Lexus GX 460 Issues Prompt Toyota to Test Other SUVs
Anxious to prove it takes safety issues seriously, Toyota announced today that it would be testing the stability of all its SUVs. The move was prompted by Consumer Reports’ issuance of a “not acceptable” rating for the 2010 Lexus GX 460 SUV.
Hours after Consumer Reports published its rating, Toyota announced it was suspending sales of the GX 460 in the U.S. and Canada. The automaker has since suspended sales of the vehicle in markets elsewhere in the world. While the automaker has not decided if it will issue a recall for the SUV, it is offering current owners use of loaner cars while it tries to figure out why it failed Consumer Reports’ handling test.
Consumer Reports’ test found that the GX 460 SUV was prone to slide when driven in sweeping turns. Ideally, the vehicle’s electronic stability control system would stop such a slide. The publication advised consumers not to buy the Lexus GX 460. According to the report, this could cause rollover accidents resulting in serious injury or death.
Toyota’s testing effort will include current models of its Rav4, FJ Cruiser, Highlander, 4Runner, Sequoia, Land Cruiser and Sienna. It is not known how long the tests will take to complete. According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, Toyota is now seeking to recreate the situations in which the GX 460 was examined by Consumer Reports to determine whether its SUVs have stability problems.
