Nairobi taxi firm yet to find fault with Toyota Prius

The recall is the latest blow to the troubled car maker following investigations launched by the US safety officials into reported delays in activating the brakes.

The company said more than 436,000 vehicles could be affected but Toyota East Africa Limited — the company’s local outlet — said Prius models in Kenya may not be affected by the recall.

Latest scare

Toyota said it informed the Japanese Transport Ministry that recalled the third generation remodelled 2010 Prius gas-electric hybrid that went on sale last year.

The recall was initially made for 170,000 cars in Japan, but is likely to be widened to include models sold around the world.

Also being recalled are two other hybrid models – the Lexus HS250h sedan.

“I’m confident that we do not have these particular Prius hybrid models in Kenya yet but if a customer has already imported such models then we are ready to help sort out the braking problems,” said Benda Kithaka, the marketing manager at Toyota East Africa Limited.

Even though the recall of the Prius hybrid model presents the latest scare to Toyota which is already trying to repair defaults in millions of its cars recalled for mechanical problems such as sticky accelerator pedals, Toyota East Africa Limited says it has not recorded any cases of malfunctioning of cars sold in Kenya or region.

“We have a long term plan to distribute the Prius hybrid models through our Nairobi outlet but for now we have not brought in any such models” said Ms Benda Kithaka, the marketing manager at Toyota East Africa Limited.

The company said its technicians we ready to assist any Toyota car owners in east Africa who have experienced any mechanical problems with their cars.

“Not all Toyota cars have defects but even the affected models are from specific manufacturing lines and it depends on which year the cars were manufactured” Ms Kithaka said and added that the company has had to open a telephone hot-line for customers who have been seeking information so as to avoid panic in the market.

Toyota has been grappling with potentially damaging recalls and lawsuits since the beginning of the year.

Several deaths have been recorded in some Toyota car models said to have developed sudden acceleration throwing the company into possible lawsuits and compensation claims from customers.