Toyota has insisted there have been no reported problems with the brakes on the latest version of its Prius car in the UK or other parts of Europe.

丰田汽车宣称，英国和欧洲其它地区未曾收到新款普锐斯轿车的刹车系统问题报告。

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Toyota is currently beset with safety concerns

The comment came after the firm said it had "received complaints" about the braking performance of the vehicle in Japan and North America.

Toyota said it was investigating the matter, and it would be "premature²" to comment further at this stage.

The matter is separate to a worldwide Toyota recall over accelerator pedals油门踏板.

The Prius is not implicated³ in牵连 that recall over problems with accelerator pedals sticking.

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it had received about 100 reports of faulty Prius brakes, with a further 14 reported in Japan.

Three drivers claimed brake problems resulted in导致 crashes involving injuries.

Costly⁴ 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美联社 news agency that federal officials had had to alert Toyota to the seriousness of the accelerator 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产量，输出 and sales.

The recall of millions of vehicles may force the company - which is the world's largest car maker⁵ - 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.