Toyota Grand Highlander, Lexus TX recalled for airbag fail

• Dealers have been told to stop selling the popular three-row crossover SUVs
• A side-curtain airbag may not deploy in a crash
• The recall affects 145,000 Toyota Grand Highlander and Lexus TX models

Toyota has told dealers to stop selling its latest and hottest three-row SUVs because of a side curtain that may not deploy in a crash. The stop-sale order comes with a recall of about 145,000 Toyota Grand Highlanders and Lexus TXs for the 2024 model year, which is the only year in which these two new models have been produced. 

The driver’s side curtain shield airbag—the one located in the roof bar above the window that protects the head and neck—may not deploy as designed in certain crashes. Toyota says the front part of the airbag may not unroll as designed, and some of the airbag may move outside of the window opening if the driver’s window is rolled down. 

A remedy has not been disclosed, yet Toyota expects to notify owners what to do by mid-August. 

Manufactured in Princeton, Indiana, the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander and 2024 Lexus TX have sold well in the three-row crossover SUV segment. Toyota has sold nearly 49,000 Grand Highlanders and nearly 19,000 Lexus TX SUVs through May of this year, according to Automotive News. In the first quarter, the Grand Highlander sold nearly as many copies as the smaller but more affordable Highlander. At the same time, the Lexus TX tripled sales of the also redesigned Lexus GX three-row SUV. 

The recall has not been listed on the nhtsa.gov/recalls as of this morning. For more info, contact Toyota customer support at 1-800-331-4331 or Lexus customer support at 1-800-255-3987 or visit the brands’ recall website here.