Toyota to recall 437,000 vehicles worldwide for Prius, other hybrids+

TOKYO, Feb. 9 Kyodo -
Toyota Motor Corp. said Tuesday it will recall about 437,000 vehicles worldwide
to repair brake problems in its best-selling Prius and three other hybrid
models, in a blow to the automaker's brand strength as a pioneer in green
technology.
Other models subject to the recall are the luxury Lexus HS250h sedan, the
hybrid-only Sai compact sedan and the plug-in Prius hybrid, all of which employ
a similar brake system to the Prius, the automaker said.
In a move certain to further tarnish its reputation, the latest recall would
put the number of Toyota vehicles subject to a repair at around 8 million
units, even excluding overlapping models, at a magnitude matching its annual
sales figure.
''I apologize again for causing trouble and concern to many people over the
quality and safety of Toyota vehicles,'' Toyota President Akio Toyoda said at a
news conference in Tokyo, his second apology in less than a week in addressing
a recent string of safety problems.
''We decided to implement the recalls in order to put top priority on driving
safety for our customers,'' he said.
The Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry said the recall of
223,068 vehicles in Japan was to address a glitch in the vehicles' antilock
brake system, which causes a momentary lag in brake functions when driving
slowly on bumpy or slippery roads.
The world's largest automaker will recall around 210,000 vehicles outside of
Japan, including about 155,000 units in North America and about 5,000 units in
Europe.
''We will do everything in our power to regain the confidence of our
customers,'' Toyoda said in English. ''Let me assure everyone that we will
redouble our commitment to quality as the lifeline of our company.''
The Japanese government also urged the automaker to deal properly with the
recalls amid growing consumer anxiety and a flood of criticism from overseas
over what many saw as a sluggish response to safety warnings involving its
vehicles.
''When an event that impairs safety occurs, the initiative should be taken to
work for the safety of the people in Japan and worldwide,'' Prime Minister
Yukio Hatoyama told reporters. ''I think the decision for the recall was made
from this viewpoint.''
Following a meeting with Toyoda, transport minister Seiji Maehara rapped the
automaker for failing to act quickly to rising safety concerns and for the lack
of ''customers' perspective.''
The remedy involves improving the software for the vehicle's antilock brake
system, the part that prevents the wheels from slipping. Until this is
completed, Toyoda urged drivers to push hard on the brakes and emphasized that
the vehicle will stop if this is done.
The repair can be completed at a Toyota dealer in a process that will take
around 40 minutes, the company said in a statement.
Toyota will directly notify vehicle owners by phone or e-mail and begin fixing
the Prius model from Wednesday, the automaker said.
But for the three other models, the software for fixing the problem has not
been completed so sales of the Lexus HS250h, the Sai and the plug-in Prius
hybrid are expected to be halted until late February or early March, a
transport ministry official said.
''We want to keep the impact on sales to a minimum,'' Toyoda said, admitting
that sales of the Sai and Lexus HS250h will be especially hurt.
The Japanese transport ministry said it had received about 94 complaints of
brake problems with the new Prius from Feb. 1 to midnight Monday. According to
the papers Toyota filed, it reported 84 complaints and no related accidents.
The third-generation Prius model was rolled out in Japan last May and has
become a mega-hit model on the back of government stimulus measures for
energy-saving vehicles. The Prius, which made its debut in 1997, has been a
symbol of Toyota's prowess in green technology and has driven the recent
popularity of eco-cars.
Toyota will also recall about 28,000 units of the Lexus HS250h worldwide and
about 11,000 units of the Sai in Japan. The plug-in Prius hybrid, which can be
charged using household electricity, has been leased to government and
corporate clients on a limited basis since late last year.
Toyota Executive Vice President Shinichi Sasaki said the recall would not
involve older hybrid models since they use a different brake system.
He added the company will aim to complete repairs for more than 90 percent of
the recalled vehicles in Japan within three months.
Toyoda, a founding family member who took office last June, also said he plans
to go to the United States to encourage Toyota employees in the country and
explain about the recalls in his ''own words.'' However, he will not attend
U.S. congressional hearings scheduled on Wednesday and later this month.
Transport minister Maehara will also meet with U.S. Ambassador to Japan John
Roos as the government works to prevent the Toyota issue from developing into a
diplomatic dispute between the two countries.
The recalls are the latest safety problem to dog the Japanese automaker,
following a recent massive global recall of over 4 million vehicles, including
the mainstay Corolla and Camry models, to fix faulty accelerator pedals.
Toyota has also carried out a safety recall since November of some 5.55 million
vehicles in North America to fix gas pedals getting stuck under loose floor
mats, potentially causing sudden acceleration.
''I don't believe that Toyota will never fail or that the company is
omnipotent,'' Toyoda said. ''But when we do find a defect or make a mistake, I
am very confident that we will continue fixing and improving it so we can
provide better products to our customers.''
The company's share price was up nearly 3 percent at 3,375 yen at the close of
Tokyo trading Tuesday as investors locked in profits following a massive
sell-off of its shares in recent weeks.
==Kyodo
2010-02-09 23:53:21