Toyota has recalled nearly 12,000 cars from the Irish market due to a potentially fatal fault.
The car giant is carrying out the recall on certain Avensis, Corolla, Avensis Verso, and Yaris vehicles produced between February 2001 and July 2008.
A warning has been issued over a fault relating to the vehicles' airbags, which are made by car parts company Takata.
A report carried out by Takata said a defect could "cause metal fragments to pass through the airbag" and into the "vehicle at high speed, which may result in injury or death".
A statement from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission explained: "A safety issue has been identified whereby it is possible that the vehicles are equipped with front passenger air bag inflators (Takata-designated SPI, PSPI, PSPI-L), as a “like-for-like” replacement under a prior recall, which contain a non-desiccated, phase stabilized ammonium nitrate propellant.
"According to Takata’s reports, a defect related to motor vehicle safety may arise in the inflators due to propellant degradation occurring after prolonged exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
"Activation of a non-desiccated ammonium nitrate inflator with degraded propellant may result in an inflator rupture.
"An inflator rupture may cause metal fragments to pass through the air bag and into the vehicle interior at high speed, which may result in injury or death to vehicle occupants."
Toyota Ireland are to contact all affected vehicle owners by letter and advise them to make an appointment with their local Authorised Repairer.
All necessary repairs and checks are to be carried out free of charge. Consumers can contact Toyota Ireland on 01 419 0200 if they have any issues..
Toyota Ireland has been contacted by the Irish Mirror for comment.
