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Toyota has launched a safety recall for around 145,000 Grand Highlander and Lexus TX vehicles. The SUVs affected by the recall were equipped with a driver-side curtain airbag that may not deploy in the event of an accident, increasing the risk of injury.

While the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not released details about the campaign, the Japanese company notes that the recall applies to Grand Highlander and TX models built in the 2024 model year. Both models were launched for 2024, so most of the units built so far are included in the campaign. Toyota does not mention the standard Highlander, which went on sale in 2019.

Toyota said the driver’s side curtain airbag “may not deploy as designed in certain crashes” when the driver’s window is open. This increases the risk of injury to the driver and also causes the recalled Grand Highlander and TX models to fail to meet federal safety standards. Details about why the airbag may not deploy, such as which part is responsible for the problem, have not yet been released.

Engineers are currently working on a solution to the problem. Owners of affected SUVs will be notified by mail by mid-August 2024. In the meantime, Toyota and Lexus have both imposed a sales freeze, according to industry magazine “The 2024 Grand Highlander” and “The 2024 TX.” Automotive News (Subscription required). Production of both models has been halted until the brand fixes the issue.

The NHTSA has published one customer complaint about an airbag not deploying. In May 2024, a Georgia motorist claimed that “the side airbags did not deploy” after a Grand Highlander was struck from the side by another vehicle. There are no airbag-related complaints related to the TX.

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