By Simon Shepherd
More problems for the country’s most popular car maker tonight, as Toyota begins a voluntary recall of its 2010 Prius.
The recall comes amid concerns overseas about the braking system of Toyota’s eco flagship.
All 260 owners are being contacted as yet another Toyota model comes under question around the world.
After what has been a smooth ride for the petrol electric Prius since its initial launch, faulty software concerns have put its reputation on a go slow.
“Customers suddenly feel that they have lost their brakes, they push hard. But the brakes are working – it is very much a customer feel issue,” says Alistair Davis of Toyota New Zealand.
But it has left some customers terrified, according to the 180 complaints in Japan and America.
Prius-owner Steven Wise told CBS that his car didn’t stop when he pumped the pedal.
“It feels like nothing is happening,” he said.
The Prius has what is known as a regenerative braking system that recaptures energy usually lost during braking – but a sudden stop of skid triggers a more conventional hydraulic brake. A computer is supposed to make the transition seamless, but in the latest model there is a momentary gap when one system takes over from the other.
Toyota Japan says the glitch was fixed for cars on the assembly line last month, but has yet to ship a solution to cars already sold.
There are 260 Prius vehicles on the road in New Zealand.
“We were thinking, ‘do we need to recall it?’ but the issue continued to raise itself,” says Mr Davis.
“We have decided to call all of the Prius back and change the software on all of them.”
Toyota New Zealand says there is no danger as the brakes still operate.
Yet another recall is another body blow for the company, whose share price has taken a hammering. It is now forecasting that repairs and lost sales will cost $3 billion.
But Toyota New Zealand is defending the way it has responded to both recall issues.
“Whenever we identify faults we have a very robust process of trying to identify what is the cause, and fixing that and recalling that,” says Mr Davis.
But it will take a lot to shake the true Prius believers, like Don and Hilda Traill who have his and hers vehicles.
“We used to have arguments as to who was going to drive when we only had one,” says Mr Traill.
Toyota will need more fans like them as it rides out the recalls.
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