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TOYOTA EXPECTED TO ISSUE RECALL ON ITS PRIUS HYBRIDS DUE TO BRAKE FAILURES


February 04, 2010
Topic: Defective Products: Product Recalls

Still struggling to get control of the unintended accelleration problems with its Toyota and Lexus vehicles, Toyota is now dealing with reports that its 2010 Prius hybrid vehicles have a defective braking system.

Reports of the brake failures appeared as early as August when Japan's Land and Transport Ministry began receiving reports from drivers who had experienced brake failure while driving their Priuses over bumpy roads or on slippery surfaces. Toyota is currently investigating a total of 85 complaints relating to incidents in which Prius brakes have intermittently stopped working. Toyota also admitted yesterday that there were 13 more incidents that had arisen over the past two months which was a "greater than usual" number of reported incidents.

The problem with the brakes is being described by some as a complete failure of the brakes to engage for a period of time, perhaps as long as a few seconds, even though the operator has the brake pedal fully depressed. Toyota's investigation into the Prius brakes is thought to be focused on the computer that links together the two separate braking systems at the heart of the model's groundbreaking hybrid technology. The car is slowed down by a combination of traditional mechanical brakes and the electromagnetic resistance that recharges the batteries. The fact that problem may be in the design of the electrical system is important as the technology was developed and designed by Toyota itself and not its suppliers. As a result, Toyota will be hard pressed to blame its suppliers for the brake failures in the way it is trying to do with the problems it is having with its other vehicles that are experiencing unintended accelleration issues.

Toyota's handling of this defect issue with the Prius as well as the defects with its other models involving unintended accelleration issues are calling into question Toyota's credibility and the quality of its products. Toyota is being criticized for developing a corporate mentality of denying responsibility and responding slowly to safety issues to avoid negative publicity, and trying to blame the problems of unintended accelleration on its suppliers of component parts.

While Toyota is not ready to admit that its Prius vehicles have a brake defect, saying last week that it was "still confirming the facts" surrounding the brake failure claims, Toyota's actions appear to be inconsistent with that statement. For over a month, Toyota has been modifying its production lines to address the brake problem. For over a month, Toyota has been fixing the problem with new vehicles before they are sold. In addition, the company has been providing emergency fixes for Japanese Prius owners who have complained of brake troubles. However, Toyota has not notified its customers who own the affected vehicles of the reports of brake failure problems or issued any recall notices yet.

Toyota, is holding a press conference about the brakes today, but Toyota has not announced whether it has decided to issue a recall of Priuses. Toyota is obviously feeling pressure to do something in light of all of its recent public black eye. The US Transportation Secretary, Ray LaHood, said that he planned to call Akio Toyoda, the Toyota President, "and explain to him that this is serious business". Meanwhile, Masayuki Naoshima, the Japanese Minister for Trade, summoned Toyota's head of quality control, Shinichi Sasaki, to a meeting last night. Mr Naoshima later said: "there is a small computer inside the brake and Toyota is making adjustments and improvements."

While Toyota is considering what steps it is willing to take, the real issue needs to be the focus on customer safety.


The experienced personal injury attorneys of the Montes Herald Law Group, LLP, based in Irving, TX, represent clients throughout north Texas and statewide, with focus on the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Metroplex and Dallas County, Tarrant County, Denton County, Harris County, Travis County and Baylor County. This includes cities such as Irving, Las Colinas, Valley Ranch, Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano, Arlington, Carrollton, Coppell, Lewisville, Grapevine, Addison, Southlake, Colleyville and the Hurst, Euless, Bedford Heb-mid cities area.

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