Toyota Motor Corp President Akio Toyoda pauses during a press conference in Tokyo on Tuesday.

Toyota to recall 437,000 vehicles worldwide for Prius, other hybrids

Tuesday 09th February, 12:16 PM JST

TOKYO —

Toyota Motor Corp said Tuesday it will recall about 437,000 vehicles worldwide to repair brake problems in its best-selling Prius and three other hybrid models, in a fresh blow to the automaker’s brand strength as a pioneer in green technology.

Other models subject to the recall are the luxury Lexus HS250h sedan, the hybrid-only Sai compact sedan, and the plug-in Prius hybrid, which employ a similar brake system to the Prius, the ministry said.

‘‘I apologize again for causing trouble and concern to many people over the quality and safety of Toyota vehicles,’’ Toyota President Akio Toyoda said at a news conference in Tokyo, offering his second apology in less than a week to address a recent string of safety troubles.

‘‘We decided to implement the recalls in order to put top priority on our customers driving safely,’’ he said.

The Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry said the recall of 223,068 vehicles in Japan was to address a glitch in the vehicles’ antilock brake system, which causes a momentary lag in brake functions when driving slowly on bumpy or slippery roads.

The world’s largest automaker will also recall about 139,000 Prius vehicles in the United States, 53,000 in Europe and about 5,000 units in other areas.

‘‘We will do everything in our power to regain confidence of our customers,’’ Toyoda added in English. ‘‘Let me assure everyone that we will redouble our commitment to quality as a lifeline of our company.’‘

The remedy involves improving the software for the vehicle’s antilock brake system, the part that prevents the wheels from slipping.

Until the fix is completed, Toyoda urged drivers to push hard on the brakes and emphasized the vehicle will stop going forward if that step is taken.

The repair can be completed at a Toyota dealer in a process that will take around 40 minutes, the company said in a statement.

Toyota will directly notify vehicle owners through phone or e-mail and begin fixing the Prius model from Wednesday, the automaker said.

But for the three other models, the software to fix the problems has not been completed so sales of the Lexus HS250h, the Sai, and the plug-in Prius hybrid are expected to be temporarily halted until late February or early March, a transport ministry official said.

The transport ministry said it has received about 94 complaints on brake problems with the new Prius from Feb 1 to midnight Monday. According to the papers Toyota filed, it reported 84 complaints and no related accidents.

The third-generation Prius model was rolled out in Japan last May and has become a top-selling model on the back of government stimulus measures for energy-saving vehicles.

Toyota has sold about 18,000 units of the Lexus HS250h worldwide and about 7,000 units of the Sai in Japan. The plug-in Prius hybrid, which can be charged using household electricity, has been leased to government and corporate clients on a limited basis from late last year.

The recall of the Prius will be the latest safety trouble to dog the Japanese automaker, which last month filed for a recall of about 2.21 million vehicles in the United States to fix faulty accelerator pedals that can get stuck in a partially depressed position.

The pedal-linked recall, which includes the popular Camry and Corolla models, could ultimately reach about 4.45 million vehicles as it spreads worldwide to Europe, China, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East.

Toyota has also carried out a safety recall from November of some 5.55 million vehicles in North America to fix gas pedals getting stuck under loose floor mats, potentially causing sudden acceleration.

Wire reports

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Latest 15 of 102 Total Comments Show All

Branded at 04:02 PM JST - 11th February

Tahoochi- Here's a question from me. Why are Toyota so thin skinned about this company's downfall ? You ask me "How do you think American workers at Toyota plants would react to your "In-your-face" celebratory attitude of Toyota's struggles?" I'd like to ask you, how do you think Americans felt way back when when Japanese companyies like Toyota and Honda started moving into the US, taking customers, and gloating over their success. I've said it before- seems we've come full circle- and Toyota supporters seem to be grasping at straws and blaming everything from the media to the US government for Toyotas plight. What a bunch of crybabys ! Toyota supporters sure like to dish it out but they can't take an ounce in return now can they. The facts are simple- Toyota products have killed Americans. The company has slowly admitted to the problems- way too slowly for a company that has experienced the kind of success as Toyota- a strong sign that something is wrong ! And instead of taking responsibilty and making things right- Toyota continues to drag it's feet and look for excuses- "too much snow in February so let's meet in March" ? WTF ! Toyoda needs to hop a plane tomorrow and first meet with victims and families. What a gutless coward this guy has turned out to be.
Tahoochi at 05:29 PM JST - 11th February

Branded at 04:02 PM JST - 11th February

I'd like to ask you, how do you think Americans felt way back when when Japanese companyies like Toyota and Honda started moving into the US, taking customers, and gloating over their success.

"Gloating over their success"? If simply watching Toyota's success over the years makes you feel like they were gloating, then I don't think that you are one of those "Mature Americans" that you mentioned.

To answer your question, I think mature Americans would have realized it is a free market and made every effort to improve their own product rather than put down the imports... that is, of course, if they were mature.

Branded, it's really sh!tty that people have died in car accidents involving Toyota vehicles. The case in California last August was in particular very tragic. But do you know how many people die in car accidents every year? Please understand, I am NOT in ANYWAY trying to downplay these deaths of people in the sudden acceleration cases; hear me out:

If each of those cases (what is the number you say often, 19 deaths over ten years?) were directly linked to a repeatable safety defect of Toyota vehicles, then don't you think it would have been a cut and dry case from the very first case 10 years ago?... "Toyota responsible for fatal crash" Toyota issues recall, case closed. If the NHTSA or other branches of the US Government have found something NOW that changes things, then there's no doubt they will uncover whatever truth needs to be uncovered in the courtrooms and investigations that have recently been opened up. If then, and only then should Toyota be found responsible for those deaths, I could understand your feelings.

To admit responsibility of another human's death is a HUGE act of responsibility. Do you think anyone, whether American, Japanese, English, French or African will admit to something like that without sufficient evidence?

I agree with you on some things, and one of those include the fact that Toyota needs to get their heads out of their a$$ and start explaining, and fixing. Not much else I would agree with you on though.

BTW, did you ever hear about what really could have prevented the deaths of that family of 4 in California?

Please read this:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2009/dec/04/report-loaner-car-in-fatal-crash-had-earlier/
Junnama at 05:44 PM JST - 11th February

To answer your question, I think mature Americans would have realized it is a free market and made every effort to improve their own product rather than put down the imports... that is, of course, if they were mature.

You are of course talking about the US, not Japan, which is very clearly not a free market. Of course, that has no impact on competition between Toyota and its rivals on other markets...none what-so-ever right?
Branded at 05:47 PM JST - 11th February

Tahoochi- I will respond in kind,

"If simply watching Toyota's success over the years makes you feel like they were gloating"

You mean they weren't ? And all those posters here that insist, in light of 8.5 million recalls, that Toyota has done nothing wrong- that they are anything but insincere ? I7ve wored with these Toyota execs for many years- I know first hand of their "gloating".

"do you know how many people die in car accidents every year? Please understand, I am NOT in ANYWAY trying to downplay these deaths of people in the sudden acceleration cases"

Nonsense ! You "are" trying to downplay, minimize, shift blame, by saying- "aw heck people get illed all the time- what's the big deal" ?

So does this mean that we should just accept all these deaths from poorly designed and manufactured products ? I say no ! Toyota products kill ! It really is as simple as that. And the US government and the public in general have clearly stated that this has to stop- why is this so difficult for you to understand ? I mean what is this garbage ?

"did you ever hear about what really could have prevented the deaths of that family of 4 in California?"

I'm thinking- yes, what really would have saved that family of 4 in California would have been if they had rented any other car than a Toyota ! For Toyota to "admit" responsibility for these deaths is "not huge" ! It is a moral obligation- one that they continue to balk at. Now lets bring on the lawyers and teach Toyota some humility !
Tahoochi at 06:03 PM JST - 11th February

Junnama: I see no issues with Toyota being put under the microscope in this fiasco because of the reason you state. I believe it was you that made me realize a while ago that if the situation was reversed, or let's say... Hyundai was in Japan for example, in the same position Toyota is in in the US, then Hyundai would be getting the same, probably worse treatment that Toyota is in the US now.

I was trying to answer Branded's question which I believe came up out of our conversation regarding American workers for Toyota... not the American public or the media, or the Government.

So, if we use the example I mentioned earlier about Hyundai in Japan, I don't think the Japanese people working for Hyundai would appreciate other Japanese people celebrating the fact that Hyundai was in such a difficult position... just as Branded has previously mentioned his delight and amusement of Toyota's current situation on some other posts. I'm not talking about Executives, or Engineers who have to take responsibility for the company's faults, I'm talking about the workers who make up most of the work-force.
Junnama at 06:19 PM JST - 11th February

I see, my apologies for jumping in.

I have always been bugged by the situation: if Toyota is such a great company, then why do they need a closed home market? There is no good answer to this question...
Junnama at 06:22 PM JST - 11th February

But to be fair, trade in this case is a zero-sum game. The bad fortune of Toyota is the good fortune of its rivals. Jobs lost at Toyota will be jobs gained elsewhere...
Branded at 06:37 PM JST - 11th February

"I have always been bugged by the situation: if Toyota is such a great company, then why do they need a closed home market? There is no good answer to this question..."

Possibly because they really arent such a "great" company. But merely one that took advantage of huge benefits in exchange rates early on. A company that has always bent the rules and acted selfishly to penetrate overseas markets to the detriment of the local economy. Don't get me wrong- Toyota had some value, back in the 80's. They did force American companys to become more efficient- but whose not to say the Germans would't have done that. The problem with Toyota is that they have simply overstayed their welcome. This could be an excellent oportunity for the US to show Toyota the door back to Nagoya- and if Toyota wants to, they can transfer all those loyal American workers- what a wonderful experience that would be. See, there is a ray of light in all this darkness.
Tahoochi at 07:53 PM JST - 11th February

Branded at 05:47 PM JST - 11th February

I7ve wored with these Toyota execs for many years- I know first hand of their "gloating".

Again, what do you consider gloating? Were these American executives? Japanese? Did they formerly work for GM? I know there were a lot of them who defected to Toyota. Why are you blabbering to the people on the internet about pay back to a bunch of executives who you felt were gloating?

Nonsense ! You "are" trying to downplay, minimize, shift blame, by saying- "aw heck people get illed all the time- what's the big deal" ? So does this mean that we should just accept all these deaths from poorly designed and manufactured products ? I say no ! Toyota products kill ! It really is as simple as that. And the US government and the public in general have clearly stated that this has to stop- why is this so difficult for you to understand ? I mean what is this garbage ?

No, not nonsense. Why then did the NHTSA not find any safety defects over the course of 10 years and 6 closed investigations? And don't give me that "Bush Administration vs. Obama Administration" line, because that would be like Akio Toyoda addressing this current situation by saying that was Watanabe at the helm, not me.
Tahoochi at 07:59 PM JST - 11th February

Junnama at 06:22 PM JST - 11th February

But to be fair, trade in this case is a zero-sum game. The bad fortune of Toyota is the good fortune of its rivals. Jobs lost at Toyota will be jobs gained elsewhere...

True. But I don't think we'll see that much of a loss in jobs... with the exception of some higher-ups. I guess we'll see.
Branded at 09:55 AM JST - 12th February

Tahoochi-

"Again, what do you consider gloating?"

Snide remarks about the competition.

"Were these American executives? Japanese?"

100% Japanese !

"Did they formerly work for GM?"

No, not to my knowledge- but I never asked. I did ask them on many occasions though if they had actually ever test driven an American car- a resounding no ! But boy they sure were experts on what they didn't like about them.

"Why are you blabbering to the people on the internet about pay back to a bunch of executives who you felt were gloating?"

Pay back ? Who said anything about payback ? And who are you to question my motives for posting my displeasure with Toyota. You, being in the minority position here, seem to have more explaining to do than I. My position is simple- Defective Toyota cars have killed American citizens and injured hundreds. The company responsible is trying to dodge and delay responsibility. This company also has a very negative history at home and abroad- why shouldn't I feel contempt for such an institution ? Sheesh !
LFRAgain at 01:46 PM JST - 12th February

"how do you think Americans felt way back when when Japanese companyies like Toyota and Honda started moving into the US, taking customers, and gloating over their success. I've said it before- seems we've come full circle"

Nope, this disproportionate backlash has nothing to do with some Americans being pissed off about losing automotive manufacturing market share whatsoever. Nope, not at all. Sheesh...

Branded -- Your opinion does not become that of the majority simply by virtue of you, Junnama, and quest posting prolifically in response to anyone and everyone who disagrees that Toyota is the root of all evil in the automotive industry. I’m referring, of course, to the quantity versus quality conundrum: While you excel in the one, you fall far short in the other, relying largely on circular logic, hypocrisy, and answering most questions with blog-worthy canned rhetoric and blatant untruths to essentially bully the thread into letting your opinion hold sway.

There are plenty of posters here who disagree with you. But as you can see by how few are posting here anymore, they've likely gotten tired and bored with your implacable bias and moved on.
Branded at 02:51 PM JST - 12th February

"But as you can see by how few are posting here anymore, they've likely gotten tired and bored with your implacable bias and moved on."

i like to think it's more a case of the old adage that says "The wisest person speaks last"- think about it a bit before responding, cause your last attempt was just a bunch of false accusations void of any real substance. I mean what is this tirade all about-

"relying largely on circular logic, hypocrisy, and answering most questions with blog-worthy canned rhetoric and blatant untruths to essentially bully the thread into letting your opinion hold sway."

My posts are complete with quotes, verifiable numbers, and some fairly simplistic logic. Might I suggest you first get up to speed on what I've actually posted before ranting on. You have quoted this from my earlier post-

"how do you think Americans felt way back when when Japanese companyies like Toyota and Honda started moving into the US, taking customers, and gloating over their success. I've said it before- seems we've come full circle"

This was in response to this question-

"How do you think American workers at Toyota plants would react to your "In-your-face" celebratory attitude of Toyota's struggles?"

Your response-

"Nope, this disproportionate backlash has nothing to do with some Americans being pissed off about losing automotive manufacturing market share whatsoever. Nope, not at all. Sheesh..."

Is simply out of context. Now LFRagain, if you have something worthwhile to add to the discussion- fire away. But if you have just come here to criticize me- please don't I imagine you will get tired and bored with my implacable bias and move on.
LFRAgain at 03:32 PM JST - 12th February

"The wisest person speaks last"

Whatever helps you get to sleep at night.
Branded at 04:03 PM JST - 12th February

LFRagain, now if you will excuse me- I see where Japantoday has posted yet another story about this Toyota debacle- this time it seems President Obama is chiming in. Should be another interesting read, there have been so many of these stories here, now what was that you were saying about quality over quantity. Never mind, I'm sure its just another example of blatant untruths to essentially bully the readers into letting their JT opinion hold sway, Yeh, I'm sure thats what it is.