World Business

Toyota to repair stability control systems in Lexus GX 460 SUVs

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-04-15 16:26

TOKYO - Toyota Motor Corp will reportedly repair possible defects in approximately 6,000 models of their high-end Lexus GX 460 sport utility vehicles (SUV), sources with knowledge of the matter said Thursday.

The world's largest automaker halted global sales of the model following the US Consumer Reports magazine calling the GX 460 SUV a "safety risk," citing the potential for the vehicle to roll over when cornering at high speeds. The magazine assigned a "don't buy" recommendation to the vehicle.

Toyota said they have not discovered any problems in the SUV that could be in possible violation of regulations but opted to take swift action to prioritize the safety of drivers in the wake of a massive global recall that has shaken consumer confidence in the automaker, sources said.

Consumer Reports, a nonprofit New York-based publication said April 13 that emergency driving tests indicated the 2010 GX 460 model may be prone to rolling over.

"The GX's rear end slid out until the vehicle was almost sideways before the electronic stability control system was able to regain control, at a Connecticut test track," the magazine said.

"In real-world driving, that situation could lead to a rollover accident, which could cause serious injury or death," it added.

Toyota is expected to look at the electronic control system of the SUV responsible for stabilizing the vehicle when it is running and also determine whether to take emergency measures for another of its SUVs, the Land Cruiser Prado, the structure of which is similar to that of the GX 460.