Whiplash news Toyota recalls cars because of car crash device defect

Fears over consumer safety as well as the prospect of product liability personal injury claims have led to car manufacturer Toyota recalling 1.3 million Yaris vehicles after it emerged that their anti-whiplash seatbelts can grow hot on activation (which occurs during a car crash), potentially causing fire and personal injury.

This defect affects all Toyota Yaris models made between 2006 and 2007 and, although no European consumers have so far reported any problems with the whiplash system, three complaints in Japan have led to the manufacturer mounting a worldwide product recall.

Toyota has joined forces with the Driver and Vehicle License Agency in order to identify all consumers in the UK who have purchased an affected Yaris vehicle; it is expected that all these people will receive letters over the coming days informing them of the problem.

Toyota say that it should not take longer than an hour to fix the problem with the whiplash system; however, there is speculation that the manufacturer will still pay affected consumers some compensation for the inconvenience caused.

It is anticipated that quit resolution of this issue should help Toyota avoid having to face any product liability personal injury claims.