Toyota Won't Recall GX 460, Stops Sales Worldwide

As the heat generated by Consumer Reports' slamming of the 2010 Lexus GX 460 as being unsafe, as well as reports hinting to a possible recall of the model, Japanese carmaker Toyota announced it has no plans to recall the model, but continues testing to see whether the problem really exists.

“There is no way of recalling a car - voluntarily or otherwise - unless we find something wrong with the car, and we haven't done that yet. It's premature to talk about any recall steps at this point," Spokeswoman Ririko Takeuchi was quoted as saying by just-auto.com.

The only measures takes so far are the freeze of sales for the model, will will lead to a nine days production stay starting April 16th. Additionally, starting yesterday, the sale of the model has been stopped worldwide.

This new Toyota safety issue surfaced earlier this week, when Consumer Reports magazine wrote that the 2010 Lexus GX 460 may be unsafe and advises buyers not to buy this model.

“When pushed to its limits on a handling course on Consumer Reports’ test track, the rear of the GX that Consumer Reports purchased slid out until the vehicle was almost sideways before the electronic stability control system was able to regain control”, the magazine said in a statement.

Toyota decided, to be safe, to stop the sale of the model. According to Toyota Australia spokesman Mike Breen, the rollover issue in a lift-off oversteer situation is specific to the V8 engine found on the GX 460 and will not affect the Australian Toyota Prado model, GX's local peer.