4:40pm UK, Monday February 08, 2010

Rob Cole,
Sky News Online

Reports from Japan suggest the embattled car giant Toyota will reveal on Tuesday plans to recall defective Prius cars in Japan and the US.

Toyota says a software glitch is behind a problem with the model’s brakes

Japan’s Kyodo news agency said Toyota would inform the countries’ respective governments of the move on Tuesday.

Japanese media reported at the weekend that the car maker was preparing plans for a recall of 270,000 vehicles affected by a braking problem.

The cars were produced from May last year through to January, it was reported.

A Toyota spokeswoman said no decision on a recall had been taken.

Drivers in Japan and the US have reported braking problems with the new generation Prius.

The company says a software glitch is behind the issue and says it has fixed vehicles that went on sale since last month.

Japanese media has also reported that Toyota will warn owners of the Lexus HS250h and Sai hybrid sedan that their cars may require repairs.

Toyota is already recalling 4.5 million vehicles over defective accelerator pedals.

The company has admitted knowing of 26 incidents involving defective pedals in Europe.

The third generation model of the hybrid vehicle – which uses an electric motor as well as a petrol engine – is the world’s biggest selling gas-electric hybrid car.