Consumer Confidential: Buy a Lexus, not a BabylissPro hair dryer

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Here’s your fillet-o-Friday roundup of consumer news from around the Web:

--Consumer Reports says it’s OK to buy Lexus GX 460 SUVs again. The magazine lifted its ‘Don’t Buy’ warning after Toyota Motor Corp. recalled more than 9,000 of the vehicles to fix a problem with the stability system. Consumer Reports had warned people to steer clear of the sport-utility vehicles because of a danger of rollovers. Toyota, to its credit, wasted no time in stepping up to the plate. So feel free to buy a Lexus again. If you can afford one.

--But don’t buy a Conair BabylissPro hair dryer. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says nearly 300,000 of the hair dryers are being recalled because the fan inside can break, causing the plastic case to shatter, which creates a risk of people being injured. You think? Also, there have been reports of the dryers emitting sparks and smoke, which are not generally seen as good things in a household appliance. If you’ve got one of these puppies, stop using it immediately. Conair says it will offer free replacements -- like you’d want another one.

-- David Lazarus