TOKYO: Toyota Motor Corp. stopped shipments of its Lexus HS250h and SAI hybrids from a factory in southern Japan due to possible brake problems with the models, which use the same system as Prius hybrid cars.

Shipments from the factory in Kyushu were stopped yesterday to inspect the models, Norifumi Wakikawa, a spokesman at Toyota Motor Kyushu, said by phone today. Toyota, the world's biggest carmaker, is expected to recall the 2010 version of the Prius in Japan this week to repair a problem with the braking system.

Scrutiny of the vehicles may further tarnish Toyota's reputation after the Toyota City, Japan-based company recalled almost 8 million cars globally to repair separate defects linked to unintended acceleration. Those recalls have yet to include any cars in Japan, where the Prius was last year's top-selling model.

Toyota has been investigating reports that Prius owners driving at low speeds on bumpy or icy roads may experience moments where the car continues to coast for about a second after the brakes are applied because of the anti-lock brake system. The company plans to recall at least 270,000 Priuses in Japan and the U.S., a person familiar with the matter said, declining to be identified as the information isn't yet public.

Japan, U.S. Recalls

Ririko Takeuchi, a Toyota spokeswoman in Tokyo, declined to say whether the company will recall the Prius. The carmaker may notify Japan's Transport Ministry of plans to recall the model as early as today, followed by a similar action in the U.S., Nikkei English News said, without citing anyone.

Juergen Stolze, a Toyota spokesman in Cologne, Germany, said yesterday the carmaker will decide by Feb. 10 whether to recall Prius cars in Europe.

Toyota rose 1.8% to 3,340 yen as of 9:57 a.m. on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The company has lost about $33 billion in market value since Jan. 21, when it announced a recall of 2.3 million U.S. vehicles for defects linked to unintended acceleration.