DTI lauds Toyota Phils action on Prius model

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) lauded Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) for implementing a recall on the Prius. Toyota implemented a recall on the hybrid car due to faulty brakes.

“We are pleased that TMP has taken the initiative of contacting their customers and perform the required repair at no cost to customers,” Trade Secretary Peter B. Favila said.

DTI said that mistakes that occur in the manufacture of products pose danger to the health and safety of the consuming public. When similar incidents occur in different people when using a specific product, this could be an indication that there is a flaw in its production, and when this happens, a product recall may be necessary.

Recalls may be initiated by the manufacturer upon discovery of defect in its products, but RA 7394, otherwise known as the Consumer Act also have provisions aimed at protecting the safety of consumers from hazardous goods by providing for their retrieval in the market.

Meanwhile, TMP vice president Rommel Gutierrez said that they only sold about 23 units of the P2.25-million hybrid car. Gutierrez said they have already contacted all the owners who agreed to bring in their cars.

In the Prius models, some customers may feel a slight delay in brake reaction, when driving the vehicle over certain road condition while lightly applying the brakes, TMP said.

This is why TMP will be installing a modified ABS management program on Prius at no cost to the owners.

The local recall was instituted after Toyota recalled 223,068 hybrid gasoline-electric vehicles in Japan, including its latest Prius model and three others – the Sai, the Lexus HS250h and the Prius plug-in hybrid, and conducted a voluntary safety recall in the United States for about 133,000 2010 model-year Prius cars and 14,500 Lexus Division 2010 HS 250h cars to update software in the ABS.