Further recalls expected at Toyota

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Toyota's troubles looked to have worsened after reports that it was preparing to recall 270,000 of its Prius models in the US and Japan over a braking problem.

The car maker is already recalling 180,000 other vehicles in the UK and millions more globally because of faulty accelerator pedals, and now faces a US government probe into the safety of the flagship hybrid model.

Japan's top business newspaper, Nihon Keizai, said Toyota would be notifying Japan's transport ministry and the US Department of Transportation of the recall. A spokesman for the firm said it had not yet decided about the move.

US transport officials have received 124 reports from drivers about problems with the brakes, including four of crashes, prompting the congressional review.

There have been no reports of any such accidents in the UK and a spokesman for Toyota said there would be no Prius recall here.

In a new development today, Toyota said it was investigating possible brake problems with its Lexus hybrid. Spokeswoman Ririko Takeuchi said the probe into the Lexus HS250h model was being carried out as a safety precaution because it used the same brake system as the Prius.

She said Toyota had not received any complaints about the Lexus model.

The Prius issue comes after the firm started recalling for repair around the world seven models that could be affected by a faulty accelerator pedal.

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