Toyota Motor Corp. has announced a recall of 340,000 Prius hybrid cars worldwide for a parking brake defect that could cause the brake to stop working properly. Toyota said that the parking brake cable can unexpectedly disengage, which can cause the car to roll away and possibly crash if left in any gear other than park. Toyota has received reports of crashes, injuries, and deaths and “is still looking into the reports.”
The recall is for Toyota Prius gas-electric hybrid vehicles manufactured from August 2015 to October 2016 (2016 and 2017 models). The recall affects 94,000 vehicles in North America and 212,000 vehicles in Japan. Another 17,000 vehicles have been recalled in Europe, with other affected vehicles in Australia and other regions.
Prius owners will be notified in November and repairs will be completed free of charge. The company has stated that dealers will add clips to the top of the brake cable dust boots to prevent the cable from becoming inoperative.
Kelley/Uustal accepts auto defect cases resulting in serious injury or death. To speak with a lawyer about your potential case, please call 954-522-6601. Our firm has more than 325 years of collective experience handling auto accident and defective product cases.
