Car accident news
26/04/2010

Toyota 4x4 production halted amid safety fears

After all the safety issues surrounding the brakes on certain Toyota models, fears are now growing on Toyota's range of 4x4s after concerns they could overturn in a car accident.

Toyota is carrying out safety checks on all of its 4x4s after consumer reports branded the Lexus GX460 a 'safety risk' due to a slow responding electronic stability control system.

Until the model has been given the all-clear, Toyota has suspended sales and production of the Lexus GX460 after a report claimed handling problems could lead it to overturn.

While the particular model at the centre of the safety fears is not sold in the UK, Toyota is also checking the electronic stability controls on 4x4s sold in Britain including the Rav4, Land Cruiser, Land Cruiser V8 and Lexus RX40H. There are 42,000 of these cars on UK roads but none are yet to be recalled nor have any car crashes been caused by the glitch.

The magazine which featured the consumer report said its driver had approached a bend unusually fast in the GX460 then released the accelerator pedal to mimic the action of an alarmed driver. This caused the back of the vehicle to slide outwards until it was nearly sideways before the computer corrected the loss of control.

The problem could cause the car to overturn or become involved in a car accident if the back wheels were to hit the kerb.