Lexus Most Reliable, Again

(NEWSER) - Buick and Jaguar are the most dependable all-around car brands this year, the Detroit News reports. A study by JD Power and Associates looked at the average number of problems that crop up in 2006 models to make its estimation, which could be more influential as the recession has drivers holding onto cars longer. Joining Buick and Jaguar—which tied—in the top five are Lexus, Toyota, and Mercury. More»

Automaker had sought to keep amount confidential

(AP) - Toyota agreed to pay $10 million to the family of four people killed in a runaway Lexus crash that led to recalls of millions of vehicles, attorneys said today. The automaker had sought to keep the settlement amount confidential, but a judge ruled in favor of arguments by the AP and the Los Angeles Times that the public had a right to know. Toyota did not admit or deny liability in the settlement, reports the AP. More»

Firm calls for Lexus, Avalon models over brake fluid, fuel pump issues

(NEWSER) - Worries over brake fluid and fuel pump issues have prompted Toyota to recall 1.53 million Lexus, Avalon, and other models, largely in the US and Japan, the AP reports. The US will see some 740,000 models recalled, while 599,000 will be recalled in Japan. Over the last year, the world’s largest automaker has recalled more than 10 million troubled vehicles. More»

High-end models can stall while moving

(NEWSER) - Toyota is preparing yet another recall, this time because of engine problems with it's top-end sedans. The company says Crown and seven models of Lexus suffer a valve-spring problem that can cause the engine to stall while the vehicle is moving, the AP reports. No official recall has been announced yet, but Japanese media report that one will be announced within days, affecting 270,000 vehicles worldwide. Toyota says no accidents have been linked to the faulty engines. More»

He dies testing prototype of car he helped develop

(NEWSER) - Toyota's chief test driver has been killed driving a prototype of a Lexus LFA "supercar." Hiromu Naruse, 67, apparently veered out of his lane and collided with test drivers in a BMW. The two drivers in the BMW survived, though one is in critical condition, AOL Autos reports. Naruse was known as "Godfather of the LFA." The prototype he crashed in Germany, a special edition version of the model, is said to have been worth $1.8 million. More»