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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Toyota issues another recall

437,000 hybrids need brakes fixed

By: Scott Deveau

10/02/2010 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

PAUL SANCYA / ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES Enlarge Image

A 2010 Toyota Prius

TORONTO -- Toyota Motor Corp. implemented another massive recall of nearly a half a million of its hybrid vehicles Tuesday, including the latest version of its popular Prius model, after an issue arose with the braking systems.

The latest recall at Toyota, affecting 437,000 of its hybrids, involves the advanced technologies contained in their computer-controlled braking systems that causes an "inconsistent feel" at times when the vehicle is travelling at low speeds on slick or bumpy surfaces. The sensation is triggered by a 0.2- to 0.3-second lag when the vehicle shifts between its regenerative braking system to the standard hydraulic system, Toyota Canada's Marc Stuyver said.

The regenerative braking system is used at low speeds to both slow the vehicle and capture the energy created in the braking process to recharge the vehicle's batteries, Stuyver said.

The problem arises when the anti-lock braking system causes the tire to slip slightly after a bump triggering the hydraulic system, he added.

"You will feel a change in the rate of deceleration, which in engineering terms we call a jerk," Stuyver said. "At no point are you not braking."

In order to fix the issue, Toyota will implement a software fix on the recalled vehicles that will decrease the sensitivity of the system that causes the hydraulic system to kick in and should eliminate the issue, Stuyver said.

Ford Motor Co. announced a similar issue with its Fusion and Mercury Milan hybrids last week. But unlike Toyota, Ford said it would implement a software patch as part of a "customer satisfaction program" on 17,600 vehicles, including about 1,000 in Canada, rather than a formal recall.

"We had a small number of customers report this condition," Said Deep, a Ford spokesman, said. "We know so far of one complaint."

For Toyota, the issue has been more pronounced. Regulators worldwide have received more than 200 consumer complaints about the braking systems in hybrids, including 21 in Canada, and four in the U.S. that allegedly led to accidents.

Those concerns also come at a time when the safety record of the world's largest automaker is under increased scrutiny from regulators and consumers following the recall of more than eight million vehicles since November relating to the unintended acceleration of its gas pedals.

The U.S. also announced a formal investigation into the braking system on the Prius. As a result, Toyota announced Tuesday that it would recall affected 2010 models of its Prius, Sai, Prius plug-in hybrids, and Lexus HS 250hs to implement the software fix, including nearly 3,300 Prius and more than 300 Lexus in Canada.

-- Canwest News Service

City taxi fleet under review

THE Toyota Prius recall is being taken seriously by the Winnipeg taxi business, says Jerry Kozubal, secretary of the Manitoba Taxicab Board.

"There are 250 Prius (vehicles) in the Winnipeg taxi fleet and those cars are on the road 24/7, so we want to make sure there are no safety issues," he said.

Of the 410 standard taxis on the road in Winnipeg, 327 of them are Toyota models including 46 Camrys and 29 Corrollas.

Kozubal's office is looking to make contact with a Toyota representative to help facilitate a thorough review. He said he's looking to see if the board would be able to forward serial numbers from Winnipeg's licenced taxi fleet to Toyota to ensure all current recalls and other Toyota recalls from the recent past have been dealt with.

Toyota down but not out: poll

OTTAWA -- Toyota's iron-clad reputation for reliability has been dented although the damage is not yet beyond repair, a new poll suggests.

The Canadian Press-Harris Decima survey shows almost three in 10 Canadians would think twice about purchasing a Toyota following the recall over faulty gas pedals.

But at the same time, 56 per cent still retain a positive impression of the automaker's products and 69 per cent believe the firm has done a good job of reacting to the problem.

The bigger issue, says pollster Doug Anderson, is if problems keep surfacing or if consumers believe Toyota hasn't been forthcoming.

Honda expands recall

DETROIT -- Honda Motor Co. is adding more than 378,000 cars to an existing safety recall for air bag-inflation problems, the company said.

The company will replace the driver's side air bag inflator on the cars because they can deploy with too much pressure, causing the inflator casing to rupture and injure or kill the driver.

The recall now affects more than 822,000 vehicles, including certain 2001 and 2002 Accord sedans, Civic compacts, Odyssey minivans, CR-V small SUVs and some 2002 Acura TL sedans.

The recall affects 41,685 vehicles in Canada.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 10, 2010 B5

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