TOYOTA PRIUS Brake Problems

Toyota Motor Corporation, the largest automaker in the world, announced February 8, 2010 that it was recalling 437,000 Prius and other hybrid vehicles worldwide to fix brake problems. The recall follows a series of embarrassing safety lapses by the company.

The recall will affect about 133,000 Prius cars sold in the United States, about 200,000 sold in Japan, and nearly 53,000 in Europe. The recall of the top-selling hybrid car was prompted, in part, by about 200 complaints in the U.S. and Japan regarding an apparent delay when the brakes were depressed in cold temperatures and on some bumpy roads.

Toyota has indicated that the problem can be fixed in about 40 minutes with new software that assists with the anti-lock brakes. According to Ryusuke Itazaki, chief of the recall department at the Transport Ministry  in Japan, owners of the 2010 Prius in Japan will be able to get their cars fixed starting February 10. Until the repairs are made, however, Itazaki recommended that drivers who experience any delayed reaction when depressing the brakes keep pressing them.

Toyota is one of the first automakers to mass market a car that achieves high mileage by combining an electric motor with a gas engine (hybrid). The complexity of the highly computerized Prius, however, has led to problems in the past. In 2005, 75,000 Priuses were repaired due to software problems that caused the engine to stall. The Prius has also had issues with headlights going out.

The Prius recall is the latest blow to Toyota, which is currently recalling more than 7 million vehicles worldwide because of faulty gas pedals and gas pedals that get trapped by floor mats.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an automobile accident involving a Toyota, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact a qualified personal injury or defective automobile attorney for an evaluation of your case.

See also:
Defective automobiles