Toyota recalls 437,000 Priuses, hybrids globally

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By YURI KAGEYAMA

TOKYO (AP) - Toyota says it is recalling about 437,000 Prius and other hybrid vehicles worldwide to fix brake problems - the latest in a string of embarrassing safety lapses at the world's largest automaker.

"I don't see Toyota as an infallible company that never makes mistakes," President Akio Toyoda said at a press conference Tuesday in Tokyo. "We will face up to the facts and correct the problem, putting customers' safety and convenience first."

The recall is the latest blow to Toyota Motor Corp., which is in the midst of recalling more than 7 million vehicles worldwide because of problems with floor mats, which can trap gas pedals, and faulty gas pedals that are slow to return to the idle position. The 2010 Prius wasn't part of those recalls.

There have been about 200 complaints in Japan and the U.S. about a delay when the brakes in the Prius were pressed in cold conditions and on some bumpy roads. The delay doesn't indicate a brake failure. The company says the problem can be fixed in 40 minutes with new software that oversees the controls of the antilock brakes.



Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20100209/D9DOJOTO0.html

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Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda brows as he makes a recall announcement during a press conference at the automaker's office in Tokyo, Japan, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010. Toyota says it is recalling about 437,000 Prius and other hybrid cars worldwide to fix brake problems - the latest in a string of embarrassing safety problems at the world's largest automaker. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)

[liberal N proud]

1. Toyota - Moving Forward, even if you don't want to.

[DFW]

2. At least they're owning up to the defects, if a little late

My sister and brother-in-law back in the States drive one, and they live in a very hilly area.
I hope they get their car looked at, and, if necessary, fixed before something bad happens.

I almost bought a Toyota myself before deciding to drive a locally-made (i.e. German) car.

[Romulox]

4. They were FORCED to shut down 8 lines by the US gov't.

re: "owning up". :shrug:

[Dappleganger]

7. It IS late and that is inexcusable.

People's lives have been lost or damaged and no 'bow' will ever repair that kind of damage. Toyota better pay up to those who have come out on the short end of this fiasco.

[dipsydoodle]

3. They've got two problems

One is with the dual braking system ,from which American hybrids suffer too , and the other is the issue of the affect on the ABS of braking at the same time as hitting a pothole whatever - Toyota declared the second one last week.

The first one , over here in the UK with large fleet owners of Prius's , is regarded as a "be aware problem" and not a safety issue. If you're aware its possible then you drive slower into junctions and stay recommendeded distances in relation to driven speed from the car in front.

The second one occured with Audi tt 225's back in 2000 and it contributed to them to flipping over when driven very fast down bumpy winding roads. That was when ESP was first introduced by Audi to to allow the car itself to overcome the arsehole who was driving it. Other manufacturers subsequently copied that system in some shape or form. Many drivers don't like it and where able to actually switch it off. It's switchable where fitted to Jeeps.

Most of the whining about this is coming from the USA - not generally elsehwere. I have to assume that some of you would prefer that Toyota simply shut down in the USA although not necessarily any of you that work at their factories or are involved with US businesses which supply their parts.

[Romulox]

5. This is a breathtakingly ingorant post. The "whing from the USA" didn't cause a recall in Japan. nt

[dipsydoodle]

6. Would you....

[Romulox]

14. Another pointless post. nt

[Dappleganger]

8. If I'd lost a loved one

or had my neck damaged permanently due to Toyota's quality problems, that is hardly 'whining.'

[WriteDown]

9. People tend to "whing" after love ones die in out of control cars...

People are strange that way. :eyes:

[Nihil]

10. On this site it only needs the word "Toyota" in the headline to start people whining.

Some people are definitely strange that way. :eyes:

[WriteDown]

11. These are the same people who whined about the Ford Pinto.

Just drive safer people and install your floor mats properly!

:eyes:.

[PuppyBismark]

12. My Prius will be Fixed on Thursday

The dealer has the fix now and yes it is a software update, so they can quickly fix all the cars they service, no need to wait for parts to be manufactured. They say they will be able to load and test it in 40 minutes.

Say what you want, I love our Prius and the lifetime gas mileage is 48.5 miles per gallon.

:-)

[WriteDown]

13. So you believe "this" fix?

Have you checked your floor mat installation?

[Zoigal]

15. What year is yours. PuppyB? And what type of

problem are you having? Ours is an '05 with around 65,000 miles and
we are quite happy with it.....z

[PuppyBismark]

16. We have a 2010 model 3 (Generation 3)

It appears the problem is only with generation 3 Prius cars. We have not seen the problem which is described as a short-time loss of breaking in cold weather on a bumpy road. Given the descriptions of the problem and understanding something about the energy recovery braking system, I would expect the problem fix to be software (firmware) Toyota says they had already fixed the problem and cars manufactured lately have this fix. They should have released the fix to the existing fleet when they thought it fixes the problem.

As to the floor mats, they are anchored to the floor with two hooks near the driver's seat.

:-)