Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., Inc, is conducting a safety recall on approximately 133,000 2010 Model Year Prius vehicles and 14,500 Lexus 2010 HS 250h vehicles to update software in the vehicle’s anti-lock brake system. No other Toyota, Lexus, or Scion vehicles are involved in this recall. Drivers of these vehicles experiencing any braking problems are being advised by the National Traffic Highway Safety Institute to park their cars and contact their local Toyota dealer or Toyota’s North American headquarters at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota maintains that the vehicles are safe to drive however and will stop with a firm application of the gas pedal. (See Toyota recall FAQ)
Meanwhile the 2004-2009 Prius has been included in the "Gas Pedal Entrapment by Floor Mats" recall in which the gas pedal can become stuck under the vehicle's floor mat.
About The Recall
The Toyota hybrid system's ABS, in normal operation, engages and disengages rapidly (many times per second) as the control system senses and reacts to tire slippage. Some 2010 model year Prius and 2010 HS 250h owners have reported experiencing inconsistent brake feel during slow and steady application of the brakes on rough or slick road surfaces when the ABS is activated.
Toyota has responded to owner concerns with a running production change for 2010 Prius that was introduced earlier this year, improving the ABS system’s response time, as well as the system’s overall sensitivity to tire slippage. The production change for the HS 250h is in te works.
The recall will allow Toyota dealers to perform a software update on 2010 Prius vehicles sold prior to this running production change. Only Prius vehicles produced since May 2009 and all HS 250h vehicles are subject to this recall. First- and second-generation Prius vehicles use a different ABS system and are not involved in this campaign.
The ABS system on the Lexus HS 250h is similar in design to the Prius. The software adjustment planned for HS 250h production and dealer modification is being finalized and will be announced very soon.
Toyota will mail letters to Prius owners included in this recall as well as HS 250h owners to let them know when to bring their vehicles into a dealership. Owners will only receive a letter if their vehicle is involved in the recall.
Detailed information about these recalls is available to customers at www.toyota.com/recall and at the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.