Toyota has issued a worldwide 1.9 million vehicle recall for its flagship Toyota Prius. The recall will require dealers to perform a software update that will fix a problem with the hybrid control unit.
This recall is the largest ever for what is the world’s best-selling hybrid vehicle. In North America alone it will affect 713,000 vehicles. Japan accounts for 997,000 vehicles, Europe another 130,000, and the rest are scattered throughout other areas.
The problem that has forced the recall of the Toyota Prius stems from a software issue that can cause the boost converter to operate incorrectly. This can lead to the boost converter overheating and damaging transistors.
If this happens, warning lights will illuminate to notify the driver and the car may automatically enter a failsafe mode to prevent further damage. This will reduce engine power allowing the driver only enough power to pull over to the side of the road.
The first instance of this problem reported in the United State was back in May 2011. Since then, no injuries or accidents have been reported as a result of the malfunction.
This is the third recall for the third-generation Toyota Prius. Previous recalls have been issued to fix an anti-lock brake software problem and a faulty brake pressure accumulator.
Owners of affected vehicles will need to bring their cars into a Toyota dealership where a 40 minute software update will correct the problem. In some cases the update may not take, requiring the replacement of the control module which would take three hours.
Nicole Wakelin fell in love with cars as a teenager when she got to go for a ride in a Ferrari. It was red and it was fast and that was all that mattered. Game over. She considers things a bit more carefully now, but still has a weakness for fast, beautiful cars. Nicole also writes for NerdApproved and GeekMom.
