Toyota is set to recall 242 000 Prius and Lexus hybrid cars around the globe because of a braking problem, the company announced on Wednesday.
Drivers of the two models, manufactured between March and October 2009, have complained they needed to step more heavily than previously on the brake pedal.
A company spokeswoman in Tokyo said a materials weakness was leading to cracks that allowed nitrogen gas to leak into the brake fluid, affecting the efficacy of the brakes.
No accidents have been reported, but the company has received more than 90 complaints from customers worldwide, she said.
Toyota will recall 117 000 units in Japan, 91 000 in North America, 30 000 in Europe and 3000 in Asia-Pacific, she said.
Our contact at Toyota South Africa says that 126 local units fall within the specified date range and they will be recalled as a precautionary measure.
The incident is the latest in a long line for Toyota, which has had to recall millions of vehicles over the last few years, sullying a reputation it once enjoyed for safety and reliability. -AFP