Consumer Reports has judged the Lexus GX 460 a “Don’t Buy: Safety Risk” amid concerns over its performance.

Luxury car manufacturer Lexus has announced that it has suspended sales of its 2010 GX 460 SUV in the US after a leading consumer organisation brands the vehicle a “safety risk.”

Consumer Reports – an independent non-profit organisation in the US – said that during emergency handling tests the rear of the GX “slid out until the vehicle was almost sideways”. It has branded the vehicle a ‘Don’t Buy: Safety Risk’ and added that in a real-life driving situation the problem could cause serious injury or even death.

Consumer Reports conceded that there had been no reports of accidents as a result of the problem but confirmed that re-tests had taken place using other GX 460s and the same issue had arisen.

The last time the consumer organisation judged a vehicle’s performance as unacceptable was with the 2001 Mitsubishi Montero in August 2001.

Lexus is a division of Toyota Motor Sales, a Group which has seen its own fair share of mass car recalls this year following safety issues with a number of its models.

Toyota spokesman Joe Tetherow told Consumer Reports that its own engineers had conducted similar tests during the development of the SUV but had experienced no issues. Nevertheless, he said the warning was of concern: “We’re concerned with the results of Consumer Reports’ testing on the Lexus GX 460 and their suggested buyer recommendation. We will try to duplicate the Consumer Reports’ test to determine if appropriate steps need to be taken.”

Mark Templin, Lexus Group Vice President and General Manager, said in a statement on Lexus’ website: “For more than 20 years, Lexus has made customer safety and satisfaction our highest priorities. We are taking the situation with the GX 460 very seriously and are determined to identify and correct the issue Consumer Reports identified.

“At this time we have asked our dealers to temporarily suspend sales of the 2010 GX 460.”

Lexus said that it will provide a loan car for anyone who is concerned about driving their 2010 GX 460 and has provided an emergency number for customers to call. Click here ^[1] for more details.