Toyota says it experienced the same problem with its 2010 Lexus GX460 SUV that prompted Consumer Reports to issue a rare "Don't Buy" warning to car shoppers. The automaker is in the process of determining what to do about this safety issue.
Already, Toyota has temporarily suspended the sale and manufacture of the GX40 in the wake of concerns brought forth by the popular magazine. The car manufacturer, which has come under fire for waiting too long to act after finding out about the unintended acceleration problems, immediately set about trying to replicate the magazine's findings.
Consumer Reports, known for its vehicle tests and reviews, said that the vehicle's back slid out too far during sharp turns when taken for a test run under simulated conditions. Ideally, the vehicle's electronic stability control is supposed to keep the vehicle from rolling over, but Consumer Report says that during testing, the GX 460 was almost sideways before its ESC responded to remedy the situation.
Another major auto defect is the last problem Toyota needs right now. Last week the automaker recalled 870,000 Sienna minivans (600,000 in the US and 270,000 in Canada) over a corrosion issue that can happen after long-term exposure to road salt, which may cause the spare tire to come off the vehicle and drop onto the road.
The automaker is still dealing with the fallout of recalling over 8 million vehicles in recent months because of brake problems, ill-fitting floor mats, gas pedal problems, and unintended acceleration issues. Dozens of plaintiffs have stepped forward to file auto products liability complaints and wrongful death lawsuits over the defects that have caused catastrophic injuries and killed a number of people. The Us Department of Transportation fined Toyota $16.4 million for its delayed response to the sudden acceleration problems.
Toyota Agrees Lexus S.U.V. Has Problem With Handling, NY Times, April 16, 2010
Toyota conducts safety tests on all SUV models, AP, April 15, 2010
Toyota recalls 870,000 more vehicles amid cable concerns, Financial Times, April 19, 2010
Related Web Resources:
Don't Buy: Safety Risk--2010 Lexus GX 460, Consumer Reports, April 13, 2010
Rollover: The Hidden History of SUV, PBS.org
SUV Rollovers
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