Toyota recalls 260,000 cars in US

Two days after its huge global recall of Prius hybrids, Toyota recalled another 260,000 cars and pickup trucks in the United States Friday for electrical problems involving the brakes. The recall affects Toyota Tacomas and Lexus RX350s for the model years 2012 and 2013, and 2012 Rav4s, according to a report by the US National Transportation Safety Board. The report said an electrical component of the brake actuator in the brake system of the vehicles could malfunction, turning on warning lights for the stability control, braking and traction control systems. "If this occurs, these systems could become inoperative... increasing the risk of a crash," the report said. On Wednesday Toyota announced in Japan the recall of 1.9 million Prius hybrid cars after the discovery of problems with software used to control a power converter. It said they posed a risk to drivers.