Toyota Recalls 8,500 UK Prius Cars

• News
• Published: 09 Feb 2010 in Motoring and Car Insurance

Japanese carmaker Toyota has recalled about 8,500 UK models of its best-selling Prius for a software upgrade, after more safety problems emerged.

About 437,000 petrol-electric hybrid cars, including two other Toyota models, will be recalled worldwide in the wake of 200 complaints in the US and Japan about a delayed brake time in some driving conditions.

The UK recall affects third-generation remodelled Prius cars manufactured between summer 2009 and January 27 this year, and Toyota UK said it would write to owners or keepers individually within the next few days.

Akio Toyoda, the company's president, held a news conference in Toyko to explain the brake defects in greater detail and clarify which countries would be affected by the recall.

A Toyota official separately told The Associated Press that Prius models sold in Japan and Europe would be included.

If the US and other worldwide regions were involved, the overall number of recalled Prius would reach about 300,000, on top of millions of vehicles previously recalled in America, Japan and Europe due to faulty accelerator pedals.

Japan's Transport Ministry has been formally notified by Toyota executives that the company will recall the 2010 Prius and two other hybrid models in that country.