Japan's government has confirmed five new accidents involving possible brake malfunction in Toyota Prius hybrids and will urge the troubled carmaker to investigate, national media reported Saturday. The transport ministry has received about 80 complaints this month about malfunctions in the brake system of the latest model of the flagship Prius, the Tokyo Shimbun and Fuji Television Network reported, without quoting sources.
Five of the complaints relate to crashes in which, according to the drivers, the brakes malfunctioned, the news reports said, adding that the ministry would urge the company to launch an investigation. Toyota has separately received over 100 complaints since the crisis broke, Fuji said, adding that the company planned to announce details of its safety measures, including recalls of the Prius, as early as next week.
It was not possible to immediately confirm the reports. The company said it had redesigned the anti-lock braking system - designed to prevent skidding - for the latest version of its Prius produced since last month and would soon announce steps for those already on the road.