Hundreds of Toyota Klugers have been recalled across Australia, after the discovery of an alarming potential airbag defect.

The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communication and the Arts issued the recall for the 2023 model Klugers on Wednesday.

“The driver side airbag wiring harness connection may become loose over time. As a result, the airbag warning light will illuminate and the driver side airbag will not deploy,” it said.

“In the event of an accident, an airbag not deploying as intended could increase the risk of injury or death to vehicle occupants.”

The recall affects 625 Kluger petrol (TXUA70 and TXUA75) and hybrid models (AXUH78) sold across Australia. The full list of affected models and vehicle identification numbers can be found here.

Toyota will notify affected owners as parts become available to remedy the airbag issue. Drivers will be asked to make an appointment with an authorised Toyota dealer for a free inspection and, if necessary, repair.

For further information, consumers should contact the Toyota Recall Assist helpline on 1800 987 366 (Monday to Friday, 8am-6pm AEDT).