Toyota recalls nearly 70,000 cars for airbags that can explode and throw shrapnel on drivers

Toyota has recalled 65,000 of the cars due to airbags that could explode and throw shrapnel on the driver or passengers, announced the company on Wednesday.

Recall includes certain 2003-2005 Corollas, 2002-2005 Sequoias, 2003 -2005 Tundras and 2002-2005 Lexus SC cars in the United States, a release from the company.

The vehicles were part of a previous recall where the two passenger airbag inflators were replaced with new Takata-produced airbag inflators, released.

However, a safety error in Takata airbag inflators may occur after "long-term exposure to high absolute humidity and high-temperature cycling" which may cause them to explode, "said the company.

"If a defective blow fracture can cause sharp metal fragments to pass through the airbag and spray directly on the driver and passengers, increasing the risk of serious injury or death," according to the release.

At least 23 people have died worldwide because of the problem caused by blowers made by Takata Corp., resulting in the largest series of auto-recall in American history. They cover 37 million cars and about 50 million blowers in the United States. About 1[ads1]00 million inflators are being recalled all over the world.

The revocation forces Takata of Japan to seek bankruptcy protection.

Toyota dealers now replace the passenger airbag inflator on No Expenses to Owners, officials say.

"Toyota's and other automakers' search for involved owners of vehicles equipped with Takata airbags is designed to help us solve this problem as quickly, easily and safely as possible," says Toyota. [19659002] Car manufacturer la that the recall is made one year before a schedule set by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

This story contains material from The Associated Press.

] Chris Sheldon can be reached on csheldon@njadvancemedia.com . Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon Find NJ.com on Facebook .