5 Feb 2010

US investigates Toyota Prius brake problems

6:07 pm on 5 February 2010

The United States Transportation Department begun an investigation into brake problems in the 2010 Toyota Prius.

The move follows an admission from Toyota that it had had a problem with the brake system in the hybrid, which it said was fixed in January, the BBC reports.

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received 124 reports from drivers about the issue, including four of crashes.

The investigation will look into allegations of momentary loss of braking capability while travelling over uneven road surfaces, potholes or bumps.

Toyota says the glitch with the braking system on the popular Prius hybrid vehicle does not make it unsafe.

The company has recalled 8.1 million potentially faulty cars worldwide due to separate floor mat and pedal problems. The recall included 61 Avensis cars in New Zealand.

Toyota, which made a $US1.68 billion profit in the last quarter of 2009, has confirmed its estimate that it would lose about $US2 billion in costs and lost sales from the worldwide recall.

It had not yet worked out the cost of the latest reports of brake problems with the new Prius.

NZ owners contacted

Toyota New Zealand says 260 Prius owners are being contacted, but there have been no complaints from customers to date.

Toyota New Zealand chief executive Alistair Davis says some customers in the US and Japan have reported a slight delay in braking reaction on slippery surfaces.

Mr Davis says the effect occurs as the car switches to anti-lock braking - but there is no actual impact on brake power.

Toyota is considering whether to correct systems in vehicles already on the road, he says.