Toyota recalling 870,000 vehicles for potential airbag issue

NEW YORK, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- Japanese carmaker Toyota Motor Corp. said it is recalling 870,000 2012 and 2013 vehicles because airbags may deploy due to blockage in an air conditioning tube.

In many instances, the blockage is caused by spider webs, CNN reported Thursday.

The webs evidently can block a drainage tube leading from an air conditioning condenser, causing water to drip onto an airbag control module and causing the part to short out -- which can either make the airbag warning light go on or cause the driver's side airbag to deploy, CNN said.

Toyota said it was aware of three cases of airbag deployment and 35 cases of warning light malfunction.

Toyota said power steering has been affected in some vehicles.

The recall affects model year 2012 and 2013 Camrys, Venzas and Avalons, both conventional and hybrid.

Toyota spokeswoman Cindy Knight said the common denominator in causing the blockage has been spider webs but it was not clear whether webs were responsible in each case.

Toyota will notify owners where to bring their vehicles for dealers to fix the problem.