The US Transportation Department has opened an investigation¹ into brake problems in the 2010 Toyota Prius.

美国交通部已开始介入调查2010款普锐斯的刹车问题。

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Toyota's reputation could be tarnished for years

The move follows an admission from Toyota that it had had a problem with the brake system in the hybrid³混合动力, which the carmaker said was fixed⁴ in January.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received 124 reports from drivers about the issue, including four of crashes.

There have been no reports of any such accidents in the UK.

The investigation will look into allegations主张，断言 of momentary⁵ loss of braking capability⁶ while travelling over uneven⁷不平坦的，奇数的 road surfaces, potholes⁸凹坑 or bumps碰撞. However it will not suspend sales.

This latest alarm for the beleaguered⁹包围的，围困的 carmaker - the world's number one - follows worldwide recalls of almost eight million cars due to separate floor mat地毯 and pedal脚踏板 problems.

No Prius recall

Toyota vehicles made and sold in South Africa are the latest to be recalled, a company spokesman has told the BBC.

The Japanese government has also ordered Toyota to investigate brake problems but the company says it was "alleviated缓和，减轻" at the end of last month by making changes to the software in the braking system.

Toyota's managing officer, Hiroyuki Yokoyama, said although the company had found a clash between the anti-lock brake system防滑刹车系统 (ABS) and regenerative braking反馈制动, more investigation needed to be done before deciding on whether to issue a recall on the Prius.

Earlier, he told a press conference in Japan: "As for whether this will mean a recall, we are currently looking into what we can do as soon as possible for our customers to buy our vehicles. However, we hope for a bit more time before deciding on specific measures."

As depressing the brakes further activated¹⁰ normal braking, Toyota said the glitch小故障，失灵 was not legally a safety hazard and said it had received no reports of any accidents related to it.

Mr Yokoyama said Toyota was listening and responding to its customers' concerns: "When we've been told something by our customers, our goal is to respond as soon as possible, and we have already changed the design for the Prius from January."

Toyota's admission follows 200 reports of complaints from drivers in the US and Japan. There have been no braking problems reported in Europe, the carmaker said.

In the UK, it confirmed that it would be nearly a week before it could start repairs on cars with defective¹² accelerator pedals.