Toyota Motor Corp. is recalling 340,000 gas-electric hybrid Prius cars around the world 212,000 of them in Japan and 94,000 in North America, for a defect in their parking brakes. Toyota said the parking brake cable can disengage unexpectedly, causing the brakes to stop working properly. In the recall announced Wednesday, Toyota said 17,000 Prius vehicles were recalled in Europe, and the rest in Australia and other regions. Toyota's brand suffered in 2009, when the company was embroiled in a massive global recall over quality lapses, including faulty brakes, defective floor mats and sticky gas pedals. Its brand power has bounced back since then, after the company, long known for high worker morale, reviewed its quality control.

Source: ABC News October 13, 2016 00:45 UTC