The defect
TOYOTA IS RECALLING 134,895 MY 2006-2007 YARIS VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT PRETENSIONERS, WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO BE ACTIVATED IN RESPONSE TO A SEVERE FRONTAL IMPACT. WHEN THE SENSOR DETECTS A SEVERE FRONTAL IMPACT, THE FRONT SEAT BELTS ARE QUICKLY DRAWN BACK BY THE RETRACTORS SO THAT THE BELTS SNUGLY RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANTS. THE INVOLVED VEHICLES CONTAIN A CENTER PILLAR SOUND INSULATOR LOCATED UNDERNEATH EACH FRONT SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER.
The risk
IN THE EVENT OF SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER DEPLOYMENT, THE GAS GENERATED MAY AFFECT THE SOUND INSULATORS. IN THE WORST CASE, IF THE SOUND INSULATORS IGNITE, THIS CONDITION WILL RESULT IN A POST-COLLISION FIRE.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE. THE MODIFICATION WILL ENTAIL REMOVAL OF THE SMALL URETHANE CENTER PILLAR SOUND INSULATORS (SPONGE) UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT PRETENSIONERS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-888-270-9371.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Toyota Yaris | 2006, 2007 |
Components: SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Yaris | 2006 | 5 | 5 |
| Toyota Yaris | 2007 | 258 | 10 |
Other seat belts recalls in 2009
6 of the 491 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2009 concerned the seat belts; TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. filed 95 campaigns in all.
| 09V497000 28 Dec 2009 | Hyundai Motor Company |
| 09V257000 8 Jul 2009 | BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC |
| 09V108000 1 Apr 2009 | MEDTEC AMBULANCE CORPORATION |
| 09V097000 24 Mar 2009 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC |
| 09V037000 30 Jan 2009 | BENTLEY MOTORS LTD |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2009