Toyota dealers must disclose cars subject to future recall

Toyota dealers must disclose cars subject to future recall

Toyota has told its dealers to inform customers when they buy vehicles with Takata airbag inflators that will be recalled by 2018. The order came after Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) criticized automakers for manufacturing and selling vehicles with the defective inflator, which will have to be recalled later.

Nelson praised Toyotaês move, saying that it would be better for automakers not to sell the vehicles, but full disclosure to the customer is still helpful, Reuters reported. Toyota made public a list of vehicles that will be subject to future recall, including the 2016 Toyota 4Runner and Lexus GX460. Affected 2015 models include the Lexus IS250C/350C, Scion xB, Lexus GX460 and Toyota 4Runner.

Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said at a Senate hearing that he agreed automakers should have to inform customers that a vehicle has a defective inflator, but his agency does not have the legal authority to require disclosure.

In the past three weeks, 15 automakers have recalled nearly l6.4 million vehicles with the airbag inflators, in addition to the 24 million previously recalled. As many dealers are well aware, the problem remains an undersupply of parts for repair.