Toyota Remedies GX460 Issues In Record Time

In circumstances in which advanced driving skills are required, such as when a driver of the involved vehicle sharply turns the steering wheel in high-speed conditions, or when the driver negotiates a curve at excessive speeds, the vehicle could slide sideways, due to the insufficient activation of the VSC.

The following conditions combine to cause the problem:

- In the GX 460 and Land Cruiser Prado, heavy components, such as the fuel tank, are located on the left side, and in left-hand drive versions, the left side is made even heavier because of the presence of the driver.
- For vehicles with certain tires (on 18-inch wheels) and equipped with the Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS*) and VSC, the activation of the VSC may not be sufficient in certain circumstances due to the setting of the VSC program.
- Circumstances may require advanced driving skills, such as sharp turns of the steering wheel in high-speed conditions or negotiating a curve to the right at excessive speeds.

As a remedy, Toyota will update the VSC program to enhance the effectiveness of the VSC so that the risk of the vehicle sliding, even to the point that it is almost sideways, will be reduced.


 

Vehicles involved are as follows:

- GX 460: Approx. 13,000 units in total Approx. 9,400 units in the United States, approx. 1,000 units in Russia, approx 1,000 units in Oman
- Land Cruiser Prado: Approx. 21,000 units in total (only left-hand drive vehicles with KDSS and VSC) Approx. 4,400 units in Oman, approx. 4,000 units in Russia, approx. 1,500 units in the United Arab Emirates.  No right-hand drive units have this problem.

In total, approximately 34,000 units worldwide are involved.  In North America, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. (TMS) and Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI) each announced a voluntary recall on April 19 (local time).  As for other regions and countries involved, such as in Europe and the Middle East, TMC will work to implement similar measures as soon as possible.




 
2010 New York Auto Show Photo Gallery

2011 Ford Mustang Photo Gallery

Geneva Motor Show Photo Gallery

91z4me - 4/21/2010 4:14:56 PM

0 Boost

But, But it was people driving like idiots/media bias/government requirements that the GX issue came up it wasn't real!

/s

Joe_Limon - 4/21/2010 4:28:37 PM

+4 Boost

I hope you're being sarcastic... this is about a emergency control system that wasn't engaging in time, not about all that conspiracy stuff you are spouting.

91z4me - 4/21/2010 4:41:23 PM

0 Boost

/s means end sarcasm. I was laying that sarcasm on pretty thick, I thought it would be obvious.

Joe_Limon - 4/21/2010 4:55:47 PM

-6 Boost

don't worry, I didn't deboost you. Those came from other people who were also unsure of your sarcasm.

Airliner - 4/22/2010 12:03:36 AM

-1 Boost

91z4me... I heard you Loud & Clear!! I just Hope Agent009 read your comments. This guy has been hard-up with this GX issue!!

Joe_Limon - 4/21/2010 4:38:26 PM

-2 Boost

Why don't you go disable your airbag, that way you can drive like an idiot and that safety aid won't help you either.

JUGNU - 4/21/2010 4:52:26 PM

+2 Boost

That was a very quick fix so good job Toyota. Driven new Prado few times now and it is a great car and big step forward from the last model though little overpriced. Great family cruiser and very capable offroad.

JUGNU

pepito66 - 4/21/2010 11:07:47 PM

-2 Boost

I don't see the good job of toyota with their quick fix, this is crap they have to sell this thing after all of this "software" are already fixed... thanks anyway to CR magazine.......

theoptimisticpessimist - 4/21/2010 5:04:24 PM

+4 Boost

Why didn't they do right the first time?

Willis - 4/21/2010 5:24:29 PM

-2 Boost

"In the GX 460 and Land Cruiser Prado, heavy components, such as the fuel tank, are located on the left side, and in left-hand drive versions, the left side is made even heavier because of the presence of the driver."


Clearly this car was designed for RHD markets.

Toyota simply rebadged them as Lexus for the US.

wins555 - 4/22/2010 2:13:41 AM

+1 Boost

They did not do the software adjustments before they began selling the gx460 because.....nobody will be driving their 60k Lexus at 95 mph and turning it that way. The speed limit is 55 to 60 anyway. And lets face it, people who buy Lexus are at least in their mid 40s who are responsible drivers. Just my opinion.

enthusiastx11 - 4/22/2010 7:17:21 PM

0 Boost

exactly. didn't they road test this $50k truck before they sold it? so much for quality control. the damage to toylex' reputation is well deserved.

g2ok - 4/21/2010 5:16:38 PM

+1 Boost

Toyota should have tested this before production. Their lack of software engineering expertise is really showing and they have done zero marketing to prove they can make a safer vehicle than the competition. I hope this is the only software issue in their stability control system.

Joe_Limon - 4/21/2010 6:36:52 PM

0 Boost

"So you are in favor of poor driving skills, but more electronic aids to offset those poor driving skills, instead of us learning how to control our vehicles better?"

Yes, yes I am. It's a lexus, all the old grannies driving this vehicle in the first place shouldn't be expected to learn how to do advanced driving maneuvers.

"They dialed it in for our "protection", but it lost because it didn't allow driver involvement."

As with most sporty cars you should be able to turn it off if you want to ride the dangerous line of traction.

"airbags, are like seatbelts, most cars have had them to protect the occupants from external injury should a impact happen"

Most modern cars have stability control as well.

"What CR wanted was a more dialed in Nanny device."

Aka one that doesn't engages a couple seconds too late, could you imagine if your airbag deployed 2 seconds late? You'd be better off not having it go off at all.

Joe_Limon - 4/22/2010 9:23:55 AM

0 Boost

what?? lol you are rambling like a crazy dooms day sign waver.

Also read what I said, "most modern cars have stability control" this includes sports cars. The thing that sports cars do however is include the option to turn it off in case you do want to go sideways. I'm guessing that you must live somewhere that doesn't freeze. Up here in Canada half the year all of our vehicles are pushed to the limits of traction. These GX's were tombstone's on wheels before this fix. A mild turn on an icy highway would send these things spinning off the road whereas a fixed one will now nicely under steer allowing the driver to stay pointing forward...

Joe_Limon - 4/23/2010 11:56:53 AM

0 Boost

I guess you really have never been on ice. Road conditions change in icy climates, too fast for road conditions could be 80mph on one section of road then 40mph on another section just a couple hundred feet later. I'll forgive you for your ignorance if you live somewhere warm.

kpaxx - 4/21/2010 6:45:37 PM

0 Boost

If the car was designed to be corner balanced in the first place the old stability program probably would have worked. Now it looks like toyota is just using software to coverup a poorly engineered vehicle. Either way the stability control ain't going to work when the snow is high and the ice is thick.

I wouldn't buy this car knowing its poor design.

FanboyOfTheTruth - 4/21/2010 7:51:48 PM

+6 Boost

Yes because all non-Toyota cars are naturally corner-balanced and never spin out in high-speed corners. I mean, don't we see off-roading SUVs like the Land Rovers and Hummers taking highway ramps at 100mph+ everyday?

wins555 - 4/22/2010 2:18:07 AM

+2 Boost

No ramp has such a small radius.

theoptimisticpessimist - 4/21/2010 7:33:25 PM

0 Boost

To little to late, no matter what Toyota did this car is dead in the U.S. market. This is stigma that this brand new model won't revover from. Lexus will be fine, the GX is now a non-player.

tattedtwice - 4/21/2010 10:01:46 PM

0 Boost

I wouldnt be surprised if they knew all along, and sat in their offices biting their nails hoping no one ever noticed. I mean, since they handle like crap anyway, who WOULD notice.

Glad they got the negative press they so rightly deserve. Everything bad happening to him, they have coming. This isn't the end, I'm sure....

nguyenvuminh - 4/21/2010 10:19:08 PM

-1 Boost

Bottom line is Lexus recognised the legitimate complaint from CR and did something. I don't have a problem with the company, I just have a problem with their apologists. Good on you Toyota/Lexus, bad on you apologists who allowed Toyota/Lexus' ego to inflate.

g2ok - 4/22/2010 12:21:21 AM

-1 Boost

Lexus will have to cancel the GX because nobody will trust this SUV - ever.
They really have not grasped the fact that Lexus means no mistakes.

poptopcaravans - 4/22/2010 5:36:49 AM

0 Boost

toyoto going to be number one car manufecturing of the year.

<a href="http://www.caravanmarket.com.au" rel="dofollow">pop top caravans</a>

Agent009 - 4/22/2010 8:31:12 AM

+2 Boost

The biggest problem might be the fact that it was on the edge of control to begin with. The weight imbalance existed in either case (RHD or LHD), but could easily be the same as loading passengers in the vehicle.

I still think it is an issue that Lexus is being held to when everyone else isn't. I have to give Lexus props on the speed of the resolution though, GM would still be scratching their heads or lining up lawyers.

Joe_Limon - 4/22/2010 1:11:13 PM

-1 Boost

uhm... of course that maneuver was to see if the tail would go out... it's a test to see if it's safe... and I forgot to post this on this page, but kudo's also to Toyota for coming up with a software fix this fast.

JUGNU - 4/23/2010 5:15:54 AM

+1 Boost

http://www.carmiddleeast.com/article-2-1470-why_consumer_reports_is_wrong

http://www.carmiddleeast.com/article-1-1471-update_toyota_prado_taken_off_sale

JUGNU

85bmw745i - 4/24/2010 1:54:27 PM

+1 Boost

How about this: People just need to learn to drive! anyone doing this is stupid anyways. VSC was very limited to only a few vehicles just a few years back, so whats the big deal. Not too long ago most vehicles didn't even have a stability system. Traction control wasn't even standard on many vehicles!