• Los Angeles Times, Wednesday, April 14, 2010 10:42 AM

Toyota is temporarily pulling the Lexus GX 460 SUV from dealership showrooms in the wake of a Consumer Reports article that says that there is a potential rollover risk. The magazine put the vehicle on its "do not buy" list, Jerry Hirsch reports.

"We are taking the situation with the GX 460 very seriously and are determined to identify and correct the issue Consumer Reports identified," says Lexus group vp Mark Templin. "At this time we have asked our dealers to temporarily suspend sales."

Current owners can take their cars back to their dealerships for a loaner car, he says, as engineering teams test the GX using Consumer Reports' parameters. The magazine found that "when pushed to its limits on a handling course" on its test track, the rear of the Lexus GX "slid out until the vehicle was almost sideways."

Not that it need be said, but "the timing is absolutely terrible for Toyota in terms of trying to rebuild their image," according to IHS Global Insight analyst Rebecca Lindland.

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