Toyota Prius Recall Goes Global

After yesterday Japanese carmaker Toyota announced it will recall 133,000 2010 model year Prius and 14,500 Lexus 2010 HS 250h in the US, the carmaker announced earlier today the recall, as expected, to a global level and added a few more models to the recall.

Thus, Toyota will recall total of about 400,000 Prius, Prius plug-in, Sai and Lexus HS 250h, out of which 223,000 in Japan and the rest in the US and Europe.

"Let me assure everyone that we will redouble our commitment to quality as the lifeline of our company. With myself taking the lead, all of us at Toyota will tackle the issue in close cooperation with our dealers and with our suppliers," Toyota's CEO Akio Toyoda said in a release.

"Together, we will do everything in our power to regain the confidence of our customers."

Toyota's findings so far indicate the ABS in the affected vehicles, in normal operation, engages and disengages rapidly (many times per second) as the control system senses and reacts to tire slippage.

In some of the vehicles affected, this caused inconsistent brake feel during slow and steady application of brakes on rough or slick road surfaces when the ABS is activated in an effort to maintain tire traction.

In addition to the recall mentioned above, Toyota also announced an unrelated recall of 7,300 Camry vehicles equipped with the 4 cylinder engine to inspect for a power steering hose that may be in contact with a front brake tube which could lead to a hole in the brake tube and cause a brake fluid leak.