TOYOTA HAS acknowledged design problems with the brakes in its latest Prius petrol-electric hybrid model launched last year.
It is the latest blow to the Japanese car giant and comes less than a week after a global recall of nearly 4.5 million cars – 26,000 in Ireland – over potentially faulty accelerator pedals that may stick.
Toyota said it found design problems with the anti-lock brake system in the new Prius and has corrected them on cars sold since the end of January.
Toyota Ireland confirmed yesterday that 58 of the new generation Prius have been sold here so far, although they had received no complaints about braking problems. Some 108 complaints about braking problems in the Prius – the world’s top-selling hybrid – have been reported in the US and Japan. Toyota said it was investigating the matter and would be deciding on whether a recall of Prius models was necessary.
The company said Prius owners driving at low speeds on bumpy or icy roads may experience moments where the car continues to coast for about “one second” after the brakes are applied.
The iconic hybrid model was not part of the two earlier recalls by the brand – one in the US for sudden acceleration the firm attributed to floor mats catching on the pedals – and last week’s global recall over what they said was accelerator pedals that may stick.
While it considers what to do with Prius, preparations are under way for the recall of the 26,000 cars here. Toyota plans to fit a shim – a small metal square – to the back of the pedal. The parts are due to arrive in Ireland early next week and it is hoped that training of technicians will begin then. It is expected that work will begin on the recalled cars before the end of the month.
While any recall of Prius models will be significantly smaller than the accelerator problem, it would represent a serious blow to the brand’s reputation in the US, a core market.