Toyota to recall Prius hybrids over ABS software

The global recall is in response to driver complaints about poor braking performance under some conditions. It will see new software loaded into the car that should improve braking while ABS is active at low speeds, the company said.

"We heard concerns from customers and are recalling the cars in order to resolve the problem completely," said Akio Toyoda, CEO of Toyota, at a packed Tokyo news conference.

At issue is a reduction in braking performance when the brakes are softly applied while the car is driving on slippery surfaces such as snow, ice, or even road surfaces that have been painted over.

In normal driving conditions, the cars use hydraulic brakes and a regenerative braking system to recover energy as they slow down, but when the ABS cuts in, the cars switch to hydraulic braking only, which can result in reduced braking performance and a longer stopping distance. Toyota didn't say how much longer that distance could be.

The problem only occurs under soft braking, Toyota said. Applying increased pressure on the brake pedal when ABS is in operation will give better brake performance, the company said.