TORRANCE, Calif., February 8, 2010 – Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc, today
announced it will conduct a voluntary safety recall on approximately 133,000 2010 Model
Year Prius vehicles and 14,550 Lexus Division 2010 HS 250h vehicles to update
software in the vehicle’s anti-lock brake system (ABS). No other Toyota, Lexus, or Scion
vehicles are involved in this recall.
The ABS, in normal operation, engages and disengages rapidly (many times per
second) as the control system senses and reacts to tire slippage. Some 2010 modelyear
Prius and 2010 HS 250h owners have reported experiencing inconsistent brake feel
during slow and steady application of brakes on rough or slick road surfaces when the
ABS is activated in an effort to maintain tire traction.
Toyota has responded to owner concerns with a running production change for
2010 Prius that was introduced last month, 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 planned for later this month.
“We’re committed to doing everything we can – as fast as we can – to restore
consumer trust in Toyota, and these recalls are part of this effort,” said Jim Lentz,
President and Chief Operating Officer, Toyota Motor Sales. “We regret the
inconvenience this recall will cause to Prius and HS 250h owners, and will do our best
with the support of our dealers to make sure that it is conducted in the most trouble-free
manner possible.”
Mr. Lentz continued: “As part of the quality improvement program announced by
Toyota President Akio Toyoda last week, our company is undertaking a top to bottom
review to ensure that our vehicles meet our own high standards of safety and reliability,
now and for the future. We are taking steps to implement more stringent quality control
across the company, to investigate customer complaints more aggressively and to
respond more quickly to any safety issues we identify.”
The recall will allow Toyota dealers to perform the 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 secondgeneration
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 begin mailing letters to Prius owners included in this recall next week
and HS 250h owners within the next few weeks, 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.
Separately, Toyota will conduct a voluntary safety recall on approximately 7,300
early production - 2010 model year Camry vehicles equipped with the 4 cylinder engine
to inspect for a power steering hose that may be in contact with a front brake tube. This
contact could lead to a hole in the brake tube and cause a brake fluid leak, increased
brake pedal stroke and greater vehicle stopping distance.
Owners of the involved 2010 Camry vehicles will be notified by mail starting in
the middle of February.
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 or Lexus Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-255-3987.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Toyota Motor Sales, Corporate Communications
(310) 468-5297
(310) 468-7359
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