As the month of Transportation draws to and end and the festive season beckons to begin, Toyota South Africa has launched a campaign to recall some vehicle models and ensure that your baby keeps you safe.
Do not worry because this isn't necessarily a new recall but a recall for older models and to reach vehicle owners who have not yet responded to previous safety notices since 2015.
The Takata airbag recall remains the largest automotive safety recall in history, affecting multiple manufacturers globally. The Don’t Risk it, Fix it campaign aims to replace all defective airbag inflators from the following Toyota, Lexus and Hino models:
- 2002-2017: Corolla
- 2003-2005: RAV4
- 2005-2015: Fortuner
- 2004-2015: Hilux
- 2005-2017: Yaris
- 2006-2008: Toyota Avensis
- 2007-2013: Auris
- 2002-2007: RunX
- 2006-2012: Lexus IS
- 2008: Lexus SC
- 2016: Lexus RX
- 2011-2017: Hino 300 Series
There were several calls for all of the said vehicles to be fixed but at least 39% of the units remained unfixed posing a significant risk to South African drivers and passengers alike. However, The Don’t Risk it, Fix it campaign aims to re-engage these vehicle owners through updated communications, simplified repair scheduling, and enhanced community outreach.
Commenting on the Don’t Risk it, Fix it campaign, Andrew Kirby, CEO and President of Toyota South Africa Motors emphasised, “We are calling on all communities to Don’t Risk It, Fix It. This not a new recall, it is an enhanced campaign to ensure that every affected vehicle is accounted for and repaired. Our goal is to remove any existing barriers to continuous action and to make it as easy as possible for owners to get their vehicles fixed - at no cost to them.”
How the Don’t Risk it, Fix it campaign is proposed to work :
- Multilingual outreach to ensure inclusiveness and accessibility across all communities.
- Reissuing notifications to owners of unrepaired vehicles.
- Free safety inspections and repairs in partnership with Toyota’s Dealership Network and service centers for convenient repair access.
- Community-based events to raise awareness.
In addition to the above, Toyota, Lexus and Hino customers can also check whether their vehicles are affected by using these free-to-use tools:
- Toyota Call Centre: customers can contact the Toyota Call Centre on 0800 139 111. They should have their VIN number on hand.
- Brand Websites: customers need to verify their VIN number on:
- Toyota: toyota.co.za/takatarecall
- Lexus: lexus.co.za/takatarecall
- Hino: hino.co.za/takatarecall
- Brand Apps: customers are encouraged to download brand apps: MyToyota, My Lexus and Hino-Connect, for prompt notifications on critical information in relation to their vehicles.
So it is pretty simple, to all owners of the respective vehicles, you are urged to take responsibility and fix the outstanding issues your car may have as a safety measure. It is important to understand that this campaign aims to continuously safeguard customers’ safety and reinforce peace of mind whilst driving in their loved vehicles.