An archive of car problem news & articles. If you have a tip, please contact our reporting staff.

  • The Top Problem Trends for 2012 The top 8 vehicle problem trends as reported by owners.

    — Each year, CarComplaints.com tracks complaint trends based off the stories of owners like you. When a problem trend emerges for a specific vehicle, it's typically something that gets addressed by the government or the automaker. That's why your complaints are so important. They lead to government-mandated recalls, investigations, lawsuits and even changes in the way automakers manufacture their cars. For 2012 we've scanned out database to find the top 8 ...

  • Toyota Agrees to Pay $1 Billion to Settle Class-Action Lawsuit Toyota to pay big to settle lawsuit over unintended acceleration complaints.

    — Toyota Motor North America has agreed to pay over $1 billion to settle a class-action lawsuit stemming from the stuck accelerator pedal fiasco that began in 2009. Toyota stood by their position that driver error and misplaced floor mats were the primary causes of unintended acceleration, but agreed to the settlement in an effort to put the matter behind them. “This was a difficult decision – especially since reliable scientific evidence and multiple ...

  • Winners and Losers in Demanding New Crash Test Toyota responds to latest crash test results of the Camry and Prius v.

    — Every vehicle in the U.S. must face a battery of crash tests from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  Those tests can be tough, but even more demanding are crash tests performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), a nonprofit organization completely supported by insurance companies. The latest IIHS test was introduced this year and replicates what happens when the front corner of a car collides with another vehicle, or an ...

  • Toyota to Pay $17 Million For Failing to Report Safety Defects in Timely Manner U.S. government says Toyota failed to order recall about floor mat problems

    — The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today announced that Toyota has agreed to pay $17.35 million, the maximum fine allowable under the law, in response to the agency's assertion that the automaker failed to report a safety defect to the federal government in a timely manner. This is the single highest civil penalty amount ever paid to NHTSA for violations stemming from a recall. Federal law requires all auto manufacturers to notify ...

  • Ford Announces Fix for 2013 Escape and Fusion 1.6-Liter Vehicles Dealers to update software that operates the cooling system.

    — Ford Motor Company announced what they believe to be the fix for what is behind their latest recall of 2013 Ford Escape and Fusion SE and SEL vehicles equipped with 1.6-liter engines.  The vehicles were recalled after reports of engines overheating resulting in fires while the engine was running. According to Ford, the original cooling system design was not able to handle a loss of coolant system pressure under certain conditions.  Ford dealers will update the ...

  • Why Do Sunroofs Explode? Don't think your sunroof could ever explode? Think again.

    — Owning a vehicle means problems, from bad gaskets to ailing alternators.  One thing we shouldn’t have to worry about is the vehicle glass spontaneously exploding.  Yet that is exactly what many drivers have faced over the years with their sunroofs. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received enough complaints on the matter to open an investigation into exploding sunroofs in the 2012 Hyundai Veloster .  Hyundai drivers report glass ...

  • Electronic Stability Control Saves Lives Study says occupants safer in vehicles equipped with electronic stability control.

    — A new study from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that electronic stability control (ESC) technology probably saved over 860 lives in 2010. The figure includes occupants of cars and light trucks/vans. NHTSA said the estimate is an increase over the 705 lives saved in 2009 and 634 people who were saved by ESC in 2008. ESC is a federally mandated system required in all new passenger cars, light trucks, SUVs, and vans built ...

  • Beware Flood-Damaged Cars How to recogonize the signs and symptoms of a flood-damaged car.

    — The National Insurance Crime Bureau announced estimates for the number of vehicles damaged as a result of the massive storm Sandy, and while the numbers are high, the total will probably rise over time. Hurricane Sandy's Impact The current total of vehicles damaged by Sandy stands at 230,000, according to claims processed by insurance companies.  New York had the most with 130,000 damaged vehicles while New Jersey had 60,000. The remaining 40,000 were ...

  • The Top Five Reported Ford Fusion Problems Ford Fusion wins safety award, but it's still a vehicle with problems and complaints.

    — Ford Motor Co. received good news when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named the 2013 Fusion a “Top Safety Pick.”  It’s an impressive achievement that is awarded only to vehicles which receive a “Good” rating in moderate overlap frontal impact, side impact, head restraint, and roof strength crash testing. While it’s good news for the 2013 model year, the news hasn’t always been so good for owners of previous Fusion vehicles.  The Top 5 ...

  • Understanding Car Insurance You can pay too much or lack proper coverage if you don't understand car insurance.

    — Car insurance is a fact of life for most of us, but many consumers either pay for more coverage than they need or find out too late they didn’t have the correct coverage. Auto insurance laws and requirements are different based on where you live, but overall, there are basic terms that apply to all of us. Car insurance can apply to your own vehicle, the vehicle or property of someone else, or injuries to either party.  Most states have a system based on who ...

  • How to Get Reimbursed For Repairs You Made Before a Recall Jump through red tape and you can get reimbursed for previous repairs on a recalled vehicle.

    — Safety recalls are serious business for automakers and vehicle owners alike.  Each month, CarComplaints.com stays busy notifying consumers of the latest recalls , and it’s a good bet that many consumers have already thrown out their own money to fix a vehicle that is eventually recalled. Considering the cost can be high, many people are left asking if they can get reimbursed for the cost of a repair the automaker has finally offered to pay for during an ...

  • American Suzuki Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, Stops Auto Sales in U.S. Suzuki stops U.S. automobile marketing and distribution after bankruptcy decision.

    — American Suzuki Motor Corporation, which distributes autos, motorcycles, ATVs, and marine products in the United States, has decided to stop all marketing and distribution of autos within the continental U.S. Suzuki said they are unable to maintain profitability in the U.S. auto business and will need to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy to stay afloat. Suzuki placed some of the blame on what they called “stringent U.S. environmental and safety regulations.” Suzuki ...

  • EPA Slams Hyundai/Kia Over MPG Claims Hyundai and Kia will re-label dealer vehicles to reflect accurate mpg estimates.

    — For only the second time in the last 12 years, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that two automakers must re-label certain vehicles concerning invalid claims of estimated fuel economy. The EPA said Hyundai and Kia will lower their fuel economy (mpg) estimates for the majority of their model year 2012 and 2013 models after EPA testing found discrepancies between agency results and data submitted by the company. The auto companies have ...

  • Possible Problems With the Emergency Trunk Escape Lever in Lexus Vehicles Consumer Reports accidently finds problem in Lexus ES and GS models.

    — It’s certainly not an official investigation or scientific study, but Consumer Reports says they have accidently discovered the emergency interior trunk escape lever on the 2013 Lexus ES and Lexus GS can easily break off during use.  If that happened to a someone in the trunk, they’re stuck. Beginning in 2002, all vehicles with trunks have included a safety release that glows in the dark and allows a trapped person to get out. Consumer Reports notified the ...

  • Government Warns About Exploding Counterfeit Air Bags American vehicles filled with counterfeit organized crime air bags.

    — The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a consumer safety advisory to alert vehicle owners and repair professionals to the dangers of counterfeit air bags. NHTSA has become aware of a problem involving the sale of counterfeit air bags for use as replacement parts in vehicles that have been involved in a crash. While these air bags look nearly identical to the real thing—including the insignia and branding of major ...

  • North Carolina Consumer Group Wants Investigation of Ford Escape Government petitioned to open investigation into model year 2005-2012 Ford Escapes.

    — The North Carolina Consumers Council has petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to investigate model year 2005-2012 Ford Escape vehicles for an alleged defect in the throttle body. According to the petition, drivers have complained about their vehicles stalling or the engine surging.  Diagnostic work performed on the vehicles showed one vehicle with a throttle body stuck open, and another stuck closed.  Escape owners say the incidents ...

  • Honda Has 'Week From Hell' After Laundry List of Recalls and Investigations Honda owners left scratching heads after announcements of recalls and investigations.

    — Remember the saying, “If it wasn’t for bad luck...?”  That has to be what Honda executives are thinking right now after a week filled with recalls and investigations. Although Honda officials are probably sweating to think what might come next, Honda owners are boiling mad at the sheer number of instructions they will need to follow just to know they are driving a safe vehicle. The “welcome-to-the-Honda-circus” started with an announcement that an original ...

  • Top 5 Reported Ford Escape Problems Recalls aside, some owners want to escape the Escape.

    — Ford Motor Company finally received good news about their Ford Escape when the 2013 model year Escape was recently named a top safety pick by IIHS – the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. IIHS said the 2013 Escape earned the Institute's top award for good performance in the moderate overlap frontal, side, rollover and rear impact evaluations. According to IIHS, the 2013 Escape improves on the performance of the previous generation model which was rated ...

  • Top 5 Complaints About the Ford Focus Ford Focus problems haunt thousands of owners across the country.

    — Ford Motor Company announced their 350 millionth vehicle has rolled off an assembly line at a facility in Rayong, Thailand. According to Ford, the milestone vehicle was a Ford Focus, which according to Ford, "is the world’s best-selling car for the first half of 2012.” Ford said based on statistics provided by IHS Automotive, an independent research firm, 489,616 Focus vehicles were sold during the period compared to Toyota, who sold 462,187 Corolla’s. Toyota ...

  • Does the Jeep Grand Cherokee Have 'Moose Problems?' Swedish test shows vehicle standing on two wheels, Chrysler calls foul.

    — The Jeep Grand Cherokee allegedly has “moose problems.” That’s according to Swedish magazine Teknikens Värld, who said the 2012 Grand Cherokee Overland failed their “moose test,” designed to simulate avoiding an object in the road. Teknikens Värld said they loaded the vehicle to Swedish specifications and sent the vehicle on its way. Video of the test shows the Grand Cherokee going up on two wheels at less than 40 miles per hour, a big no-no in this type of ...

  • How to Handle a Stuck Gas Pedal What to do if your gas pedal gets stuck.

    — The story of the runaway Kia Sorento has every driver asking what they would do if their accelerator pedal got stuck. Iowa resident, Lauri Ulvestad, found herself rocketing down a Missouri highway at speeds of 120 mph from an alleged stuck gas pedal. According to televised interviews, Ulvestad said her 2011 Sorento suddenly started accelerating on its own and for the next 60 miles, the Iowa woman performed amazing driving maneuvers to avoid other ...

  • Technology to Help Drivers See Pedestrians Before It's Too Late GM researching wireless detection system to decrease pedestrian-vehicle accidents.

    — Pedestrian deaths are a major problem in the U.S., especially in urban areas. Recent statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show pedestrian fatalities across the nation rose by 4 percent in 2010, with 4,280 pedestrians killed in traffic accidents . Drunk pedestrians total almost half those killed, so it’s clear that drivers need to be better aware of their surroundings. General Motors hopes a new driver assistance tool will ...

  • 75 Percent of Drivers Fear In-Vehicle Technology Too Distracting Drivers worry that automakers are taking things too far.

    — Research from a Harris Poll of 2,634 people ages 18 and over shows that 75 percent of drivers fear that in-vehicle technology is too distracting and dangerous. In-vehicle technology is growing at a rapid pace, all in the name of making the driving experience more enjoyable and allegedly safer. Yet over half of Harris respondents believe that automakers have already taken technology too far for normal driving. Beyond fearing how technology can hinder the ...

  • Forward Collision Warning Systems Reduce Insurance Claims Property damage claims 14 percent lower in vehicles equipped with warning alert.

    — Automakers and the federal government are doing their best to turn the dashboard of every new vehicle into the cockpit of an airliner. In-vehicle technology is rapidly growing to include safety features that would have been considered science fiction a few years ago. Safety technology is fine and good, as long as it works. It takes time for technology to saturate enough real-world vehicles for researchers to gather data about what increases safety, what ...

  • Government Begins 3000-Vehicle Test of Wireless Safety Technology Vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure technology put under the microscope.

    — The Department of Transportation has launched a test of 3,000 cars, trucks and buses equipped with “connected” wireless technology to enable vehicles and infrastructure to “talk” to each other in real time. The real-world road test will determine if the technology can help avoid crashes and improve traffic flow. The experiment is part of a year-long safety pilot conducted by the University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute. The test vehicles ...

  • Adaptive Headlights Show Promise Researchers say adaptive headlights can lower insurance claims.

    — Automakers are hell-bent on installing every high-tech “safety” and convenience product on new vehicles. For consumers, knowing which in-vehicle technological wonders work and which don't can be confusing at best. Much of the problem stems from products that show promise in theory or on a test track but not enough real-world testing to acquire definitive statistics. Leading the charge in real-world research is the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a ...

  • Can Mandatory Rear-View Cameras Save Lives? New rule could require rear-view cameras in every new passenger vehicle.

    — Approximately 45 percent of new vehicles have rear-view cameras to help a driver see what’s immediately behind them when the vehicle is in reverse. If the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gets their way, a new rule will be in place by the end of 2012 that will mandate every new vehicle include rear-vision cameras. Rear-view cameras are the favored choice to decrease the number of children and older adults killed in backover accidents.  According ...

  • Tough New Frontal Crash Test Shows Flaws in Some Luxury Models Four models earn a rating of "poor"

    — The latest Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash test results are in and certain luxury carmakers won’t like the results. Only three of 11 midsize model year 2012 luxury cars tested earned good or acceptable ratings in a new small overlap frontal crash test. The safety agency said the test is designed to replicate what happens when the front corner of a car collides with another vehicle or an object like a tree or utility pole. In the test, 25 ...

  • Chrysler Warns Drivers About 'Jeep Death Wobble' Chrysler blames problem on poor maintenance and aftermarket products.

    — A month after two California Democrats asked Chrysler to begin a customer outreach campaign about what the legislators call the "Jeep death wobble," Chrysler released a technical service bulletin to dealers and various websites. However, Chrysler still believes the problem is caused by aftermarket products or poorly maintained vehicles. The "death wobble" is a term that drivers use to describe what happens when the front-end begins to wobble and shake out of ...

  • Chrysler to Stop Production of Jeep Liberty Halt to manufacturing of Jeep Liberty comes during two government investigations.

    — Chrysler Group LLC has announced they will stop manufacturing their Jeep Liberty on August 16, right in the middle of two open investigations by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Chrysler said the Ohio plant is currently undergoing a complete overall in preparation of hiring over 1000 new people to build a new SUV. In November, Chrysler announced it will invest $1.7 billion in the Toledo plant and add a second shift of workers.  Chrysler ...

  • Pedestrian Deaths Rise, Alcohol a Definite Factor New statistics provide bad news if you're a male, drinking, and walking in a city.

    — New statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show pedestrian fatalities across the nation rose by 4 percent in 2010. A pedestrian is defined as any person on foot, walking, running, jogging, hiking, sitting or lying down who is involved in a traffic crash. The new report shows 4,280 pedestrians died in traffic crashes in 2010 – up from the 4,109 pedestrian deaths recorded in 2009. The majority of pedestrian deaths in 2010 (73 ...

  • Big Brother in Your Steering Wheel? Ford researches steering wheel that could read if you're stressed.

    — Ford Motor Company has announced they are researching a so-called “intelligent system” that allegedly will help simplify your driving experience. According to Ford, it's all in the sensors. “Vehicle control inputs, sensors, road conditions and biometric information such as a driver’s pulse and breathing can all be used to create a driver workload estimation that can then help manage certain functions in demanding situations,” said Jeff Greenberg, senior ...

  • Technology Tries to Trump Common Sense Researchers develop cell phone app to keep drivers from using cell phones.

    — In another example that technology is trying to trump common sense, engineers at Rutgers University have invented a cell phone application that senses whether a driver is using their phone. Instead of a driver simply letting voice mail take the call instead of taking a chance of running off the road, Rutgers engineers and researchers at Stevens Institute of Technology believe their phone app could reduce driving distractions. Researchers created a way for a ...

  • Researchers Invent Headlights That See Through Rain Driving in a rain storm could seem like driving in drizzle.

    — Any driver will admit driving in rain takes more concentration and effort than driving on a clear blue day. Driving in rain at night is even more of a challenge, especially on the eyes. But according to researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, the time is coming when driving at night in a rain storm will seem more like driving through drizzle. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute have invented a smart headlight system that can ...

  • Technology is no Replacement For Your Memory Study says products intended to keep you from leaving child in hot car are unreliable.

    — Parents are busy and it's easy to forget something during a trip to the grocery store. For those parents who are so busy they believe they might leave their child in a steaming hot vehicle, it's probably not a good idea to depend on technology to take the place of your memory. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia have released the results of a new study on products intended to prevent a child ...

  • Coming to a Vehicle Near You: Inflatable Seat Belts Seat belts with built-in air bags next on the auto safety horizon.

    — Seat belts save lives.  That slogan is often used, and for good reason.  It's true. The seat belt is probably the greatest in-vehicle safety invention since the dawn of automobiles.  But there has always been a problem. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, rear-seat passengers are much less likely to wear a seat belt compared to passengers in the front seat. Ford Motor Company wanted to change this statistic by not only creating ...

  • Large Vehicles Take Back Seat to Small Cars, Light Trucks Study says new-vehicle buyers choosing more small cars and light trucks.

    — The days when new-car buyers leaned toward larger vehicles might be coming to an end, that according to a new study from J.D. Power and Associates .  According to the Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) study, today's smaller vehicles can be more appealing than the larger vehicles they replaced. In 2012, the average APEAL study score for vehicles in the compact/sub-compact segment is 765 points (out of 1000) which is the same as the average ...

  • The Most Dangerous Days for Teens to Drive New research lists the most deadly days for a teen to sit behind the wheel.

    — Auto accidents are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, eight teens ages 16 to 19 die each day from traffic accident injuries. Per mile driven, teen drivers ages 16 to 19 are four times more likely than older drivers to crash. Based on the most recent statistics, about 3,000 teens yearly aged 15-19 are killed and more than 350,000 treated in emergency departments for injuries suffered in ...

  • Ford Escape Fires Blamed on Faulty Fuel Line Ford blames Indiana parts maker TI Group Automotive Systems for faulty fuel line.

    — Ford is blaming the recent recall of their 2013 1.6-liter Ford Escape on a part maker based in Ashley, Indiana. According to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Ford believes that TI Group Automotive Systems supplied a fuel line that had been mechanically scored during its manufacture. The scored fuel line can split and spring a leak, which appears to be what happened to a Ford employee in Kentucky. The employee was ...

  • Driving in the City Might be Safer Than in the Country New study says you're less likely to be in a fatal crash in the city.

    — A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says you're less likely to be involved in a fatal vehicle crash if you're traveling in a city, compared to a non-metropolitan area. According to the CDC, the overall crash death rate for 50 metropolitan areas combined was 8.2 per 100,000 residents, compared with a national rate of 11.1. For persons aged 15–24 years, the traffic death rate was 13.0 per 100,000 residents for all metropolitan ...

  • Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities For Drivers Government report lists top 10 most unsafe cities for drivers.

    — If you drive in Orlando or Memphis, double-check your seat belt because those two cities have been named the most unsafe cities to drive in the United States. The new report from the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report , a publication from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, lists the top 10 most unsafe cities to drive in, along with the top 10 safest cities. And the winners and losers are: 10 Most Unsafe Cities to Drive In : Orlando, ...

  • Traffic Fatalities Soar in First Quarter of 2012 After declining rates, fatalities on the rise for first three months of 2012.

    — The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced their projection of traffic fatalities for the first quarter of 2012 and it's not good news for U.S. travelers. The new report shows an estimated 7,630 people died in traffic crashes, a significant increase of about 13.5 percent as compared to the 6,720 fatalities that were projected to have occurred in the first quarter of 2011. In 2011, fatalities are projected to have declined in ...

  • Feds Open Evaluation of Ford Escapes and Mazda Tributes Safety regulators take action after complaints that throttles can stick.

    — The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened a preliminary evaluation of certain 2001-2004 Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute vehicles due to complaints of a sticky throttle. The NHTSA has been monitoring the problem after receiving 99 complaints alleging throttles failing to return to the idle position after the driver removed their foot from the gas pedal. Sixty-eight complaints came from Ford Escape owners and 31 complaints from Mazda Tribute ...

  • Toyota Takes More Heat Over Acceleration Problems Could "tin whiskers" be the real cause of unintended acceleration?

    — Toyota recently made news that more of their vehicles would be recalled because of unintended acceleration problems, a story too familiar with Toyota owners. Now a report from the Associated Press says that Toyota is taking more heat, this time from U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley. According to the AP, Grassley, an Iowa Republican, is questioning the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration if previous studies really proved that acceleration problems were ...

  • University Pays Drivers to Avoid Traffic Jams Stanford University tries incentive program to alter driver behavior.

    — Traffic congestion is a major problem in the United States, so one California university wants to know if you can decrease traffic by paying drivers. At a time when the U.S. is trillions of dollars in debt, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded a $3 million dollar research grant to California's Stanford University for what one Stanford news story described as "cold cash and [a] social game to relieve rush hour traffic." The project targets peak-hour ...

  • Should Drivers be Paid to Obey Speed Limits? Researchers test "pay-to-obey" system.

    — Car dealers might offer incentives to purchase that next set of wheels, but should drivers be given cash incentives to obey traffic laws? Apparently, that was a question that needed answered, at least according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Instead of testing what would happen if speeding laws had tougher enforcement and penalties, the government tested a system that paid drivers if they stayed within the posted speed ...

  • Dems Want Chrysler to Warn Customers of 'Jeep Death Wobble' Letters asks Chrysler to start a customer outreach campaign.

    — Two California Democrats have asked Chrysler to begin a customer outreach campaign about what the legislators call the "Jeep death wobble." House Democrats Anna Eshoo and Henry Waxman told Chrysler in a letter that the outreach campaign should inform Jeep owners of the risk, how to fix and prevent the problem, and how customers can stop the wobble if it happens. The letter also said Chrysler needed to do a better job of training employees and dealers about ...

  • Safety Group Petitions Government to Investigate Ford Escapes Petition claims a cable could break and lead to unintended acceleration.

    — The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Monday was asked to investigate alleged problems on over 300,000 Ford Escapes. The Center for Auto Safety , a nonprofit consumer advocacy group, filed a formal petition claiming that model year 2002-2004 Ford Escapes have a safety defect in which the "accelerator cable liner migrates out of position at the dash panel and contacts the accelerator pedal arm, preventing the pedal from returning, and also ...

  • Study: Lane Departure Warning Systems Increase Insurance Claims Safety feature meant to decrease injuries does the opposite.

    — Following news that complaints have increased about in-vehicle technology , now there is news that a system meant to decrease injuries and insurance claims actually increases both. According to research from the Highway Loss Data Institute, lane departure warning systems from Buick and Mercedes were associated with increased claim rates under collision and property damage liability coverages and for injuries to occupants. While automakers continue to ...

  • Volvo to Pay $1.5 Million in Fines Government says Volvo ignored deadline for reporting safety defects.

    — The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced today that Swedish automaker Volvo has agreed to pay $1.5 million in civil penalties in response to the agency’s assertion the automaker failed to report safety defects and noncompliances in a timely manner. The government requires an automaker to report known safety defects within five days, as required under the law. "With millions of vehicles traveling our highways every single day, we ...

  • Vehicle Hands-Free Technology Gets Poor Grades Complaints rise sharply about hands-free devices.

    — New car buyers seem to be pleased more than ever with the initial quality of their purchase, except when it comes to in-vehicle technology such as audio, entertainment, and navigation systems. According to the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 U.S. Initial Quality Study , which is based on evaluations of more than 74,700 new-vehicle buyers and lessees after the first 90 days of ownership, problems with these systems have increased by 8 percent from 2011. Since ...

  • Honda Accord Seat a Royal Pain to Some Drivers Is the Honda Accord driver seat the worst seat ever made?

    — Purchasing a new car means a test drive to find out how well the car runs, and for some people, a time to imagine how great they will look in the car. For many of us, a test drive means a few trips around the block with a salesperson sitting in the passenger seat trying to tell us the great benefits of the car. It's those short test drives that can come back to haunt you, something certain Honda Accord drivers know all too well. Long-time drivers describe ...

  • Nissan Transmission Defect Investigation Possible NHTSA Receives Petition About 2005-2010 Nissan Frontier, Pathfinder & Xterra.

    — If you drive a 2005-2010 Nissan Frontier, Pathfinder, or Xterra and have had your transmission damaged because of antifreeze, there is hope that an official government investigation might be in the future. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced that after receiving over 500 complaints, someone finally petitioned the government for a full investigation into alleged transmission problems. According to drivers who have filed complaints, ...

  • Government Considers Investigation Into Headlight Problems Saturn Outlook and GMC Acadia headlight complaints rise.

    — The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is checking into 2007-2009 Saturn Outlooks and GMC Acadias after receiving over 400 complaints about headlight problems. As a Bayshore, New York, resident wrote to CarComplaints.com , "headlights are necessary to prevent crashes at night."  How right they are. According to that New Yorker and others, the headlights of the Outlooks and Acadias sometimes decide to take a break whenever they want, mainly at ...

  • Hail-Damaged Cars Take Toll on Insurers Insurance payments in 2011 topped $797 million.

    — According to a study released by the nonprofit Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), insurance losses for hail-related damage to vehicles more than doubled in 2011 compared with the previous three years. The HLDI used information from insurers about weather-related losses under comprehensive vehicle coverage, which covers against theft or physical damage for reasons other than crashes. HLDI matched the dates of those claims to hail events recorded by the ...

  • What Are the Most Dangerous Cars in America? Study lists 7 most dangerous cars in America.

    — Car manufacturers love awards, but being listed among the most dangerous cars in America is no distinction that any automaker wants.  But that's just what some vehicles got labeled after a report from 24/7 Wall St. , a website known more for its financial analysis than for auto research. The researchers looked at safety data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Consumer Reports, JD Power, and the National Highway Transportation and Safety ...

  • 2011 Chrysler 200 Engine Dies While Driving No warning lights, error codes, or NHTSA investigation so far.

    — How would you like to be driving through a busy intersection and have your car die? No warning, no flashing lights, and nothing to do but try to avoid all the vehicles whizzing around you. If you're the owner of a 2011 Chrysler 200, you might know that exact feeling. Since the Chrysler 200 first hit the streets, owners across the U.S. have complained their "dream car" has turned into a nightmare of never knowing when or where the car will die. "I have a brand ...

  • New Car Smell Linked to Sickness and Disease Study says that new car smell you desire might harm your health.

    — Planning on buying a new vehicle soon?  According to a new study from the nonprofit Ecology Center, you should check the vehicle's toxic chemical ratings right along with the car's safety ratings. The chemicals, found in plastics and other parts of the interior, have been linked to a wide range of health problems such as allergies, birth defects, impaired learning, liver toxicity, and cancer. "Research shows that vehicle interiors contain a unique cocktail ...

  • Judge Overturns Honda Civic Hybrid Owner's Gas Mileage Ruling California woman loses $9,867 small claims award on Honda's appeal.

    — A California woman who had won a small-claims battle against American Honda Motor Co. has lost the case on appeal. Heather Peters originally was awarded nearly $10,000 in February after claiming her Honda Civic Hybrid didn't get 50 miles per gallon as stated in Honda advertising. Peters, who had opted out of a class action settlement to take on Honda herself, lost the appeal after Superior Court Judge Dudley W. Gray II ruled that EPA miles per gallon ratings ...

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