Toyota Announces Recall of Over 220,000 Hybrid Cars in Japan

Tokyo, Feb. 9 (Jiji Press)--Toyota Motor Corp. <7203> reported to the transport ministry on Tuesday that it will recall a total of 223,068 units of four hybrid vehicle models in Japan, including the newest Prius, for free repairs of potentially faulty brake systems.

Subject to the recall are the Lexus HS250h, the SAI and the Prius
Plug-In Hybrid, on top of the third-generation Prius.
The newest Prius was launched in May 2009 while the three other
models were put on sale last summer or later. All of them are equipped with
the same brake system.
Toyota President Akio Toyoda and Executive Vice President Shinichi
Sasaki will hold a press conference in Tokyo from 3:30 p.m. Tuesday (6:30
a.m. GMT) to explain details about the recall.
The company is also slated to announce a recall of some 100,000
hybrid vehicles in the United States on Tuesday local time.
There have been a number of complaints from owners of the new Prius
about temporary loss of brake functions when driving on uneven or slippery
roads.
Through the recall, Toyota will update software for controlling the
brake system of the four models.
In late January, Toyota started shipments of Prius vehicles
equipped with updated systems, and they will be excluded from the recall.
The top Japanese automaker has faced a series of vehicle safety
problems, including sticky accelerator pedals that forced the company to
recall millions of vehicles in overseas markets including the United States.