Toyota, who has issued massive recalls in recent weeks for several models whose gas pedals get stuck and cause the vehicle to lose control, has issued a new round of recalls for their popular Prius and Tacoma models.
The gas-electric hybrid Prius car is a very popular model due to its high fuel mileage. But last week, the automaker issued a recall of 437,000 Prius hybrids and the luxurious Lexus HS250 hybrid vehicle because of braking problems (2010 models).
Drivers complained that the brakes seemed to not work at all when the vehicle’s system switched from traditional brakes to their trademark electrical braking system that channels energy to recharge the hybrid’s battery system. Approximately 150,000 vehicles in the U.S. will be affected by this recall as most of the models were sold in Japan.
Toyota says it began receiving complaints about the problem in late 2009 and informed dealerships last month of the problem. The manufacturer also says they have developed software to fix the problem.
The other recall affects 2010 Tacoma 4-wheel drive trucks, around 8,000 of them to be precise. These trucks may have a defective drive shaft that could ultimately cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle. Toyota issued the recall after a manufacturing problem that caused cracks in the front part of the drive shaft was revealed.
Drivers of the 2010 4WD Tacoma are asked to bring their vehicles to their local dealership for a quick inspection. Affected models were manufactured in December and early January.
If you own one of these models or any others that have been part of Toyota’s massive recalls, take them to your local Toyota dealer immediately.
And if you’ve been adversely affected by this or any defect in an automobile, consult with Denver personal injury attorney R. Mack Babcock today to see what options you have.
