U.S. eyes Prius brakes By Associated Press/ BostonHerald.com Friday, February 5, 2010 WASHINGTON - Toyota faced mounting pressure yesterday as the government opened a probe of brake problems with the Prius, a crown jewel of its lineup. The beleaguered automaker said it was “too soon” to decide whether to add the hybrid to the millions of cars it has recalled.       Some owners of the 2010 Prius have reported their brakes do not always engage immediately when they press the brake pedal, or that the brakes have an inconsistent feel. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it would assess the scope of the problem and the safety risk to about 37,000 cars that could be affected.       The investigation comes as safety questions surround Toyota, which has already issued broad recalls for millions of its best-selling vehicles, because of gas pedals that can become stuck.       Asked whether Toyota would recall the 2010 Prius, spokesman Brian Lyons said: “It’s too soon to call at this point. We will, of course, fully cooperate with NHTSA in that investigation.”       Congressional investigators expanded their review of Toyota to include the Prius as California Rep. Darrell Issa, the ranking Republican on the House Oversight Committee, asked Toyota for records on its Prius brakes.       The panel plans a hearing next week on Toyota’s recalls, the first of two in Congress this month.                                           ( © Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. )