TOKYO — Toyota Motor Corp. will recall 270,000 Prius hybrid vehicles over brake problems in the United States and Japan, a leading newspaper said Friday.

The recall would affect the new Prius hybrid model, which went on sale in the United States and Japan in May 2009, Japan's top business newspaper, Nihon Keizai, said Friday.

Toyota spokeswoman Ririko Takeuchi also said the Japanese auto giant has launched a probe into the Lexus HS250h model because it uses the same brake system as the Prius hybrid.

Takeuchi said Toyota has not received any complaints about the Lexus HS250h model, and that the probe is to ensure safety.

It said Toyota would soon notify Japan's transport ministry and the U.S. Department of Transportation of the recall.

Japanese public broadcaster NHK also said Friday that Toyota was considering a recall of Prius hybrids in the U.S. and Japan.

Takayuki Fujimoto, a transport ministry official, said the government has yet to receive a recall notice from Toyota. Toyota cannot announce a recall in Japan until it notifies the ministry.

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