DETROIT (NEWSnet/AP) — Toyota and General Motors are telling owners of about 61,000 older Corolla, Matrix, RAV4 and Pontiac Vibe models to stop driving them because Takata air bag inflators  could explode.

The warning involves Corolla compact cars and Matrix hatchbacks from the 2003 and 2004 model years and RAV4 small SUV from 2004 and 2005. Also covered are about 11,000 Pontiac Vibe models 2003 and 2004. Those are essentially the same as Matrix and built at the same California factory.

“If the air bag deploys, a part inside is more likely to explode and shoot sharp metal fragments, which could cause serious injury or death to the driver or passengers,” Toyota said.

Each company said owners should contact a local dealer instead of driving the cars for repairs. Dealers will provide options such as mobile repair, towing the car to a dealer, or vehicle pickup and delivery.

Owners way visit nhtsa.gov/recalls and enter their 17-digit vehicle identification number to confirmed if a car is affected.

Takata used volatile ammonium nitrate to create a small explosion to inflate air bags in a crash. But the chemical propellant can deteriorate when exposed to high temperature and humidity. It can explode with too much force, shattering a metal canister and spewing shrapnel.

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