Knock-off replacement car bumper parts can cause air bags to deploy in low-speed crashes—when they shouldn’t—as new testing by Ford shows. The company says that needless air bag deployment can more than double the repair costs of a vehicle after a minor fender bender, the most common type of crash.
Plus, the Ford test results [...]
Filed under: Cars on November 30th, 2010 | No Comments »
Toyota plans to notify 2004-2007 Prius hybrid owners in early December of a Limited Service Campaign (LSC) to replace the hybrid electric water pump, according to dealer documents reviewed by Consumer Reports. There is a risk that air in the pump bearing could cause pump actuation to be slow, raising the coolant temperature and tripping [...]
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Gasoline prices are down in most areas around the country compared to the week before. The national gasoline average is $.23 above the price this time last year. Diesel fuel is about $.39 above this time last year.
National regular gasoline prices
Price
Change from last week
Regular gasoline/gallon
$2.86
↓ .02
Diesel fuel/gallon
$3.16
↓ .01
Regional regular gasoline prices
East Coast
$2.89
↓ [...]
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On December 1 at 12:30 p.m. EST, Consumer Reports’ GPS Team will be online to answer your questions about portable navigation devices and smart-phone applications. The team has tested more than 100 such navigation solutions in the past year and can provide guidance on selecting the right navigator for you or a gift. And we [...]
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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened up two investigations on possible defects with 150,000 2006 Honda CR-V SUVs and 41,000 2007 Kia Optima sedans.
NHTSA has received three reports of fires related to the master power window switch in the 2006 Honda CR-V. Earlier this year, Honda recalled 2007-2008 Honda Fits for a [...]
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A few recalls have been announced recently affecting Jaguar, Land Rover, and Volvo vehicles. If your model is listed here, the manufacturer should notify you of the recall and provide the fixes at no charge. Customer-service phone numbers are listed below, if you have questions.
2010-2011 Jaguar XJ
Jaguar is recalling over 6,400 XJ sedans for [...]
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The EPA has just released the official fuel economy estimates for the semi-electric Chevrolet Volt and its energy equivalent in terms of electricity use. The official Volt window sticker lists 93 MPGe (MPG equivalent) when operating on just electricity and 37 mpg on all gasoline. To create this means of comparison, the agency uses a [...]
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We weren’t too impressed by the Ford Edge when it was introduced in 2007. This two-row mid-sized SUV had plenty of power and easy access, but that’s where the good news ended. It drank as much fuel as larger SUVs, handling was lumbering, and the Edge lacked refinement.
But Ford has proven adept at making substantial [...]
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TomTom is combining its free, custom printing initiative with celebrity voices to offer Star Wars edition portable navigation devices. And on Cyber Monday, it is shaving the prices by waiving the $12.95 voice charge and the $5 Star Wars licensing fee.
These turn-key, customized units would make a fun gift for Star Wars fans, though do [...]
Filed under: Cars on November 26th, 2010 | No Comments »
When the crew at the Consumer Reports Auto Test Center planned the 2010-11 test program, the Audi A4 wasn’t on the list. We had tested an A4 2.0T back in June 2009, when it had just been redesigned.
But then Audi went ahead and dropped a new eight-speed automatic transmission in the car, rendering the old [...]
Filed under: Cars on November 26th, 2010 | No Comments »
