Tokyo - Toyota is recalling 625 000 hybrid vehicles around the world, mostly Prius models, over a defect that can bring the car to an unexpected stop.
The problem is linked to software that controls a power converter, similar to an issue last year that led to the recall of 1.9 million Prius cars - Toyota's biggest ever for its eco-friendly petrol-electric vehicle. Toyota added that no accidents or injuries had been reported.
“In limited instances, the hybrid system might shut down while the vehicle is being driven, resulting in the loss of power, bringing the vehicle to stop,” it said.
The latest call back affects the Prius V, which is also sold as the Prius Alpha and Prius+, as well as some Auris hybrid vehicles. As the former is not sold in South Africa, the only local vehicles affected are Auris Hybrids, specifically 356 of them that were built between February 2011 and May 2014, according to Toyota SA.
More than half of the recalled vehicles were sold in Japan with most of the others in North America and Europe.
Toyota has sold more than seven million hybrid cars globally since the debut of its first-generation Prius hybrid in 1997 in the first mass production of green cars.
It has roughly 30 hybrid models sold in more than 90 countries worldwide.
AFP & IOL