Toyota Recalls 1.4 M Cars Worldwide over Curtain Shield Airbags

Toyota Motor is issuing a global recall of 1.43 million vehicles to repair a possible curtain shield airbag inflator defect, the company said Wednesday.

    The world's largest carmaker said in an email that subject to the latest recall were the 2008 to 2012 models of the Prius hybrid, Prius plug-in hybrid and Lexus CT 200h vehicles. The recall comprised 743,000 units in Japan, 495,000 in North America, 141,000 in Europe, 9,000 in China and 46,000 elsewhere, Toyota said.

    The recalled vehicles were equipped with curtain shield airbags in the driver- and passenger-side roof rails that have airbag inflators composed of two chambers welded together, Toyota said. Some inflators might have a small crack, which could grow over time, and lead to a separation of the chambers. 

    The curtain shield airbags in question were not made by embattled Japanese supplier Takata, the carmaker said. The carmaker said it was not aware of any injuries or fatalities related to the latest recall.