Toyota begins Prius hybrid vehicles recall

Toyota dealers around the globe were preparing on Wednesday for the fallout from the company's latest recall of about 440-thousand Prius and other hybrid vehicles.

The pullback was initiated to fix braking problems, after some automobile owners reported momentary unresponsiveness in certain driving conditions.

Toyota began its recall of 223-thousand cars in Japan with a trickle of owners turning up at dealerships for the requisite repairs on Wednesday.

Makiko Noguchi, Prius Owner, said, "The situation could be better if Toyota had explained it earlier. I don't feel that the trouble needs a recall."

Workers walk between newly assembled Prius hybrid vehicles near Toyota Motor Corp's plant in Toyota, central Japan February 9, 2010. REUTERS/Yuriko Nakao