Toyota recalls Lexus hybrids

Toyota, a company once known for its safety, is in trouble again after government testing has forced the automaker to recall 17,000 of its Lexus hybrid vehicles. Although the newer Toyota models have been plagued by several safety issues, those looking for reliability and value may want to search for used Toyota cars on the pre-owned market.

According to the Los Angeles Times, independent testing by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration found that a rear impact at over 50 miles per hour could cause an excessive amount of fuel to leak from the vehicle, forcing Toyota to recall the model. The issue affects the 2010 Lexus HS250h hybrid sedan.

Toyota has said that it will stop sales of the model immediately and pull 4,000 units off of showroom floors. About 13,000 of the vehicles have already been sold, and owners will be forced to send the cars back until Toyota develops a fix for the design flaw.

The company is unaware of any incidents or accidents stemming from the problem.

Toyota has recalled 10 million cars since September. Last week, president Akio Toyoda apologized to investors for damaging the company’s previously stellar reputation for safety.