1. A method for diagnosing a lateral acceleration sensor fault in a vehicle stability control system, comprising: receiving at least one signal indicative of a vehicular measured yaw rate; at least one signal indicative of a vehicular measured velocity; at least one signal indicative of a vehicular measured hand wheel angle; and at least one signal indicative of a vehicular computed yaw rate desired; selecting a lateral acceleration estimator in accordance with a steady-state and a linear range of handling conditions and estimating a lateral acceleration in accordance with said selected linear acceleration estimator; applying a plurality of estimated lateral acceleration thresholds to determine a vehicle maneuver state, wherein said plurality of estimated lateral acceleration thresholds is vehicle specific; selectively applying diagnostic thresholds to said estimated lateral acceleration based on said maneuver state, wherein said selectively applied diagnostic thresholds is vehicle specific; measuring a lateral acceleration and comparing said measured lateral acceleration with said estimated lateral acceleration; detecting a true fault when the comparison is not within a selected comparison threshold value, wherein said selected comparison threshold value is vehicle specific; detecting a false fault when the comparison is within said selected comparison threshold value; activating a microprocessor controller associated with said vehicle stability control system upon occurrence of said true fault by disabling said vehicle stability control system to prevent unnecessary activation; and preventing said microprocessor controller from taking action upon occurrence of said false fault.