- Toyota suspends sales of its 2010 Lexus GX 460.
- The action comes after Consumer Reports labeled the SUV with, “Don’t Buy.”
- Toyota is offering loaner cars to GX owners until a remedy is in place.
TORRANCE, California — Toyota suspended sales of the 2010 Lexus GX 460 on Tuesday after Consumer Reports told shoppers not to buy the $52,845 SUV because it posed a “safety risk.” The move is the latest embarrassment for the Japanese automaker, which has been embroiled in an ongoing quality crisis in the wake of massive recalls.
“We are taking the situation with the GX 460 very seriously and are determined to identify and correct the issue Consumer Reports identified,” said Mark Templin, Lexus group vice president and general manager, in a statement issued late Tuesday. “At this time we have asked our dealers to temporarily suspend sales of the 2010 GX 460.”
Templin said that Toyota “engineering teams are vigorously testing the GX using Consumer Reports‘ specific parameters.” He said that “for any customer who has purchased a 2010 GX 460 and is concerned about driving their vehicle, we will provide a loaner car until a remedy is available.”
As of Wednesday morning, at least one frightened consumer had posted a complaint about the 2010 GX 460 with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
“On 4/3/2010 we purchased a 2010 GX 460 from Lexus of Spokane in Washington State,” the unidentified consumer said in a complaint filed with NHTSA that included a reference to the Consumer Reports “don’t buy” warning. “Lexus says the vehicle is safe. The SUV is in our garage, has 250 miles on it, and we are afraid to drive it. What should we do????”
As of Wednesday morning, no recall of the 2010 Lexus GX 460 had been posted on the NHTSA Web site. Toyota has sold about 5,400 of the Lexus GX 460 in the four months since it has been on the market, according to Automotive News. It is unclear how Toyota will deal with the GX 460s already on the road.
Consumer Reports said the big SUV was prone to slide when driven in sweeping turns. The rare safety warning and subsequent suspension of sales of the GX 460 is the latest chapter in Toyota’s quality crisis — a public relations nightmare for the automaker, which had routinely won endorsements from Consumer Reports in the past.
U.S. safety regulators have proposed a record $16.4 million fine against Toyota, accusing the automaker of knowingly delaying a recall over defective accelerator pedals.
Inside Line says: 2010 Lexus GX 460 owners might want to check with their dealers about those loaner cars until this issue is resolved. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
Chilcot Inquiry. , , .
0 Comments.