Toyota recently issued a recall for 1.9 million Prius vehicles, citing a software problem that could cause the vehicles’ gas-electric hybrid power systems to shut down.
The recall affects all of the Priuses produced in the most recent model year. About half of the affected vehicles were sold in the United States and about 713,000 were sold in Japan, with the remainder belonging to European owners.
Toyota has not received any reports of accidents related to the software problem so far, according to a company spokesperson. However, the problem can cause the computer system to damage transistors in the hybrid system, triggering a “fail-safe” mode in which the vehicle powers down to avoid causing a more serious problem. If the vehicle’s power systems shut down while the vehicle is being driven, it will come to a stop – possibly in traffic or in another risky situation.
Last month, Toyota recalled its Camry and Corolla models after concerns that the elements in some of the vehicles’ heated seats were defective. To some commentators, both the Camry and Corolla recall and the latest Prius recall are merely the latest in a string of problems for the automaker, including significant problems with acceleration in earlier vehicles.
Owners of the affected Priuses should take them to a dealership as soon as possible to have the problem addressed. If you’ve been injured by a defective vehicle, an experienced Waco, Texas personal injury lawyer can help you learn more about your legal rights and options.