WASHINGTON – Toyota is recalling 273,743 4Runner sport utility vehicles because of a handling problem.

The vehicles can be difficult to control if they are overloaded and the driver makes a hard turn, Toyota spokesman John Hanson said. The problem was discovered during vehicle testing, and the company is not aware of it happening on the road, he said.

The recall, announced Wednesday by the federal auto safety regulators, covers the 1996-1998 model years.

The problem only affects the two-wheel-drive models. Hanson said Toyota is recalling the four-wheel-drive versions to avoid confusion.

Owners will be notified by mail and dealers will replace the rear springs and other parts of the rear suspension free of charge.

Two separate recalls are for the Land Rover Discovery II.

One involves 55,505 vehicles from the 1999-2001 model years. The antilock brakes can malfunction and result in a longer braking distance.

Those same vehicles and an additional 9,420 from the 2002 model year are also being recalled because the accelerator cable strands can break, increasing the risk of a crash.

Land Rover dealers will examine the vehicles and make free repairs when necessary.