Toyota Motor chief executive Akio Toyoda apologized Friday for the problems that led to the company’s recall of more than 8 million cars. But he did not announce any solution for brake problems of its popular Prius hybrid.

Toyoda, the grandson of the company’s founder, made his first public appearance in the two weeks that the company has faced a growing crisis over the safety and quality of its vehicles.

The recall affected 8.1 million vehicles worldwide and will cost the company an estimated $2 billion in repair costs and lost sales due to a sticking accelerator. Toyota has not said how much the new problems with the braking system in the Prius will cost it, though.

Toyoda said an investigation of the Prius problems is under way, and a decision on whether there will be another recall will be announced as soon as possible.

The company also announced Friday it is looking at the brake systems of the latest Lexus hybrid vehicles as well as a Japanese model called the Sai — because they use the same system as the one on the 2010 Prius.

But Toyoda denied the company has been trying to hide problems with the brakes from safety officials in the United States and Japan. Still, he admitted Toyota needed to do more to assure customers about the safety of its vehicles.

“I feel we are in stormy weather,” he said. “Under this situation, [we] must regain customer trust. Tackle the problem. My role is to carry it out. We lacked customer perspective. It’s very unfortunate.”

The company has admitted it had a problem with the software controlling the anti-lock braking system of the 2010 model year Prius. The company said earlier this week that it has changed the software for cars produced since January, and it is looking into what to do with the vehicles already on the road.

(Source: CNN)