Toyota Prius Recall Still Under Consideration - Update

2010 Toyota Prius

February 8, 2010; Contrary to all of the conjecture and prognosticating, as of 5:36PM EST there has been no official announcement concerning a 2010 Toyota Prius Recall, when and if it happens you will be able to read about it here on The Auto Channel.

Auto Channel Central February 5, 2010; Latest Toyota Prius recall news. In spite of reported complaints that have flooded into Toyota about its 2010 Prius brakes seemingly not working on bumpy or slippery roads. Toyota Motor Corp is still just considering a recall in Japan and the United States over those complaints although Toyota New Zealand recalled all 260 of its 2010 Prius cars it sold there.

As of now the company said it plans to carry out voluntary repairs to fix the problem by improving the software for the antilock brake system, which electronically prevents vehicles from slipping.

Toyota said it is now in talks with both Japanese and U.S. regulators on whether to go one giant step further and issue mandatory recall amid uncertainty spreading among consumers.

Subject to this possible recall is Toyota’s new Prius, which was rolled out in May and has remained a top-seller in January for eight consecutive months in Japan.

Toyota has sold about 170,000 units in Japan and about 100,000 units in the United States.

Toyota said it has already changed the software for the newly produced models since late January and these will not be subject to the recall if it happens.

On Thursday February 4 the NHTSA said it opened an investigation into the 2010 Prius, saying it had received 124 reports from consumers about its brakes, including four reports of crashes.

NHTSA said it is investigating reports that antilock brakes can fail momentarily on some 2010 models in slippery conditions or on rough roads.

Toyota says it already made a change in the 2010 braking system last month to correct cars in production, but has not made a decision about how to correct the problem in cars already in customers garages and on the road.

In spite of the recent problems, we here at The Auto Channel still believe that Toyota vehicles are solid reliable and safe and have the utmost confidence that under Akio Toyoda's leadership will make it right for their customers, now and in the future.