Toyota is recalling 1,309 certain model year 2010 Toyota Corolla vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208, “Occupant Crash Protection.” The air bag label installed on the driver side sun visor can separate from the surface of the visor. This does not meet the standard requirements. The recall is expected to begin on or before October 15, 2009. 09V-332.

Though some might think this is not that important because it’s “just a label”, I believe it is important in two ways. First, the law requires the air bag label to be there for a reason – to communicate important safety information to consumers. Second, this is just the latest in a series of quality setbacks for Toyota. Car companies routinely install this label on millions of vehicles a year without any such problems. If Toyota’s quality department can’t even ensure their air bag labels stick, can you really trust them to ensure the highly technical aspects of their air bag systems are working appropriately??