Between floor mat and throttle pedal issues, Toyota has an 8.1-million-vehicle worldwide recall on its hands – but that number could be poised to grow. Reports are now in that Japan has ordered the troubled automaker to start an investigation into potential braking issues in the automaker’s top-selling Prius hybrid.

Automotive News says complaints of brake issues on the current Prius have been filed in both Japan and North America, with most complaints filed since the end of last year.

“All the complaints were nearly the same,” Toyota spokeswoman Ririko Takeuchi told Automotive News. “They are usually about driving in bumpy or icy conditions and when you push the brake, there is an unusual feel.”

We’re used to an odd sensation when a hybrid vehicle transitions from hydraulic braking to regenerative (i.e. using the electric motors to slow the vehicle) braking, but complaints registered with the U.S. National Highway Traffic & Safety Administration (NHTSA) suggest a momentary pause in braking over loose surfaces that, according to complaints filed, has led to at least one accident.

Japan’s Ministry of Transportation hasn’t commented on its directive, and NHTSA has yet to issue an investigation of its own.

Meanwhile, the NHTSA is launching an investigation into the drive-by-wire electronics of several Toyota models, in a search to determine if floor mats and sticky pedal actuation are actually the end story with regards to unintended acceleration issues.

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