Lexus GX460: Feds Going Under the Hood

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration confirmed earlier this week that it would be launching an investigation into the 2010 Lexus GX460 SUV after Consumer Reports released a report saying that the vehicle was not safe to drive.

Author:: Andrea Tse
Publish date:: Apr 15, 2010 1:21 PM EDT

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration confirmed earlier this week that it would be launching an investigation into the 2010 Lexus GX460 SUV after Consumer Reports released a study alleging that the vehicle was not safe to drive and did not pass safety tests.

"We're in the process of testing the 2010 Lexus GX460 SUV to ensure it complies with NHTSA's safety standard for electronic stability control (ESC), and to understand better the results obtained by Consumers Union (CU) reported today. It is our belief that ESC should prevent the kind of fishtail event described in CU's tests," the NHTSA said in a statement. "As we review the findings, NHTSA remains in close communication with CU. We are also in contact with Toyota about this issue."

The NHTSA is advising drivers of the 2010 Lexus GX460 SUV to use "care and caution," while

Consumer Reports

is advising against buying the vehicle until the matter has been resolved.

Toyota

(TM) - Get Report

has responded to the

Consumer Reports

study by asking its dealers to temporarily halt sales of the vehicle. It is also conducting its own investigations. "We are taking the situation with the GX 460 very seriously and are determined to identify and correct the issue

Consumer Reports

identified," Toyota said in a statement.

-- Reported by Andrea Tse in New York

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>>Lexus GX 460 SUV Is a 'Don't Buy'

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