Toyota Expanding Prius Recall

311,000 vehicles suffer from 'regenerative' braking issue
By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 8, 2010 1:21 AM CST
Toyota Expanding Prius Recall
Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda reacts during a news conference at a Toyota office in Nagoya, central Japan, last week.   (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)

Toyota will extend its Prius recall to all 310,000 of its 2010 models sold worldwide to address a brake flaw. Scores of motorists have complained that their Priuses won't stop on uneven surfaces. The automaker is investigating whether it also needs to extend the recall to the Lexus HS250h and a Japanese model called the Sai.

The braking issue is due to a malfunction in the system known as regenerative braking, which utilizes energy produced while braking to recharge the battery, the New York Times reports. The 2010 Prius uses regenerative braking in conjunction with conventional brake pads and an anti-lock brake system. The braking problem occurs when the car switches over from regenerative to conventional braking at the same moment that the anti-lock brake system engages, according to Toyota officials.
(More Toyota stories.)

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