Latest Car News
Nissan Recalls Half a Million Models
Posted: Mar. 04, 2010 09:03:20 a.m.
Reuters reports that Nissan Motor Co. is voluntarily recalling nearly 540,000 vehicles worldwide due to defects in brake pedal pins and fuel-gauge components.
The brake pedal recall concerns the 2008-2010 Nissan Titan, Armada, Quest and Infiniti QX56. “Nissan reports that three instances have been reported where brake pedal pins have partially disengaged, resulting in a loss of normal braking ability,” explains Autoblog.
Edmunds Inside Line adds: “In a phone conversation with Inside Line, Nissan spokesman Fred Standish said that ...
Small Cars Make Their Debuts at Geneva
Posted: Mar. 03, 2010 10:03:45 a.m.
Mini debuted its Countryman crossover, the automaker’s largest and first all-wheel-drive vehicle, at this week's Geneva Motor Show. It’s larger than a traditional Cooper, with more space for passengers and a 41-cubic-foot cargo area. Though details for the U.S. market haven’t been announced, Left Lane News expects “a base 1.6-liter Mini Countryman and a 184-horsepower turbocharged Mini Countryman S to show up in North American dealers.”
Autoblog makes a few initial observations: “Aft of ...
Recall Round-Up: Odyssey, CX-9 and Tucson
Posted: Mar. 03, 2010 10:03:52 a.m.
A new day brings new recalls from several automakers – Honda, Mazda and Hyundai. Honda is recalling 21,776 model-year 2005 Odyssey Touring minivans with power-operated rear liftgates. The struts could wear prematurely and result in the liftgate closing unexpectedly.
According to NHTSA’s recall notice, “injury may result from a power liftgate closing unexpectedly when a person is within the closing path of the liftgate.” Honda dealers will replace the liftgate struts free of charge. Owners can contact Honda at ...
Ford is Big Winner in February Auto Sales
Posted: Mar. 03, 2010 10:03:07 a.m.
Ford Motor Company was the best-selling domestic automaker in February, with sales up 43 percent from February 2009. For the first time in over a decade, Ford just barely edged out General Motors – by only a few hundred vehicles -- for the most sales. Many other automakers also posted increases. These include GM (up 11.5 percent), Honda (12.7 percent), Nissan (29.4 percent), Subaru (38 percent), and many more.
But Autoblog cautions that we shouldn’t take the sales ...
Toyota Offers Biggest Incentives Ever
Posted: Mar. 03, 2010 10:03:23 a.m.
If you’ve ever wanted to buy a new Toyota, now is probably the best time ever. In the wake of its recall crisis, the automaker has launched one of its most aggressive incentive campaigns.
The incentives, which run through April 5, include no-interest financing for five years on eight models, including the Camry, Corolla, RAV4 and Yaris. Toyota is also offering low lease rates on nine models, including the Avalon, Highlander, Matrix and Prius. Toyota is even giving current ...
Ford Unveils Focus Wagon at Geneva
Posted: Mar. 02, 2010 10:03:03 a.m.
The 2012 Ford Focus Wagon made its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show this week. By all accounts, it’s a good-looking, functional vehicle. But don’t get too excited. While the 2012 Focus sedan and hatchback will arrive on our shores, the wagon model will only be sold in Europe.
That’s due to low demand – Left Lane News notes that the last time Ford offered a Focus wagon in the U.S., it snagged only a “sub-4 ...
Recall: Pontiac G5 and Chevy Cobalt
Posted: Mar. 02, 2010 09:03:57 a.m.
It’s that time again – safety recall time. It seems like we hear about new recalls nearly every day now. But this time the news comes from a domestic automaker, GM. The Big Three company is recalling 1.3 million Chevrolet and Pontiac vehicles sold in the U.S., Canada and Mexico due to faulty power steering motors.
In the U.S., the recall affects 2005 to 2010 Chevrolet Cobalts and 2007 to 2010 Pontiac G5s. The National Highway Traffic ...
Toyota Hearings Continue as Dealers Offer Support
Posted: Mar. 02, 2010 09:03:40 a.m.
Toyota’s recall saga continues today as its chief quality officer and a top engineer testify before the Senate Commerce Committee. This is the third congressional hearing on the world’s largest automaker’s unintended acceleration problems, which have been linked to at least 34 deaths.
“Members of the Senate commerce committee are expected to bear down on the question of whether the company has fully diagnosed what has caused some of its cars to speed out of control, and ...
Study: Chicago is Worst City for Car Repair
Posted: Mar. 02, 2010 09:03:52 a.m.
You’d better hope your car doesn’t break down in Chicago. According to a unique report by AutoMD, an online auto repair resource, the Windy City ranks as the worst city for fairness and consistency when it comes to auto repair quotes.
The “Advocacy for Repair Shop Fairness Report” is the first to analyze how the top 50 most populated U.S. cities compare in dealing with repairs. While Chicago fared the worst, Memphis is ranked at the very ...
Ford Sweeps Consumer Reports' American Top Picks
Posted: Mar. 01, 2010 10:03:18 a.m.
Consumer Reports has released its annual list of top domestic cars, and Ford is all over the list. In fact, Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles claimed seven of the ten categories.
According to Consumer Reports (CR), the top picks must adhere to specific criteria: “The vehicle must rank near the top of its category in our ratings; It must have average or better reliability, according to our latest Annual Auto Survey; It must have performed well if included in a ...
