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| Toyota recalls 242,000 Prius cars | Toyota recalls 242,000 Prius cars |
| (4 months later) | |
| Toyota has recalled 242,000 Prius cars worldwide including 5,000 in the UK because of faulty brakes. | Toyota has recalled 242,000 Prius cars worldwide including 5,000 in the UK because of faulty brakes. |
| The company, which suffered a debilitating recall crisis in 2009/2010, said no accidents have been reported but it has received 93 complaints from customers worldwide. | The company, which suffered a debilitating recall crisis in 2009/2010, said no accidents have been reported but it has received 93 complaints from customers worldwide. |
| Toyota will be contacting UK owners of the affected vehicles in the coming weeks by post. It will exchange the faulty part with a new one, which should take around three hours. | Toyota will be contacting UK owners of the affected vehicles in the coming weeks by post. It will exchange the faulty part with a new one, which should take around three hours. |
| This is the latest in a series of car recalls affecting a number of different companies. Neil King, automotive analyst at Euromonitor, said: "Recalls seem to be so commonplace these days, I don't see it having any major impact. The only fortunate thing [for Toyota] is that at least they are not the only ones affected. There was a period when it seemed to be only Toyota." He said car recalls are getting more frequent as vehicles become increasingly technologically advanced. | This is the latest in a series of car recalls affecting a number of different companies. Neil King, automotive analyst at Euromonitor, said: "Recalls seem to be so commonplace these days, I don't see it having any major impact. The only fortunate thing [for Toyota] is that at least they are not the only ones affected. There was a period when it seemed to be only Toyota." He said car recalls are getting more frequent as vehicles become increasingly technologically advanced. |
| On Tuesday, US group Chrysler refused to recall 2.7m older-model Jeeps, saying that US regulators' concerns about the vehicles' fuel tanks causing fires and deaths were ill-founded. | On Tuesday, US group Chrysler refused to recall 2.7m older-model Jeeps, saying that US regulators' concerns about the vehicles' fuel tanks causing fires and deaths were ill-founded. |
| Toyota's current problem affects third generation Prius models built between March to October 2009. A company spokeswoman said recalled vehicles could experience greater stopping distances when braking because of a design flaw in a brake part. | Toyota's current problem affects third generation Prius models built between March to October 2009. A company spokeswoman said recalled vehicles could experience greater stopping distances when braking because of a design flaw in a brake part. |
| Vibrations during driving could cause cracks in the brake pressure accumulator, she explained, allowing nitrogen gas to leak into the brake fluid, which would make the brakes less effective. | Vibrations during driving could cause cracks in the brake pressure accumulator, she explained, allowing nitrogen gas to leak into the brake fluid, which would make the brakes less effective. |
| Toyota said in a statement: "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." | Toyota said in a statement: "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." |
| Toyota will recall 117,000 units in Japan, 91,000 in North America, 30,000 in Europe and 3,000 in Asia-Pacific. | Toyota will recall 117,000 units in Japan, 91,000 in North America, 30,000 in Europe and 3,000 in Asia-Pacific. |
| In 2010, the Japanese company, which is a leader in gas-electric hybrid technology, recalled 433,000 hybrid vehicles, including the Prius, because of a braking software glitch. | In 2010, the Japanese company, which is a leader in gas-electric hybrid technology, recalled 433,000 hybrid vehicles, including the Prius, because of a braking software glitch. |
| Toyota has sold 3.6m Prius vehicles globally and more than 60,000 in the UK since the model went on sale in December 1997. | Toyota has sold 3.6m Prius vehicles globally and more than 60,000 in the UK since the model went on sale in December 1997. |
| To check if your Prius is part of the recall, enter your registration number in the Toyota recall checker. | To check if your Prius is part of the recall, enter your registration number in the Toyota recall checker. |
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