TOYOTA INSTIGATES RECALL OF SOME THIRD GENERATION PRIUS MODELS 4,947 UK REGISTERED VEHICLES AFFECTED

In accordance with its commitment to a ‘zero tolerance’ for quality issues or concerns, Toyota has today registered a recall through the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) for a number of its current (third generation) Prius models.

The recall affects 4,947 UK-registered third generation Prius built between from March to October 2009, and will be carried out in accordance with the VOSA code of practice.

The issue

Toyota has diagnosed that the issue originates from the brake pressure accumulator.  The brake pressure accumulator consists of a metal plunger containing brake fluid, encased in a metal housing. The plunger has metal pleated bellows to allow for motion. Nitrogen gas is sealed between the plunger and the housing.

There is a possibility of a fatigue crack developing in the bellows through vibration of the plunger during driving. Should this happen, nitrogen gas could leak into the brake fluid and cause the pedal stroke to become longer, resulting in decreased braking force.

The driver will become aware of the problem through a warning light illuminating on the dashboard. Should this occur, the vehicle should not be driven and owners should report the issue to their nearest Toyota Centre.

The vehicles affected

This issue affects approximately 242,000 current, third generation Prius models globally. Of these, 4,947 are registered in the UK.

Toyota has received two reports of the problem in the UK, in a total of 93 worldwide. It has not received any reports of any accidents or injuries related to the issue.

The remedy

All the affected vehicles are being recalled for the brake pressure accumulator to be replaced.

Vehicle owners will be contacted by Toyota GB within the coming weeks by post and asked to make an appointment to bring their car to their nearest Toyota centre, in accordance with VOSA guidelines. The work will take between three and three-and-a-half hours to complete and will be carried out free of charge.

Customers can check whether their vehicle is affected using a registration look-up function that is found in the owners section of the main Toyota website (www.toyota.co.uk).

If owners require additional information, or do not have access to the internet, they can contact Toyota Customer Relations on 0800 1388744 or 01737 367600 to find out if their vehicle is affected.