#LexusGx460

Consumer Reports has removed the “Do Not Buy” label from the Lexus GX460 luxury SUV, announcing that changes made by Lexus to the vehicle’s stability control program have solved the issue that CR initially said could cause a roll over and, therefore, posed a safety risk.

Lexus has resumed selling its awesome drift-wagon full-sized GX460 SUV, with a new software update for the stability control system. The “stop-sale” order was given after Consumers Reports magazine deemed the GX460 unsafe and put it on the magazines “Do Not Buy” list, after the GX460 oversteered during Consumer Reports’ “Throttle Lift Test.”

Astute readers will know that if you throw any car into a corner at a brisk pace and lift off the gas, you will get some heroic oversteer. An SUV with a big V8 and a high center of gravity is no exception to this rule. It’s impossible to know the full story behind the scandal, but GX460 owners should breathe easier now than an official fix has been released.

Official release after the jump:

Toyota has announced that it will temporarily halt sales of the Lexus GX460 SUV, just hours after Consumer Reports placed the car on its “Do Not Buy” list due to safety concerns. In the latest blow to Toyota’s reputation, the Consumer Reports test showed that during emergency maneuver testing they found the GX to be at risk of a rollover. The truck’s traction control system will allow it to slide almost completely sideways before regaining control of the vehicle.

Earlier today Toyota issued a statement saying it was “concerned” with CR’s results and said it would attempt to replicate the problem. Toyota was also quick to point out that the GX460 “meets or exceeds all federal government testing requirements.”

So far, Toyota has sold roughly 5,000 2010 GX460 models since the new model went on sale. It is not yet clear if Toyota intends to issue a recall for those models.

Back in January Toyota temporarily halted the sale of eight models, including the Camry, Corolla and RAV4 while it searched to find a fix for a sticking accelerator pedal issue.

See after the jump for the Consumer Reports test video of the 2010 Lexus GX460

[Source: The Associated Press]