Toyota Prius Under Recall Scrutiny
When it rains it pours. Another problem for Toyota has reared its ugly head.
The Toyota Prius hybrid is the latest model with braking problems, signaling another expensive recall lurking for Toyota.
The car has been the subject of numerous brake failure complaints, four resulting in accidents involving damage.
The head of quality for Toyota, Hiroyuki Yokoyama, stated that models built after late January have been redesigned. However, Toyota has not taken responsibility for the problem and instituted a recall for the earlier models.
These complaints started last July but the company has been dormant on this issue.
Mr. Yokoyama told reporters that “a slight unresponsiveness” was easy to remedy by applying more pressure to the brake pedal. This is the same untimely response that has resulted in millions of Toyotas being abandoned in parking lots and driveways across America.
Japan’s transportation authority will start their own inquiry into Toyota’s handling of the brake pedal recalls.
Transportation secretary, Ray Lahood, warned Toyota owners not to drive their cars if they were part of the massive recall. However, he later withdrew the statement after the President of Toyota, Akio Toyoda assured him that Toyota was committed to the safety of the public.
The Prius was part of the earlier gas pedal recall, where owners were asked not to use the drivers side floor mat. Toyota customers are turning away from the long trusted automaker, with their reputation taking a bit and their stock plummeting. The stock has careened over 20 percent in the recent weeks.
Toyota’s gas pedal recall has involved some nine million vehicles worldwide. The automaker has sold 1.2 million Prius models since 1997, and is third in sales in the U.S.
The Tacoma pickup is another model with a history of brake problems. Yoshimi Inaba, the president of Toyota’s North American operations, will be in front of congress next week to answer questions about that models recall.
The U.S. born Tacoma was part of the earlier floor mat recall and The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has filed about 170 faulty accelerator complaints involving 2006-2010 Tacoma models. Toyota faults the American pedal supplier for the situation, claiming that Japanese models have been problem free.
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