TORRANCE, Calif. — After news surfaced that Consumer Reports had slapped the automaker's 2010 GX 460 model with a "Don't Buy: Safety Risk" warning for allegedly having potential roll-over issues, Lexus has temporarily halted sales of the SUV in the U.S. and Canada and is offering loaner cars to concerned owners of the model until the problem is fixed.

"For more than 20 years, Lexus has made customer safety and satisfaction our highest priorities," Lexus group vice president and general manager Mark Templin said Tuesday.

"We are taking the situation with the GX 460 very seriously, and are determined to identify and correct the issue Consumer Reports identified," he added. "At this time we have asked our dealers to temporarily suspend sales of the 2010 GX 460."

Lexus argues that its own testing offers a "good indication" of a vehicle's performance and the automaker says it is "confident" that the GX is safe. Lexus engineers are doing further tests using Consumer Reports' specific standards, according to the automaker.

The magazine said it gave the warning because of an issue that occurred during standard emergency-handling tests.

"When pushed to its limits on our track's handling course, the rear of the GX we bought slid out until the vehicle was almost sideways before the electronic stability control system was able to regain control," Consumer Reports indicated on its Web site.

"We believe that in real-world driving, that situation could lead to a rollover accident, which could cause serious injury or death," the publication added. "We are not aware, however, of any such reports."

Lexus emphasized that concerned customers can call Lexus Customer Satisfaction at (800) 255-3987.