Damage to Toyota's image has plummeted further with the car maker considering a US and Japanese recall of its flagship Prius hybrid - the symbol of its technological prowess and green car ambitions.
Toyota is also investigating possible brake problems with its luxury Sai saloon, also a hybrid, which is sold only in Japan.
Toyota UK's managing director Miguel Fonseca said a Prius recall in the US and Japan was possible - but that there had been "very few" complaints about the car in the UK. He added, "we believe the cars are safe".
"I drive a Prius, my family drives Toyotas and I think they drive safe cars," he added.
The beleaguered car maker already faces probes of brake problems with the latest Prius model in the US and Japan but remained tight-lipped about adding the petrol-electric hybrid to the millions of cars it has recalled.
Toyota is also investigating possible brake problems with its luxury Lexus hybrid.
Nihon Keizai, Japan's top business newspaper, said Toyota Motor Corporation would soon notify Japan's transport ministry and the US Department of Transportation of a recall of 270,000 Prius hybrids.
Toyota said it was considering a recall but no decision had been made. "Nothing has been decided on whether we will recall or not," said spokeswoman Ririko Takeuchi.
Toyota UK spokesman Scott Brownlee said reports of a problem with Prius's brakes were being "thoroughly investigated", adding: "If we find anything we will act on it".
But he sought to reassure drivers of the model by saying that so far the firm had found "absolutely no problem" in regards to safety.
