More bad news for Toyota and Toyota owners: the company just issued a recall for 270,000 Priuses.
The Transportation Department had opened an investigation Thursday into brake problems in the 2010 Prius, the latest in a series of safety troubles at Toyota that have confused drivers and strained the Japanese automaker's relationship with U.S. regulators.
The recall will target the third-generation Prius launched in May, Nikkei reported.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Transportation Department's safety agency, said it has received 124 reports from consumers about the Prius brakes, including four reports of crashes. The investigation will look into allegations of momentary loss of braking capability while traveling over uneven road surfaces, potholes or bumps.
The cars in question went on sale in Japan and the U.S. in May of 2009.
A company spokesman said that drivers feel a time lack for brakes kicking in after they press the gas pedal. The delay is caused by having two systems in the car: a gas engine and an electric motor. When the driver is on a bumpy or slippery surface, there can be a delay when the car switches between hydraulic brakes and the electronically operated braking system. If the driver keeps braking, the brakes do work.
If you have a 2010 Toyota Prius, contact your dealership. You can find more recall information here on Toyota's website.
