Toyota Australia issues hybrid recall
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Toyota recall: The new Prius is sold in some 60 countries. (AFP: Bryan Mitchell/Getty Images, file photo)
Toyota has announced a recall of its current generation Prius vehicles in Australia after reports of braking problems.
More than 400,000 hybrid cars are being recalled worldwide, with 2,400 in Australia.
The car came on the market in Australia last July.
Toyota Australia spokesman Glenn Campbell says the company is contacting all Prius customers to arrange to have the cars repaired.
He says the cars will still stop when extra pressure is applied to the pedal.
"Some customers can experience inconsistent brake feel when the brakes are applied lightly, for example when driving over a pot hole, bumpy or slippery road surfaces," he said.
"The brake pedal feel may not be what they expect but the brake itself does not stop working.
"It will stop the car but the driver may need to press harder on the brake under these conditions."
Mr Campbell says repairs will be carried out free of charge.
Total recall
Earlier, the president of Toyota Motor Corporation, Akio Toyoda, announced a recall of more than 430,000 hybrid cars worldwide.
About half of the cars affected, including the 2010 model Prius, have been exported to other countries, most of them to North America.
Toyota aims to fix a software glitch in the anti-lock braking system.
The company will also suspend sales of two other hybrids - the Sai sedan and the Lexus HS 250h - which use the same braking system.
The announcement comes on the heels of two other recalls covering more than 8 million vehicles worldwide due to problems with slipping floor mats and sticky accelerator pedals.
Mr Toyoda says the company will redouble its commitment to quality at every level.
"All of us at Toyota will tackle the issue in close cooperation with our dealers and with suppliers," he said.
"Together we will do everything in our power to regain the confidence of our customers."
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