[phil4]

Grumpy Cabbie, on Feb 6 2010, 11:15 AM, said:

phil4, on Feb 5 2010, 06:32 PM, said:

wooski, on Feb 5 2010, 05:54 PM, said:

Except the Jap cars are RHD too! I just don't buy our UK cars and Jap cars are any different in this regard.

Madness.

I think the reason for the UK being excluded could be due to this thinking "Toyota said the glitch was not legally a safety hazard" from the BBC article on such.

This would also explain why there's been no u-turn yet.

If it's not legally a safety hazard, then I suspect they're not obliged to recall or sort. And being cynical I suspect the reason there is currently an accelerator recall is more to do with a legal obligation than doing right by the customer.

That's just my jaded opinion I'm afraid.

Which is why I'm not going to let this matter drop. Could Toyota be hoping to fob us all off until the press get bored? We always have Watchdog as a back up. Yes I know it's cheesy but she does get things done! I'm gonna give Toyota a bit of give on this as I'm sure they're in a spin with all the recalls - but I will not be fobbed off either.

You go for it. My cynical view above certainly isn't me saying "don't complain", I reckon it must need more and more press/watchdog imvolvment because as I mentioned above, I don't think Toyota think they're legally obliged for safety reasons (though they may be under sale of goods act, etc. etc.), which is why they're doing everything they can to fob us off.

[Toyota PR]

There is currently no recall on Prius anywhere in the world. This is a fact.

There are press reports - quoting other press reports, but no Toyota executive - saying there will be a recall. These are speculation.

The cases are under investigation. It might be determined that for various reasons, not least reassurance of customers, that a "recall" (whatever the definition) is announced. If and when that happens we will let everyone know.

[Fujisan]

Toyota PR, on Feb 7 2010, 10:34 PM, said:

There is currently no recall on Prius anywhere in the world. This is a fact.

There are press reports - quoting other press reports, but no Toyota executive - saying there will be a recall. These are speculation.

The cases are under investigation. It might be determined that for various reasons, not least reassurance of customers, that a "recall" (whatever the definition) is announced. If and when that happens we will let everyone know.

I hear what you are saying ...... but I really do think it is now a case of when, not if.

Story from today's Japan Times.

Today's Autocar.

[timberwolf]

My guess is that a "fix" won't completely solve the problem (i.e. it is an inherent quirk in the design) and what Toyota is going to do (and has done for the Gen 3 since January) is tweak (tune) some values to get closer to the behaviour of the Gen 2.

Of course, no one would have to guess at whether it needed "fixing" if Toyota had been transparent and asked its engineers to explain to the public how the Prius braking system worked and what caused this inherent quirk.

[mfs1011]

RECALL!!!

http://news.bbc.co.u...ess/8502894.stm

Review of other hybrid models as well though no recall on the Gen 2 (media not always clear on this) or the Lexus Hybrids YET.

[Sagitar]

There is a Prius "'phone in" on the Nicky Campbell show on BBC Radio 5 Live at the moment.

[wooski]

mfs1011, on Feb 8 2010, 09:18 AM, said:

RECALL!!!

http://news.bbc.co.u...ess/8502894.stm

Review of other hybrid models as well though no recall on the Gen 2 (media not always clear on this) or the Lexus Hybrids YET.

All the media is full of this today - despite the fact it was on Priuschat days ago..... And still no official announcement.

What's so humiliating for Toyota here is not only does it allow people to attack the Prius (mainly because its such an icon of the green movement when climate scepticism is growing) but also that it's been forced every step to admit what it already knows. Toyota had a fix ready for production in January - this means they must have investigated in the autumn and found the issue then. It's this apparent lack of transparency which is so damaging for them.

And lets not even get into the "it doesnt affect UK cars" statement - which has annoyed me and is clearly not true.

Me thinks Toyota could have handled this alot better. Honesty is always the answer - its the only way to restore trust.

[wooski]

Sagitar, on Feb 8 2010, 09:29 AM, said:

There is a Prius "'phone in" on the Nicky Campbell show on BBC Radio 5 Live at the moment.

BBC Wake Up To Money

The guy they interview from Japan is well informed. Well worth a listen.

[posing]

The brake problem exists on gen 2 so surely they have to recall them as well. The workaround is dont drive over potholes when braking!

[cootuk]

http://www.telegraph...re-upgrade.html

Telegraph now reporting UK owners of the GenIII can get a voluntary software patch

[DaronB]

cootuk, on Feb 8 2010, 11:09 PM, said:

http://www.telegraph...re-upgrade.html

Telegraph now reporting UK owners of the GenIII can get a voluntary software patch

BBC World Service called us last night and did a short interview with my wife regarding the issue, she explained that she loves her car and has been driving Toyota cars for the last 5 years without issues, she also told them that her major complaint like many others have pointed out here is Toyotas denial that a problem exists when its clear they know only too well. Up to this point we have been fobbed off every time we reported this (which has been since Aug 09) with the excuse 'your the first to report this and there is nothing on the Toyota system to indicate any issues with Prius brakes so there is nothing we can do'

As Timberwolf said if Toyota would give its customers an honest answer to the issue (or even a call to say they are looking into it) and can I point out that even after contacting our dealer last week again we still have not had a phonecall from him or Toyota concerning the problem or any possible explaination or solution, I do agree with most its been badly handled.

My wife has just told me that a recall has now been 'officially announced' on the news.

[Toyota PR]

Recall now announced at 6:30am UK time today

THIRD-GENERATION PRIUS RECALL ANNOUNCEMENT

Toyota today announced a global recall on the latest, third-generation Prius built before 27 January 2010. This will involve 8,500 cars in the UK.

To date, there have been no accidents linked to this issue reported in Europe.

No other Toyota or Lexus models are affected by this latest recall action in Europe.

Toyota GB would like to apologise to its customers for any concern this issue has caused.

The recall is being taken in response to reports of inconsistent brake feel during slow and steady braking on bumpy or slick road surfaces when the anti-lock braking system (ABS) is actuated.

This recall will consist of a software upgrade in the anti-lock braking system. The procedure will be carried out free of charge and will take approximately 40 minutes using standard test equipment in use at all authorised Toyota service centres.

In keeping with VOSA’s code of practice, Toyota will write individually to every owner or keeper in the next few days having obtained their contact details from the DVLA.

In the meantime, the cars are safe to drive. At no time are drivers without brakes.

Toyota GB guarantees to every customer its utmost attention to making this upgrade as quickly and efficiently as possible.

If customers have any questions or concerns regarding the above, please ring Toyota Customer Relations on 0800 1388 744 or visit our website at www.toyota.co.uk for updates.

ENDS

[Grumpy Cabbie]

Toyota PR, on Feb 9 2010, 07:11 AM, said:

Recall now announced at 6:30am UK time today

THIRD-GENERATION PRIUS RECALL ANNOUNCEMENT

Toyota today announced a global recall on the latest, third-generation Prius built before 27 January 2010. This will involve 8,500 cars in the UK.

To date, there have been no accidents linked to this issue reported in Europe.

No other Toyota or Lexus models are affected by this latest recall action in Europe.

Toyota GB would like to apologise to its customers for any concern this issue has caused.

The recall is being taken in response to reports of inconsistent brake feel during slow and steady braking on bumpy or slick road surfaces when the anti-lock braking system (ABS) is actuated.

This recall will consist of a software upgrade in the anti-lock braking system. The procedure will be carried out free of charge and will take approximately 40 minutes using standard test equipment in use at all authorised Toyota service centres.

In keeping with VOSA’s code of practice, Toyota will write individually to every owner or keeper in the next few days having obtained their contact details from the DVLA.

In the meantime, the cars are safe to drive. At no time are drivers without brakes.

Toyota GB guarantees to every customer its utmost attention to making this upgrade as quickly and efficiently as possible.

If customers have any questions or concerns regarding the above, please ring Toyota Customer Relations on 0800 1388 744 or visit our website at www.toyota.co.uk for updates.

ENDS

Thanks for the above post. Puts our minds at rest and I look forward to getting my recall notice asap so I can put my customers minds at rest too.

The one concern I have and others have also judging by some of the posts on this thread is that Toyota have denied that this problem existed in the UK or that no one had reported it before when clearly this was not the case. I'm not saying anyone was lying, but that perhaps the reports from customers weren't making to Toyota HQ. Now one could look at this two ways, the cynical way or a more constructive way. What are the reporting channels within Toyota if I should notice a similar problem in future with my car? How confident can I or other Prius or Toyota owners be that their vehicle safety concerns make it to the top of the tree or to the relevant department?

Could there be an overhaul of the system or a tweak be needed? Could Toyota go over and above the minimum legal requirements here and use it as a positive marketing tool? One of the reasons I thought about buying a Toyota was the positive words I'd heard about my local dealer and they weren't proved wrong either. In fact their wonderful service was one of the main reasons I bought the Prius as I thought these people were people I could do business with and more imortantly - trust.

[Dave R.]

Looking at the reporting system, in some ways it is not surprising that Toyota were not aware of the "problem" as dealers will not have had much to report - being a softwre issue, there is no flood of parts being ordered under warranty! With nothing on their database, individual dealers would look - see no issue and happily fob customers off!

I agree with Grumpy Cabbie that "the system" perhaps needs to be looked at - Dealers should have a mechanism for reporting general feedback from customers - more chance of picking up software issues!

Also, it doesn't take much effort to surf the various blogs (like this one) - if Toyota had been monitoring customer feedback in the blogs, they would have been aware of the "known problem" amongst the user community, even without feeback via the delariships.

[Grumpy Cabbie]

hear hear

I am always asked about the car by customers and a good way of describing it is "it's a computer with a car attached".