Toyota Philippines recalls 65 Prius units

TOYOTA Motor Philippines Corp. (TMP) has ordered a recall of 65 units of certain Prius models for failing to enter a failsafe mode in “rare” driving scenarios.

In an Oct. 18 dated letter addressed to Ruth B. Castelo, the Department of Trade and Industry’s Undersecretary for its Consumer Protection Group, TMP First VicePresident Rommel R. Gutierrez said the concerned units were produced between April 16, 2009 to April 3, 2013.

“The involved vehicles were designed to enter a failsafe driving mode in response to certain hybrid system faults. Toyota has found that in rare situations, the vehicle may not enter a failsafe driving mode as intended,” read the letter posted on the DTI’s website.

“While power steering and braking remains operational, a vehicle stall while driving at higher speeds could increase the risk of a crash,” it added.

TMP noted that the reprogramming is already being prepared and will immediately notify concerned customers via an official letter to bring their vehicles at Toyota dealers.

The reprogramming campaign will be of no cost to the car owner.

TMP referred to the campaign as a “Special Service Campaign for the Power Management ECU Reprogramming of Certain Prius Models,” adding this “provide[s] a remedy” to the similar campaign announced in February 2014. —