Toyota Announces 437,000 Prius Recall
TOKYO – Toyota says it is recalling about 437,000 Prius and other hybrid cars worldwide to fix brake problems – the latest in a string of embarrassing safety problems at the world’s largest automaker.
Company President Akio Toyoda made the recall announcement earlier today at a press conference.
“We have decided to recall as we regard safety for our customers as our foremost priority,” Toyoda said.
There have been about 200 complaints in Japan and the U.S. about a delay when the brakes in the Prius were pressed in some conditions.
The braking problem for the third-generation remodeled Prius is the latest safety woe for Toyota, which is already trying to fix problems in millions of vehicles recalled for other defects, including a sticky gas pedal.
Toyota Motor Corp. said it had filed documents with the Transport Ministry today that it is recalling the 2010 Prius gas-electric hybrid – the world’s top-selling hybrid car.
Also being recalled are two other hybrid models – the Lexus HS250h sedan, sold in the U.S. and Japan, and the Sai, which is sold only in Japan. U.S. safety officials have launched an investigation into problems with the brakes.
The automaker has fixed the programming glitch in Prius models that went on sale since last month, but had done nothing yet on the cars sold before then, according to Toyota.
Drivers in Japan and the U.S. have complained of experiencing a short delay before the brakes kick in – a problem that can be fixed with a software programming change. The delay doesn’t indicate a brake failure. The problem is suspected in four crashes resulting in two minor injuries, according to data gathered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is investigating the matter.
Toyota says it’s cooperating with NHTSA’s investigation. Toyota said its plug-in hybrid is also being recalled in Japan – a largely experimental model for rental and government use in limited numbers, and isn’t on mass commercial sale.
Toyota is in the midst of repairing 5 million vehicles recalled in the U.S. because of problems with floor mats, which can trap gas pedals.
It also has recalled 2.3 million vehicles because of concerns that their gas pedals are slow to return to the idle position.
The 2010 Prius wasn’t part of either recall. Problems with hybrid braking systems haven’t been limited to Toyota. Ford Motor Co. said last week it plans to fix 17,600 Mercury Milan and Ford Fusion gas-electric hybrids because of a software problem that can give drivers the impression that the brakes have failed. The automaker says the problem occurs in transition between two braking systems and at no time are drivers without brakes.
