Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc, announced it will conduct a voluntary safety recall on approximately 133,000 2010 Model Year Prius vehicles and 14,500 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. However, Toyota has recently recalled over 8 million vehicles due to acceleration issues: Toyota recall prompted by accelerator pedal getting stuck and Toyota recall prompted by floor mat causing acceleration.

This Toyota Prius recall was prompted by reports of the car not braking corrrectly. According to Toyota, 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 model year 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 stated that 2010 Prius vehicles introduced last month have an improved ABS system response time and a better overall sensitivity to tire slippage. The production change for the Lexus HS 250h is planned for later this month.

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 Lexus HS 250h vehicles are subject to this recall. First- and second-generation 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.

NOTE: IF SOMEONE HAS BEEN INJURED IN A TOYOTA OR LEXUS VEHICLE, AN ATTORNEY SHOULD BE CONTACTED IMMEDIATELY TO AVOID DESTRUCTION OF EVIDENCE. AN ATTORNEY SHOULD BE CONTACTED AND NOT A TOYOTA DEALER.

For a free consultation with one of our car accident lawyers regarding a Toyota lawsuit, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll free) or submit our online form.  Attorney Fred Pritzker has recovered multi-million-dollar settlements and verdicts in product liability cases.  He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America.