Toyota recalls Prius over parking brake problem, stops sales

Japanese automaker Toyota has announced a recall for 91,585 Prius hybrid units in the United States for parking brake problem, reveals the filings with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). An issue has been identified with the foot-operated parking brake which is connected via a tension cable in 2016 and 2017 models. It is believed that the cable is likely to detach from the rear brake calipers thereby resulting in failure of the parking brake engagement.

Toyota has received around 67 cases of parking brake cable detachments but no injuries or accidents. The first problem was reported by a dealer in the US back in May. The company has stated that the cable design in those particular affected Prius models are prone to loosening due to bumps and models like Prius V, Prius C, Prius Prime and other models from Toyota and Lexus do not get a similar cable layout.

The repair work on the affected vehicles will be carried out from December onwards and the unsold stock of 19,500 units in dealer inventory cannot be sold till the issue has been rectified. It is believed that dealers will secure the end of the parking brake cable to the rear calipers using a lockable clip. More details about the recall process will be known in the coming days.