In response to a flood of personal injury lawsuits over its defective auto acceleration system, Toyota has begun flooding Philadelphia and national airwaves with television commercials in an attempt to regain its once sterling image. However, the effort seems doomed in the wake of Toyota's newest car accident problem. This week the beleaguered auto dealer called a temporary halt to sales of its 2010 Lexus GX 460 SUV after Consumer Reports labeled the upscale sport utility vehicle a "safety risk."
In an unusual move for the respected consumer watchdog, Consumer Reports warned consumers through its blog not to buy the Toyota SUV because of a serious rollover danger. The consumer magazine has not issued such a warning since 2001. Concerned about the way the Toyota vehicle slides during certain common driving maneuvers, on its blog this week Consumer Reports researchers warned consumers that rear end sliding could cause the vehicle to rollover, saying:
"We believe that in real-world driving, that situation could lead to a rollover accident, which could cause serious injury or death."
Toyota has sold 4,787 of the Lexus SUVs since the first of the year to Philadelphia drivers and car owners across the country. Consumer Reports auto testers reported that in multiple tests simulating entrance and exit onto freeway off-ramps, in every instance the rear of the vehicle slid out dangerously and abruptly as the driver entered the turn and lifted his foot off the accelerator. Consumer Reports researchers said while the GX 460 is equipped with stabilizer control that is supposed to address this issue, the Toyota system doesn't intervene quickly enough, placing vehicle occupants at serious risk from a rollover accident. Rollover car accidents can cause traumatic personal injuries are often fatal.
If you have been involved in a Philadelphia car accident involving a Toyota SUV, contact a Philadelphia personal injury lawyer about your legal rights.
