Toyota Recalls 437,000 Hybrids Globally, Including Toyota Prius
February 09, 2010
Toyota Motor Co., as expected, announced Tuesday the global recall of 437,000 hybrid 
models, including the Toyota Prius and Lexus HS 250h, to fix faulty braking systems.
The latest recall covers four models and brings the total number of recalled vehicles for various problems to about 8 million worldwide.
Toyota Motor Co. President Akio Toyoda announced the hybrid recall at a press conference in Japan Tuesday. As he did at a press conference last Friday, Toyoda, grandson of the company founder, apologized for causing customers to worry about Toyota's quality and safety and vowed to "redouble our commitment to quality."
In the U.S., Toyota Motor Sales said in a press release it is voluntarily recalling about 133,000 units of the 2010 Toyota Prius and 14,500 units of the 2010 Lexus HS 250h vehicles to update software in the vehicle's anti-lock brake system (ABS).
Toyota's statement on the recall posted on its Web site explains that ABS, in normal operation, engages and disengages rapidly (many times per second) as the control system senses and reacts to tire slippage. Some of the newest Prius and HS 250h owners have reported experiencing inconsistent brake feel during slow and steady application of brakes on rough or slick road surfaces when the ABS is activated in an effort to maintain tire traction.
Toyota said it has made a change on the 2010 Toyota Prius models now being made in Japan. The recall will allow Toyota dealers to perform the software update on 2010 Prius vehicles sold prior to this running production change.
The ABS system on the Lexus HS 250h is similar in design to the Prius. Production of the HS 250h has stopped to make the change later this month. The software adjustment planned for HS 250h production and dealer modification is being finalized and will be announced very soon.
Only Prius vehicles produced since May 2009 and all HS 250h vehicles are subject to this recall, Toyota emphasized. First- and second-generation Prius vehicles use a different ABS system and are not involved in this campaign. The company further emphasized no other Toyota, Lexus or Scion vehicles are involved in the recall.
Toyota will begin mailing letters to Prius owners included in this recall next week and HS 250h owners within the next few weeks, to let them know when to bring their vehicles into a dealership. Owners will only receive a letter if their vehicle is involved in the recall.
Posted by Michelle Krebs at 4:58 AM under Featured , News , Personalities , Technology , Toyota | Comments (0) | digg this | Seed Newsvine
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