parade, the Sanitation Department, using 32 hand brooms, 29 mechanical brooms, 23 backpack blowers and 23 collection trucks, conducted a swift cleanup. Last year, it removed more than 65 tons of debris.
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