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Federal Regulators Investigating Tesla’s Autopilot Recall Fix

Federal regulators at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have opened a new investigation into Tesla’s Autopilot active driving assistance (ADA) system software to evaluate the adequacy of the changes made by a recent safety recall of over 2 million vehicles.. Earlier this year, Consumer Reports’ own testing found that the recall doesn’t adequately address many safety concerns raised by a federal investigat...
Posted:Fri Apr 26 16:18:01 EDT 2024

First Drive: 2025 Toyota Camry Proves a Bit Better in Many Ways

When Toyota redesigned the Camry sedan for 2025, the automaker took on a challenge that has vexed companies from Coca-Cola to Facebook: How do you update a broadly beloved product? If you don’t keep up with the times, you’ll get eclipsed by more innovative competitors. But if you change too much, you’ll alienate existing customers.. It appears Toyota walked that tightrope very carefully—a prudent strategy, considering that the ...
Posted:Fri Apr 26 14:38:09 EDT 2024

Cars Most Likely to Have Paint Problems 

Automotive paint science has come a long way. Today’s cars have durable, attractive finishes that can stand up to harsh sunlight, foul weather, and dirty birds. The colored paint is protected by resilient clearcoats that preserve a shine for many years with just periodic car washes and seasonal waxing. But there are some models that develop paint problems—including bubbles, peeling, and flaking—that detract from the car’s appea...
Posted:Thu Apr 25 13:21:51 EDT 2024

Most Small SUVs Fall Short in New Automatic Emergency Braking Test

In new, more stringent testing of the automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems in 10 small SUV models, only one—the 2023-24 Subaru Forester—received a top score. Four of the models received Poor scores in the tests, which were conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).  AEB is designed to automatically apply the brakes and stop a car more quickly to avoid or minimize a crash. IIHS has been testing vehicle-to-...
Posted:Thu Apr 25 00:05:01 EDT 2024

Genesis Recalls More Vehicles That May Lose Power While Driving

Genesis is recalling over 31,000 additional GV70 and GV80 SUVs and G80 and G90 sedans from the 2022 and 2023 model years because they may stall while driving, which could cause a crash. Genesis, the luxury division of Hyundai Motor Group, previously recalled 19,000 older vehicles in 2023 for the same issue. (Learn more about who owns which car brands.) more on recalls Why So Many Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis Vehicles Are Getting Recalled ...
Posted:Wed Apr 24 15:26:51 EDT 2024

Talking Cars 443: Driving the Chevrolet Colorado

Main theme: This video podcast focuses on our first impressions of the redesigned Chevrolet Colorado midsized pickup truck. It gets just one body style this go-around—a four-door crew cab with a short bed—and it loses the smooth V6 and fuel-efficient diesel engines. But it rides on a new chassis that stretches the wheelbase by 3.1 inches compared with the previous short-bed crew cab.. The panel mixes praise for the truck’s standa...
Posted:Wed Apr 24 08:40:31 EDT 2024

Vehicles That Cost the Most to Gas Up

Gas prices are on the rise again, and there is particular pain at the pump for large vehicles with low fuel economy. We see this play out with full-sized SUVs and trucks because those vehicles tend to be the thirstiest and have the biggest tanks. more on fuel economy How to Save Money at the Gas Pump. .Most Fuel-Efficient SUVs. .Best Deals on Fuel-Efficient Cars and SUVs. To understand what the costs are like today, we pulled togethe...
Posted:Tue Apr 23 13:50:16 EDT 2024

Secrets to a Cleaner Car

The car care aisle at an auto parts store is lined with shelves of soaps, polishes, waxes, tire cleaners, and other preparations, all sold with promises about keeping your car looking like it’s just off the lot. The truth is, if your car’s finish isn’t damaged, giving it a good cleanup requires just a few simple products and practices. More on Car Care How to Wash Your Car. .How Often Should You Wash Road Salt Off Your Car?. .How...
Posted:Sat Apr 20 06:00:05 EDT 2024

Four of the Five Least Expensive Car Brands to Maintain Are American

Car ownership costs go far beyond what you pay for a car. A key question is whether you can afford the drip, drip of maintenance and repairs for as long as you own it.. To better understand how costs increase over time and differ by brand, we asked members in our 2023 Annual Auto Surveys to tell us how much they paid out of pocket for their total maintenance (oil changes, etc.) and repairs during the previous 12 months. We found that t...
Posted:Fri Apr 19 15:17:25 EDT 2024

Toyota Prius Recalled Because the Rear Doors May Open When the Car Is in Motion

Toyota is recalling 2023–2024 Prius hybrids and Prius Prime plug-in hybrids because water can short-circuit the rear electronic door latches. The automaker advises that if the doors are not locked, they can open while the vehicle is traveling or in a collision, risking injury, or worse, to passengers.  more on car recalls Car Recall Guide: Your Questions Answered. .First Drive: 2023 Toyota Prius Trades Practicality for Style. Due t...
Posted:Thu Apr 18 10:27:47 EDT 2024

Keep Your Car in Great Shape

Abbe Herzig recently took her college-age daughter’s 2006 Honda Accord to a local repair shop for its yearly state safety inspection. The car failed the test, and the shop recommended a staggering $3,300 of work to replace worn suspension parts the mechanic said he’d found.. Worried that what they were suggesting was unnecessary, Herzig took the car to another local shop, where it passed inspection quickly. "But I wondered if the s...
Posted:Thu Apr 18 06:00:12 EDT 2024

How to Save Money on Car Repairs

CR’s chief mechanic, John Ibbotson, says it’s risky to try to get a “deal” on auto repair. While you might save hundreds of dollars, the work may not be good, leading to potentially bigger problems down the road. But there are ways to handle repairs your car needs before they snowball into something worse and save a few bucks in the process.. Ask your shop for a discount. You may be able to get a lower price just by asking for ...
Posted:Thu Apr 18 06:00:06 EDT 2024

Your Car Maintenance Checklist

Nothing will do more to make your car last longer than keeping on top of basic upkeep, CR’s experts say. While the best source for maintenance intervals is your car’s owner’s manual, these are the general guidelines.. Also read How to Save Money on Car Repairs. . . . CR's Car Repair Assistant Get an estimate for car maintenance and repair work, and have your car fixed right from a network of more than 2,000 shops that guarantee h...
Posted:Thu Apr 18 06:00:01 EDT 2024

Best Luxury Cars and SUVs

By definition, luxury cars and SUVs are a cut above the mainstream. They promise comfort, performance, refinement, and the latest technology. But our road tests show that not all competitors shine in this premium arena.. Shoppers will find significant gaps between Consumer Reports’ Overall Score for the best luxury models and the worst. Luxury Cars. Entry-Level. Compact. Midsized. Large. Electric. Luxury SUVs. Entry-Level. Compact. ...
Posted:Wed Apr 17 13:48:59 EDT 2024

Ford Bronco Sport SUVs and Maverick Pickups Recalled for Loss of Power While Driving

Ford is recalling more than 456,000 Bronco Sport SUVs from the 2021–2024 model years and Maverick pickup trucks from the 2022–2023 model years because the engine may lose power while driving. If this happens, drivers may not be able to accelerate or keep up with traffic, which could cause a crash. In addition, electrical accessories such as hazard lights may stop working. MORE ON CAR RECALLS Car Recall Guide: Your Questions Answere...
Posted:Wed Apr 17 12:40:37 EDT 2024