Toyota Prius

Toyota Says Prius Brake Complaints Stem From ABS Calibration

The government is opening a formal investigation into the brakes of the 2010 Toyota Prius hybrid sedan only hours after the automaker in Japan acknowledged problems, but is yet to commit to another recall.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said today it will loop specifically on whether the Prius' brakes stop working momentarily after the car hits a bump. It says its Office of Defects Investigation has received 124 complaints about Prius brakes from consumers, including four reports in which crashes are alleged to have occurred. Investigators have spoken with consumers and conducted pre-investigatory field work.

"Safety is our top priority," said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in a statement. "That is why in recent weeks NHTSA has also issued a consumer advisory on the recall of several models of Toyota vehicles and the Pontiac Vibe involving pedal entrapment and sticky accelerator pedals. We will continue to monitor these issues closely."

The Prius is not among the eight models that Toyota has stopped selling because of fears of unintended acceleration. But Prius is one of the automakers' most important models, carrying the flag for Toyota's mantra as the leading "green" automaker. The sedan gets 50 miles a gallon.