Driving With The Windows Down In Your Toyota Grand Highlander And Lexus TX Could Have Fatal Consequences
Key Takeaways
- Toyota has recalled the 2024 Grand Highlander and Lexus TX due to an airbag issue.
- The automaker says there is a risk that the driver’s side curtain shield airbag may not deploy if the driver’s window is rolled down.
- No solution is available yet, but Toyota is working on a fix.
Toyota has issued a voluntary recall for the 2024 Grand Highlander and Lexus TX SUVs due to a potential defect involving the curtain shield airbag on the driver’s side. In a statement issued on June 20, the automaker says the “noncompliance safety recall” involves approximately 145,000 vehicles across the United States.
According to the company, the driver’s side curtain shield airbag in Grand Highlander and Lexus TX vehicles “may not deploy as intended during certain crashes if the driver’s window is rolled down.” Toyota says that if this happens, the Lexus and the Grand Highlander “may not meet a federal safety standard.” More importantly, the risk of injury is increased in certain crashes.
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2024 Toyota Grand Highlander
- Base MSRP
- $43,070
- Engine
- 2.4L Turbo Inline-4 Gas
- Horsepower
- 265 hp
- Fuel Economy
- 21/28/24 mpg (FWD) | 21/27/23 mpg (best AWD)
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2024 Lexus TX
- Base MSRP
- $53,700
- Engine
- 2.4L Turbo Inline-4 Gas
- Horsepower
- 275 hp
- Fuel Economy
- 21/27 MPG
No Solution To The Problem Just Yet
At this point, Toyota doesn’t have a solution but says it is “currently developing a remedy” for the airbag problem. In the meantime, the Japanese brand has reportedly issued a stop-sale order for both models and temporarily suspended production at the Princeton, Indiana plant. Toyota says it will notify customers by mid-August 2024.
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The Grand Highlander and Lexus TX were unveiled last year. Both are three-row SUVs designed to carry families around in safety and comfort. However, when it was evaluated in November 2023, the Grand Highlander failed to achieve the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) Top Safety Pick award. Earlier this month, Toyota recalled 102,000 examples of the Lexus LX and Toyota Tundra due to a problem related to their V6 engines.
Neither SUV Received The IIHS Top Safety Pick Award
At the time, the IIHS said the Grand Highlander fell short of achieving the Top Safety Pick award as it only earned an “Acceptable” rating in the driver-side small overlap front crash test. Unsurprisingly, the Lexus TX could also not achieve the Top Safety Pick score. Regardless, these SUVs are primarily used for family duty, which makes the curtain shield airbag issue all the more concerning.
Related
Family Feud: Toyota Grand Highlander Vs. Lexus TX
Is the Lexus worth a $10,000 premium over the Toyota?
The Grand Highlander and Lexus TX are both underpinned by the TNGA-K platform. The former is available with a Hybrid Max powertrain with 362 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque, while the latter gets up to 404 hp courtesy of its electrified V6 with plug-in hybrid technology. The Grand Highlander starts at $45,020, while the Lexus retails from $55,050.
