Toyota recalls 340,000 Prius hybrids for faulty brakes

The Basics: Toyota is recalling around 340,000 fourth-gen Prius hybrids around the world because of faulty parking brakes. Around 92,000 of those Priuses were sold in the US, 212,000 in Japan, and the rest in Europe and other markets.

The Problem: The company said that there is, "a possibility that the parking brake could become inoperative. If this occurs and the driver exits the vehicle with the transmission in a gear other than 'Park' while the ignition is on, the vehicle could roll away, increasing the risk of a crash."

Injuries/Deaths: None officially tied to this issue, but Toyota is investigating reports of, "crashes, injuries and deaths," according to USAToday.

The Fix: In the US, Toyota dealers are being told to "add clips on the top of the brake cable dust boots to prevent the cable from becoming inoperative." This will be done at no cost to Prius owners. If you own one of the affected Prius hybrids, you should get a letter from Toyota in November. You can see if your Prius is affected by going to Toyota's recall website and entering your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

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