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Toyota makes mass recall of Prius Toyota makes mass recall of Prius
(30 minutes later)
Toyota has recalled thousands of its hybrid Prius cars sold in Japan last year due to a brake problem. Toyota has recalled about 200,000 of its hybrid Prius cars sold in Japan last year due to a brake problem.
It was unclear if the recall would be extended to Prius cars sold outside Japan.It was unclear if the recall would be extended to Prius cars sold outside Japan.
The company filed papers at Japan's transport ministry about the recall of the 2010 model on sale since May.The company filed papers at Japan's transport ministry about the recall of the 2010 model on sale since May.
Company president Akio Toyoda, already dealing with damage to its reputation in the wake of other problems, is due to hold a news conference shortly.Company president Akio Toyoda, already dealing with damage to its reputation in the wake of other problems, is due to hold a news conference shortly.
BBC correspondent Roland Buerk in Tokyo says it is considered highly likely that the recall will be expanded to include Prius cars sold outside Japan, as the company will want to be seen to be acting quickly. The BBC's Roland Buerk in Tokyo says it is considered highly likely that the recall will be expanded to include Prius cars sold outside Japan, as the company will want to be seen to be acting quickly.
Toyota has already recalled about 8 million vehicles with faulty accelerator pedals or floor mats. TOYOTA RECALLS: STORY SO FAR September 2007, US: 55,000 Camry and Lexus cars in floormat recallOctober 2009, US: 3.8m Toyota and Lexus vehicles recalled due to floormat problemNovember 2009, US: floormat recall increased to 4.2m vehiclesJanuary 2010, US: 2.3m Toyota vehicles recalled due to accelerator pedal problems (of those, 2.1m already involved in floormat recall)January 2010, US: 1.1m Toyotas in floormat recallFebruary 2010, Europe: 1.8m Toyota's in pedal recallFebruary 2010, Japan, US: 200 reports of brake faults in new Prius. Cars sold in Japan recalled class="" href="/2/hi/business/8496902.stm">Q&A: Toyota recalls class="" href="/2/hi/americas/8500375.stm">Recalls: US readers' comments class="" href="/2/hi/business/8497428.stm">Toyota UK repairs start next week class="" href="/2/hi/business/8498036.stm">Reputation could suffer for years
Prius was Japan's top-selling car in 2009 and the world's most popular hybrid model.Prius was Japan's top-selling car in 2009 and the world's most popular hybrid model.
There have been complaints in Japan and the US that the brakes momentarily fail when driven on rough roads.There have been complaints in Japan and the US that the brakes momentarily fail when driven on rough roads.
The brake problem is thought to affect about 270,000 Prius models that were sold in the US and Japan starting last May. The brake problem was thought to affect about 270,000 Prius models that were sold in the US and Japan starting last May.
Toyota blames a software glitch and says it has already fixed vehicles sold this year.Toyota blames a software glitch and says it has already fixed vehicles sold this year.
Hybrid Sai, sold only in Japan, and Lexus HS250h, sold globally, would also be recalled, the company said on Tuesday.
The US Transportation Department said last week it was investigating the braking problems with Prius.
The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration received 124 reports from drivers about it, including four of crashes.
There have been no reports of any such accidents in the UK, where 6,500 Prius have been sold.
The US investigation will look into allegations of momentary loss of braking power while travelling over uneven road surfaces.
Toyota has already recalled about 8 million other vehicles with faulty accelerator pedals or floor mats.
Before it announced the Prius recall in Japan, Toyota estimated that its losses would reach $2bn (£1.23bn) in costs and lost sales from its worldwide recall of vehicles that might have faulty accelerator pedals.
The Prius recall would send this figure even higher.
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