The issue here is lift-throttle oversteer. No, they did not apply the brakes, but if they did, it would likely be worse. Lifting the throttle mid-corner shifts more weight to the front, unloading the rear tires. The rear tires lose grip, so the rear tires head to the outside of the turn, causing the truck to oversteer. In that situation, if you also hit the brakes, that would shift even more weight to the front, increasing oversteer.

Yes, they do the same test on all SUVs, and yes, the GX460 is the only one that behaved this badly. So no, I don't think this report is misleading in any way.

Possible solutions would be a change in suspension tuning to reduce the weight transfer, different tires with increased grip, faster/stronger reacting ESC that more aggressively uses differential braking (braking of the outside front wheel) to minimize the oversteer.

Its ridiculous and in my opinion just another media outlet using the Toyota saga as a wagon to jump because people are sensitized to it and it gets attention.

It works, look at the responses on that website. People lose rationale with titbits of news info.

So what people are saying is that it is unsafe because Toyota has failed to design a traction control and stability control system that completely safeguards against the risk of driving a heavy, luxurious SUV like a hoon through corners.

Huh? People, please dont buy this SUV, perhaps that will bring the price down so I can afford one.

The fact that this stability control appears to be less invasive than it could be just made this car more attractive to me. It means I get to control the car, not a computer.

The problem I have is they are saying "Don't Buy." They haven't done this since 2001. Not trying to offend you, but if you believe Consumer Reports did this report out of the "goodness of their heart," you are naive. This is a great way to get Consumer Reports' name in the news by jumping on the "Bash Toyota Bandwagon." Where are the videos of all of the other vehicles that performed better in the same test? Oh yes, to see those you have to sign up and pay a fee. I guess we just have to go off their word that the other vehicle tests did not show the same behavior.

who woulda thought not staying on the throttle in a turn might cause problems.

Indeed, this is great PR for CR and it's no doubt going to be good for their business, but that's what they do, that's their business. Is the 'don't buy' rating harsh and an over-reaction? Maybe, but was it done just to sell magazines and promote the business? I doubt it. That would jeopardize any credibility they have and be detrimental to the business in the long run.

I don't want to stick up for CR, I couldn't care a less about them, I just find any information on vehicle testing valuable since it can educate the rest of us.

They do the same test for all SUVs. The Lexus GX was the only one that behaved this way. Trailing throttle oversteer, within limits, can be fun in a sports car. It isn't fun or safe in a top-heavy SUV.

Consumer Reports isn't picking on Toyota. This is a safety issue that Toyota can and should address.

http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2010...-is-unsafe/?hp

I don't think CR is on the bash Toyota bandwagon. I heard about this during the lunch hour news cast. They did say the 2010 Toyota 4Runner which the GX460 is based on is NOT affected and tested ok.

Lexus, rather Toyota, has issued a "stop sale" on the GX460.
Toyota to stop selling Lexus GX 460 SUV - Autos- msnbc.com

I don't remember or recall when Toyota lifted the stop sale on the models affected by the sticky gas pedal. Toyota has already begun selling '11 Camrys, we're not even at the half way mark for 2010.

To everyone wagging their finger and sighing, saying things like "just another nail in Toyota's coffin". Please explain exactly what it is they failed at here?

This vehicle has passed all regulations and standards to which it is held, before it went on sale. One publication, CR, has decided, in their subjective opinion, that it behaves in an unacceptable manner under certain conditions (like when driving a large SUV like a moron through a sweeping curve, way fast, without touching the brakes) and suddenly they have set a new bar of what safe and acceptable is? Must every manufacturer now jump and recall their vehicles to ensure that the meet CR's criteria for safe handling in this instance?

What are the acceptable tolerances for these nanny ESC systems? Do you decide?, do I?, does NHTSA? Consumer Reports?.
Doesnt it seem a wrong that one news media outlet gets to make such a scarring accusation and recommendation that makes national news and sends tongues wagging across the nation of another "Toyota failure", that will cost the Company a fortune to rectify even though there wasnt actually anything wrong and most of the money is spent purely to rectify the negative perception that has been created.

Ugghhh.

To all those worried about their 2010 4Runners, fear not. Its not a major design flaw in the chassis or suspension. The nanny systems in the GX will be recalibrated with new software to be more sensitive (put simply), already sold vehicles will be recalled and updated with the new software and the oversteer 'problem' will be corrected or at least significantly improved, so that Consumer Reports can remove their ridiculous allegation/recommendation.

Apparently Toyota is putting more stock into what CR says than ya'll are. It's probably a PR issue and them trying to repair their already tarnished reputation in the media, but they halted sales of the GX460 today.

Lexus GX 460 rated 'do not buy,' Toyota halts sale - Yahoo! News

Toyota Acknowledges Safety Issue With Lexus GX 460 - NYTimes.com

I wonder what the AVS settings were. If they were left on auto mode or if they had been manually regulated to provide a sportier ride or softer ride etc?

On another note this is a real truck with real truck capabilities not a car based SUV. Not many of these left for CR to compare to. I'm also not sure many people will be racing their Lexus SUV around corners. I wonder if this will start to push Toyota to rethink the body on frame concept,or solid rear axel? I hope not.

Consumer Reports does this same test with every vehicle that they buy. Every one. All of the other vehicles that Consumer Reports tested passed the test, including other Toyota SUVs, including other body-on-frame trucks, including other vehicles with solid rear axles.

There is no reason that a body-on-frame, solid-rear axle Toyota SUV can't pass this test, and, in fact some such vehicles, notably the 4Runner (built on the same frame as the GX460) did pass the test.

This is a simple tuning thing which Toyota got wrong. Toyota already has a fix.

Toyota may move away from body-on-frame, solid rear axle SUVs due to market forces and CAFE. But this contretemps won't be the reason.

I heard on the news today that Toyota is doing a re-call and they figured out how to fix the problem, basically up-dating the software on the computer.

They sure did respond quickly, considering it wasn't a government issue re-call. I think they are going out of there way to look responsive to a problem.

Sorry for the late post, but I feel this is another way of exploiting Toyota in the media. I would love to see a side by side comparison of the Chevy Suburban, GMC Yukon, and the GX460 in the same test. If there is a difference, then I will take it a bit more seriously. If you are buying a GX460 to take corners at high speeds, I think you better do more research. I don't think the GX460 was made to be a performance vehicle.

Maybe this weekend, I should try taking my parents 1st gen GX470 around a corner at 60 mph!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There is a difference. Consumer reports ran dozens of SUVs (including the 5th gen 4Runner) through this same test. Only the GX460 failed.

Watch the video that Toyota released. They show before and after they fixed the ECS tuning.