Toyota president Akio Toyoda made the recall announcement at a news conference in Japan, reported by BBC.
“We have decided to recall as we regard safety for our customers as our foremost priority,” Toyoda said.
Apparently the problem is not mechanical, but lies in the software controlling the ABS system on Prius brakes.
Some Prius drivers have complained of inconsistent brake feel during slow and steady application of brakes on rough or slick road surfaces when the anti-lock brake system (ABS) is activated.
The system, in normal operation, engages and disengages many times per second as the control system senses and reacts to tire slippage. A running production change was introduced last month, improving the ABS system’s response time, as well as the system’s overall sensitivity to tire slippage.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened a Preliminary Evaluation into owner complaints about brake problems with the 2010 Prius. Toyota announced it will cooperate fully with NHTSA’s investigation, on its Web site, Toyota.com.
Recalls Hurt Image
The first recall, “Floor Mat Entrapment,” issued on September 29, 2009, was in response to driver’s floor mats which sometimes interfered with the accelerator pedal, causing it to get stuck in the wide-open position. This recall involved 4.2 million cars, both Toyota and Lexus models.
The second recall, “Pedal,” was issued because certain accelerator pedal mechanisms mechanically stuck in a partially depressed position or returned slowly to idle. This recall, announced mid-January, affected 2.3 million vehicles.