Global recall for Toyota Prius

Toyota will announce a global recall of all 2010 Prius hybrid petrol-electric cars because of a braking problem.

The auto manufacturer will file recall papers with the Japanese government today and follow with announcements in other countries where the car is sold as the day goes on, CNN reported, quoting an unnamed source.

Last week, the company admitted a problem with the software that controls the anti-lock braking system of the 2010 model of the car and said it had found a solution for cars that started to roll off of the assembly line in Japan last month.

Toyota New Zealand had last week already announced it was recalling all 260 of its 2010 Prius cars in this country.

Customers in America and Japan had reported a slight delay in braking reaction on some surfaces.

However, the brakes were working, Toyota NZ chief executive Alistair Davis said last week.

If the driver applied light pressure over a slippery patch there was a slight delay in pedal feel as the ABS took over the braking system.

The car would stop if the driver braked harder, but it could be disconcerting, Mr Davis said.

Toyota was writing to the 260 New Zealand owners to assure them the company had complete confidence in the system, and had decided to launch a voluntary recall of the vehicles to change the software.

- with NZPA

- © Fairfax NZ News