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Toyota announces big Prius recall Toyota announces big Prius recall
(about 11 hours later)
Toyota is recalling nearly 31,000 UK-registered cars because of a computer problem that could cause the vehicle to stop.Toyota is recalling nearly 31,000 UK-registered cars because of a computer problem that could cause the vehicle to stop.
The recall affects the hybrid Prius model and involves 30,970 of the UK-registered ones manufactured between March 2009 and February 2014. The recall affects the latest version of its hybrid Prius model and involves 30,970 of the UK-registered ones manufactured between March 2009 and February 2014.
The company, which has had a number of recalls in recent years including some involving the Prius, said there had been 11 incidents in Europe of the computer problem but there had been no accidents or injuries. This is the 3rd recall for this version of Toyota’s best-selling hybrid car, coming weeks after the company halted the sale of some US models of its cars over a fire risk from seat heaters.
It said the latest incident involved a possible issue with the software “used to control the boost converter in the intelligent power module”. Toyota remains the world’s biggest-selling carmaker, despite repeated blows to its reputation from a string of damaging recalls that have broken industry records. In 2009-2010 the Japanese company was plunged into crisis, when it had to fix 10m cars because of braking problems, which the company later admitted were caused by over-hasty expansion.
Although now back in favour with investors, Toyota has had to fix almost 20m cars in the last two years. One incident involved more than 7.4m vehicles kitted out with window switches that posed a potential fire hazard, and was the single biggest recall since Ford took 8m cars off the road in 2006.
The Japanese company said the latest Prius recall had been prompted by 11 incidents in Europe of the computer problem, but there had been no accidents or injuries.
It has identified a possible issue with the software “used to control the boost converter in the intelligent power module”.
The boost converter is required when driving with a high system load, for example when accelerating hard from standstill.The boost converter is required when driving with a high system load, for example when accelerating hard from standstill.
The company said: “Toyota has identified that the software setting could lead to higher thermal stress occurring in certain insulated-gate bipolar transistors in the boost converter which may lead to them deforming or being damaged. “Toyota has identified that the software setting could lead to higher thermal stress occurring in certain insulated-gate bipolar transistors in the boost converter which may lead to them deforming or being damaged,” the company said.
“Should this happen, warning lights may be illuminated and the car is likely to switch to ‘failsafe’ operation. It can still be driven, but with reduced power. In limited cases the hybrid system may shut down, causing the vehicle to stop. The driver will not experience any change in the vehicle’s behaviour or performance prior to the problem occurring.”“Should this happen, warning lights may be illuminated and the car is likely to switch to ‘failsafe’ operation. It can still be driven, but with reduced power. In limited cases the hybrid system may shut down, causing the vehicle to stop. The driver will not experience any change in the vehicle’s behaviour or performance prior to the problem occurring.”
Toyota added that the issue would not occur in other of the company’s hybrid vehicles as these used different systems. Toyota added that the issue would not occur in company’s other hybrid vehicles as these used different systems.
The UK recall will involve an update of the control software. The UK recall is part of a 1.9m recall of Prius models worldwide. Customers, including those who bought their car second-hand, will be contacted for the fix, which will involve an update of the control software. The UK recall is part of a 1.9m recall of Prius models worldwide, including almost 1m in Japan and 713,000 in north America.
Released in 1997, the Prius remains one of the most popular hybrid vehicles on the market.
Car recalls have become more common in recent years, as manufacturers use similar parts from an increasingly dispersed supply chain.
Despite the dent to its reputation, Toyota saw its shares make gains on Wednesday, rising by 0.4% to ¥6,020 on Japanese markets.
Earlier this month the company issued a record ¥2.4 trillion (£14bn) profits forecast, helped by Japan’s weaker currency, which has made its exported cars cheaper for foreign buyers.