**A number of Toyota drivers in the United States and Japan have reported problems with the brakes on the latest version of the Prius hybrid car.**The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received about 100 of the reports while 14 have been received in Japan.
Three drivers claimed brake problems resulted in crashes involving injuries.
The company said it was in the process of confirming the contents of such notifications and was investigating.
It added that it would be “premature to comment at this time”.
The Prius is not implicated in the current worldwide recall relating to problems with accelerator pedals sticking.
But the hybrid was involved in a separate recall in the US which was introduced after drivers reported accelerator pedals getting stuck under the floor mats.
“Maybe they were a little safety deaf”
Ray LaHood, US Transportation Secretary
The two separate issues relating to uncontrolled acceleration have lead to more than eight million Toyota vehicles worldwide being identified as potentially faulty - although the company stresses the chances of actually finding a flaw are very slim indeed.
There was further bad news for Toyota on Tuesday when latest figures showed that its sales in the US had fallen by 16% in January and its US market share had dropped to its lowest level since January 2006.
Costly recall
The Japanese carmaker, the world’s biggest, is facing growing criticism that it has not done enough to make sure its vehicles are safe.
The US Transportation Secretary, Ray LaHood, told the Associated Press news agency that federal officials had had to alert Toyota to the seriousness of the safety issues that eventually led to the recalls.
He said: “They should have taken it seriously from the very beginning when we first started discussing it with them. Maybe they were a little safety deaf.”
Toyota’s current massive vehicle recall could cost it up to $2bn (£1.25bn) in lost output and sales.
The recall of millions of vehicles may force the company - which is the world’s largest car maker - to cut its 2010 sales forecasts.
On Tuesday, Toyota’s executive vice-president, Shinichi Sasaki, has said he is extremely worried about the sales forecast.