Tokyo, June 29 (IANS) Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corporation on Wednesday issued a global recall on 1.43 million of its top-selling hybrid Prius models and high-end Lexus CT200h hybrid sports hatchbacks due to a possible defect in the models' airbag inflator.
The Aichi-based automaker said the recall will span 743,000 vehicles in Japan, 495,000 in its North American and Mexican markets and cover 141,000 models in Europe, Xinhua news agency reported.
"The recall also includes the Prius plug-in models," Toyota said.
"In the vehicles being recalled, specifically those produced between October 2008 and April 2012, it is possible that there is a crack in a weld in the airbag inflator that could lead to the inflator chambers separating and the bags partially inflating, with the inflator itself being discharged into the vehicles' interior," Toyota added.
Toyota said no deaths or injuries have been reported as a result of the latest airbag-related saga, and noted that the airbag inflators involved in the latest recall were not produced by embattled Takata Corporation.
Toyota has been mired in recall issues in recent times, including the recall of 6.5 million vehicles worldwide in October 2015 owing to a power window glitch that could potential trigger fires.
Toyota also doubled a recall order over faulty airbags to nearly 34 million vehicles in 2015, in a record-breaking recall move prior to the window glitch.
In 2014, the world's largest automaker also issued a recall on 1.9 million of its ubiquitous Prius hybrids, due to a computer problem that could cause the vehicle to suddenly stop without warning.
