Toyota Motor Europe today announced it would recall 52,903 units of its third generation Toyota Prius in Europe in order to carry out a modification to the software used to manage the vehicle’s Anti Lock Brake System (ABS).

The recall is being taken in response to reports of inconsistent brake feel during slow and steady braking on bumpy or slick road surfaces when the ABS is actuated. It entails a change to the ABS management program of the vehicle’s Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in order to improve response time and the system’s overall sensitivity to tyre slippage. The procedure will take approximately 40 minutes using standard test equipment in use at all authorized Toyota dealers.

To date, there have been no accidents linked to this issue reported in Europe. No other Toyota or Lexus models are affected by this latest recall action in Europe.

Customers will be contacted by letter in the coming weeks informing them of the recall and the need to contact their dealership at their earliest possible convenience in order to complete the modification.

The Prius recall in Europe follows a separate recall announced on January 29 for the reinforcement of the accelerator pedal assembly on just under 1.7 million vehicles in Europe to eliminate the potential risk of excess friction that could, in rare instances, cause the pedal to stick. The first shipment of accelerator reinforcement parts have already arrived in Europe, and repairs will start this week.

Toyota continues to make concerted efforts to prioritise the repair of the recalled vehicles and is currently working to contact affected customers in order to make the necessary repair arrangements.