Japanese automotive manufacturer Toyota on Thursday, said it is recalling nearly 2.9 million sports utility vehicles (SUVs) globally because of seat belts that might fail in a crash.
Among the recalled are RAV4 SUVS from the 2005 through 2014 model years, the RAV4 electric vehicle from 2012 through 2014 as well as those between October 2005 and January 2016.
According to Toyota, a severe frontal crash could cause the belts in both second-row window seats to come in contact with a metal seat cushion frame. And if that happens, the belts could be cut and would not restrain passengers.
By recalling these vehicles, the company says it will add plastic covers to the metal frame at no cost to customers.
A company spokeswoman said Toyota had received two reports where a crash occurred and the rear seatbelt was sliced, including a fatality in Canada and an injury to a US driver. Although she added that it was still unclear if the accidents could be attributed to the defect.
About 1.3 million vehicles are recalled in North America, as well as 625,000 vehicles in Europe, 434,000 vehicles in China, 177,000 in Japan and 307,000 in other regions.
Toyota said it would add resin covers to the vehicles’ metal seat cushion frames to prevent the seatbelt from being cut in a crash.
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