Toyota recalls

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TOKYO, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Toyota added more than 400,000 2010 hybrids to the list of vehicles the Japanese automaker is recalling because of various problems.

About half of the 437,000 third-generation Priuses subject to recall were sold in Japan and more than 150,000 are owned in the United States. The cars involved were sold starting last May but don't include vehicles built after Jan. 27. Owners reported problems with the brakes in certain conditions, such as rough roads. The company said the cause was a software problem but that the brakes still worked.

Toyota had already issued notices that about 8 million other vehicles needed to be taken to dealers to repair floor-mat and accelerator pedal problems.

Toyota President Akio Toyoda, in an op-ed article in The Washington Post Tuesday, said he took "personal responsibility" for the problems.

"That is why I am personally leading the effort to restore trust in our word and our products," Toyoda wrote.

Last week, Toyota said the recalls and expected loss of sales due to bad publicity would cost the company about $2 billion in the next year.

Toyoda, in announcing the latest round of recalls Tuesday, said: "I apologize for the concern and inconvenience we have caused our customers. We will redouble our commitment to quality as a lifeline of our company. Together, we will do everything to regain the confidence of our customers."