Associated Press | Toyota Motor Corp. has been hit by over 100 complaints in the U.S. and Japan about brake problems with the popular Prius hybrid, the latest in a spate of quality troubles for the automaker as it grapples with massive global recalls.

The Japanese company’s sales are being battered in the U.S. – Toyota’s biggest market – after recalls of top-selling models to fix a gas pedal that can stick in the depressed position.

The new Prius gas-electric hybrid, which went on sale in Japan and the U.S. in May 2009, is not part of the recalls that extend to Europe and China, covering nearly 4.5 million vehicles.

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From Motortrend: One of the biggest casualties of Toyota’s recall disaster was the midsize Camry, its perennial longtime top-seller. Camry sales fell 24 percent in January, due in part to the fact that dealers didn’t sell them the last six days of the month, falling behind rival Honda Accord — and also the Nissan Altima and Chevrolet Malibu.

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By Robert Channick and Mike Hughlett | Chicago-area dealers are gearing up for a massive repair backlog — and some customer backlash — after Toyota Motors Corp. announced plans Monday to fix a sticking gas pedal that could cause unintended acceleration in some 2.3 million cars in the U.S.

The 30-minute repair will install a steel reinforcement bar into the pedal assembly in order to reduce friction. With parts and technical manuals expected to arrive beginning Wednesday, many local dealers will offer extended service hours through next week. Few, however, are planning to stay open round the clock, something the company touted in its effort to speed repairs to the vehicles, and its own tarnished image.

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