Under-pressure Toyota set to announce action over Prius

Toyota Motor Corp. has already had to recall more than seven million other cars in the United States, Europe and China over a faulty accelerator and floor mats that can get caught in the pedal.

Those problems and criticism of Toyota's response to them have damaged the company's reputation for quality products.

Separately, the company has told dealers in the US it is preparing to repair the brakes on thousands of Prius vehicles there, according to an e-mail sent by a company executive. It was not clear whether Toyota planned a formal US recall.

Spokeswoman Ririko Takeuchi said yesterday: "We will make an announcement soon on the action we plan to take."

The Prius is the world's top-selling petrol-electric hybrid and its fuel efficiency has created interest amid concerns about global warming and dependence on fossil fuels.

On Saturday Japan's largest newspaper, Yomiuri, reported without naming sources that Toyota had decided on a recall in Japan covering its latest Prius model and had notified domestic dealers. It said Toyota would announce the move early this week after consulting with the Japanese government.

Japan's Kyodo News agency and TV show Asahi carried similar reports. Kyodo said Toyota had started notifying dealers and that at least 170,000 vehicles in Japan would be subject to the recall.

Prius drivers in Japan and the US have complained of a short delay before the brakes kick in – a flaw Toyota says can be fixed with a software programming change. The lag occurs as the car is switching between brakes for the petrol engine and the electric motor – a process that is key to the hybrid's increased mileage.

The brake problem affects about 270,000 Priuses that were sold in the US and Japan starting last May. The company says it has already fixed vehicles that went on sale since last month.

Toyota group vice president Bob Carter sent an e-mail message on to US dealers Friday night saying the car maker was working on a Prius repair plan and would disclose more details early this week.

At least 100 drivers of Prius cars in the US have complained to the government that their brakes seemed to fail momentarily when they were driving on bumpy roads. The government says the problem is suspected in four crashes and two minor injuries.

Public awareness of the problem "has prompted considerable customer concern, speculation, and media attention due to the significance of the Prius image," Carter said in the e-mail. "We want to assure our dealers that we are moving rapidly to provide a solution for your existing customers."

Yesterday Toyota began airing 60-second advertisements on US TV saying the company was working around the clock to build the highest-quality vehicles and to restore the faith of customers.