2010 Lexus GX 460 SUV Unsafe

By: Bill Waters
04/13/2010 04:03 PM ET

Lexus GX 460 unsafe, according to Consumers Reports. It tested the new SUV and is telling consumers not to buy the vehicle. The sport utility model failed in a series of emergency handling tests.

“None of the other SUVs we’ve tested in the last few years have performed this poorly in this test,” Consumer Reports spokesperson Jon Linkov said in a statement.

GX 460 is not safe because when pushed to the limits, the rear slides out. The electronic stability control does kick in. However, the tests reveal it takes too long to regain control of the vehicle.

The safety test is the latest blow to Toyota’s reputation. The magazine said that during a test of the vehicle’s performance during unusual turns, the rear of the vehicle slid until it was nearly sideways. This problem can lead to a rollover accident.

“In a real world situation, by that time, the car can hit the curb or the side of the road and that’s the situation where, in a vehicle like that, it could cause it to roll over,” Gabriel Shenhar, senior auto test engineer at Consumer Reports, said in a statement.

The problem occurred during a handling test on its test track. During the test, the driver approaches a turn unusually fast, then releases the accelerator pedal to simulate the response of an alarmed driver. This causes the rear of the vehicle to slide.

This problem is only with this particular model. In fact, Toyota recently redesigned the 2010 SUV. No injuries have been reported in connection with the problem identified.

Toyota SUV Luxury Series

The mid-size luxury-type sport utility vehicle (SUV) debuted in 2002. The first generation GX 470 was introduced at the North American International Auto Show. It earned great reviews during its first year of sales.

The second generation GX 460 was introduced at the Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition in 2009. It featured a more powerful 4.6 L V8 engine. The vehicle also offered a new interior and drivetrain features.

The SUV design has on-road and off-road capabilities. The sports utility vehicle has the same exterior design as the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado. The GX is built at the Tahara plant in Japan.

Second Generation Vehicle

The GX 460 offers 301 horsepower and 329 lb-ft of torque. It has a new 6-speed automatic transmission. The vehicle offers an EPA-estimated 15 mpg city and 20 mpg highway.

The 7-passenger SUV comes standard with a power folding two-passenger third row, which folds flat. The second row can slide forward or backwards. However, the third row is no longer removable and takes up additional space cargo capacity has declined considerably.

Some of the luxury features include ventilated front seats that are heated and standard. A toggle switch replaces the transfer case’s floor mounted shift lever. The gauge cluster can display the steering wheel angle to aid the driver in off road situations.

The SUV has a nice 4.2-inch LCD center display and backup camera. The optional Mark Levinson system includes 17 speakers. The navigation system is hard drive based and the Rear Seat Entertainment System (RSES) uses two displays mounted on the rear seat backs.

Safety Features and Awards

New standard safety features include active headrests, which move forward and upward in a rear collision to minimize whiplash. The driver and passenger now have knee airbags. The second row side impact torso airbags were also added in the 2010 model.

New safety options include a Pre-Collision System and Driver Monitoring System. It comes with a lane departure warning system with Safety Connect. Front and side view cameras like those on the LX 570 are offered as an option.

Defective Gas Pedal Problems

The Transportation Department plans to fine Toyota Motor Corp $16.4 million for allegedly hiding a defective gas-pedal problem. The fine is the largest allowed under the law. The agency alleges that the automaker knew about the problem in September.

However, it did not issue a recall until January. Auto manufacturers are required to notify regulators within five business days of the time they know they have a problem. The “sticky pedal” problem eventually led to the recall of 2.3 million Toyota vehicles in the U.S. in January.

Follow Us