Recent criticism leveled at the 2010 Lexus GX 460 has to do with the electronic steering correction control commonly referred to as Electronic Steering Control (ESC). Designed to help maintain control of a high riding SUV, this Consumer Reports test showed it didn’t activate until it was too late.

Since Consumer Reports gave the 2010 Lexus GX 460 SUV a Don’t Buy: Safety Risk designation because of a problem we experienced during one of our standard emergency-handling tests, we have seen many comments on our blog, as well as on others. To address the most common questions raised, our automotive engineers have put together the following answers, further explaining the test where the GX 460 slid out almost sideways before the electronic stability control system was able to regain control of the vehicle.

Rollover issues are nothing new to SUV’s, Critics have pointed to this glaring safety issue with these vehicles for years. The ESC is designed to help compensate for the high center of gravity design. Wikipedia discusses the issue further below.

A high center of gravity makes a vehicle more prone to rollover accidents than lower vehicles, especially if the vehicle leaves the road or in emergency maneuvers. Figures from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that most passenger cars have about a 10% chance of rollover while SUVs have between 14% and 23% (varying from a low of 14% for the AWD Ford Edge to a high of 23% for the FWD Ford Escape). Many modern SUVs are equipped with electronic stability control (ESC) to prevent rollovers on flat surfaces, but 95% of rollovers are “tripped” – meaning the vehicle strikes something low, such as a curb or shallow ditch, causing it to tip over.[6]

According to NHTSA data, SUV’s and pickups are at a disadvantage in single-vehicle accidents (such as when the driver falls asleep, or loses control swerving around a deer), which comprise 43% of fatal accidents, with more than double the chance of rolling over. This risk relates closely to overall US motor vehicle fatality data, showing that SUVs and pickups generally have a higher fatality rate than cars of the same manufacturer.[7]

Consumer Reports Blog answers two common questions about the testing that was performed on the 2010 Lexus GX 460.

What does this test illustrate?
This particular aspect of the test simulates the reaction of a vehicle if a driver enters a sweeping turn, such as an off-ramp, and lifts off the throttle to negotiate the corner. We look for a vehicle to have benign handling characteristics in this test, remaining predictable and controllable through the turn.

Shouldn’t drivers be responsible for driving, rather than depend on vehicle electronics to protect them?
Even if the driver obeys the posted limits, that they may need to quickly slow down in a corner due to an obstacle in the road or a traffic backup. Our tests have shown that even vehicles without the protection of vehicle electronics like stability control don’t exhibit the oversteer behavior that the GX did. Finally, many drivers lack the training to counter unexpected oversteer, and properly-calibrated stability control can still do that faster and more effectively than even a trained driver.

If you suspect you have been injured in a car accident related to the Toyota manufacturing recall, please contact our office with your Georgia personal injury law questions. We are your Georgia car accident lawyers.

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Tragic car accidents related to Toyota have continued to erode consumer confidence in a once stellar automobile manufacturer. Here is a time line of some of the more recent news stories related to the Toyota recall. So far there have been three major recall issues including: misfitting car mats, unexpected accelerator issues and faulty spare tire mounting issues. These manufacturing issues can lead to accidents on the highways.

DETROIT: Toyota Motor Corp on Friday confirmed the results of a consumer reports test where a Lexus luxury SUV slid out in a tight turn, prompting the magazine to call it a “safety risk.” The magazine’s warning to US consumers not to buy the 2010 Lexus GX 460 luxury SUV until the issue is resolved was the latest blow to the automaker’s reputation after massive recalls that have sparked congressional hearings and lawsuits.

“Our engineers in Japan replicated the driving procedure and have duplicated the Consumer Reports result,” Lexus spokesman Bill Kwong said in a statement. Toyota was “evaluating potential remedies” and it was too early to determine the timing of a repair,” Kwong added.

Toyota halted sales of the SUV in the United States on Tuesday and stopped production overall after consumer reports warned that its handling made it a risk to roll over. Toyota is also testing stability controls on all of its SUVs.

The sales suspension will remain in place until Toyota is confident that the issue is resolved, Kwong said. US safety regulators are seeking a $16.4 million fine against Toyota for its handling of a recall involving defective accelerator pedals. The automaker has until Monday to decide whether to pay the fine or challenge it.

If you are involved in an accident and you think it may be related to the Toyota recall issues it is a good idea to ask a Georgia car accident lawyer your rights involved in your claim. Georgia personal injury law is explicit regarding these issues, however, legal advice may be necessary in order to make you whole again after your accident. the consumer Reports article is affecting nationwide sales of the Lexus GX 460. Toyota has voluntarily suspended the slaes of this vehicle until further investigation.

WASHINGTON — Toyota is temporarily halting sales of the 2010 Lexus GX460 after Consumer Reports issued a rare “Don’t Buy” warning amid concerns the large sport utility vehicle has handling problems that could cause it to roll over during sharp turns.

The Japanese automaker said Tuesday it had asked dealers to temporarily suspend sales of the SUV while it conducts its own tests on the GX460. Toyota said about 6,000 have been sold since the vehicle went on sale in December.

The magazine said the Lexus problem occurred during tests on its track with an unusually fast turn. The GX460′s stability control took too long to adjust, which could cause a rollover if one of the sliding wheels were to strike the curb or another obstacle, said Gabriel Shenhar, Consumer Reports’ senior auto test engineer. The Associated Press

The New York Times reported:

On Tuesday, Consumer Reports announced that its tests had uncovered a dangerous handling problem that caused the rear end of the GX 460 to swerve, putting the sport utility vehicle at risk for a rollover. “When pushed to its limits on our track’s handling course,” the magazine wrote on its Web site, “the rear of the GX we bought slid out until the vehicle was almost sideways before the electronic stability control system was able to regain control.”

If you have a Toyota recall issue or a Georgia personal injury law question, please contact our office so we can help. We are Georgia car accident lawyers dedicated to helping you resolve your legal issues.

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