ConsumerAffairs.com Automotive News Continued

2005 Automotive News Page 1 | 2

BMW Recalls 200,000 Vehicles for Airbag Failures Extends airbag warranty for some models.

Brake Noise #1 Consumer Complaint in J.D. Power Study Lexus tops the field in dependability.

Nissan Murano, Volkswagen Tiguan Earn Kudos in Consumer Reports' Tests Grand Cherokee and Touareg score poorly in ratings.

2007 Chevrolet Tahoe Ignites and Burns Other fires reported while government probe underway.

Court Upholds Public Access to Crash Data Taxpayer-owned tire safety data has been hidden from the public.

Ford: Parts Now Available to Fix Faulty Cruise Control Millions of Ford cars and trucks at risk.

'Run Your Car On Water' Scheme Could Leave Consumers All Wet Scientists debunk 'scammish' gas-from-water claims.

Maryland Warns Of Extended Warranty Scheme Beware of telemarketers selling extended auto warranties.

Feds Study Hyundai Airbag Failures Several Hyundai models the focus of safety probes.

NY Car Dealer to Pay $150,000 for Fraudulent Practices Five Towns Mitsubishi lured customers with scratch-off cards.

Test Drive: Could a Corolla Be the Answer? We spend a week putting the little econocar through its paces.

30 Days of Gas Above $4, No End in Sight Feds predict high prices for at least the next year.

Lawyers Rate Allstate as Worst Insurance Company 'Boxing gloves' replace 'good hands,' lawyers charge.

Feds Investigate Suspension Failure in Hyundai Santa Fe Some failures occurred at high speeds.

Questions Raised about MyGallons.com BBB gives prepaid gas-card venture an "F".

Solar Panels to Power Prius Air Conditioning Toyota hopes new option helps it maintain its green image.

Kia.com Rated Best Web Site for New-Vehicle Shopping Ford, Mazda also rank well in J.D. Power study.

Feds Delay New Roof-Crush Rule til October Safety agency bows to protests from consumer leaders, safety advocates, Congress.

'Hypermiling' Is Dangerous, Says AAA Extreme fuel-saving measures can put motorists at risk.

WhatsReallyFueling Those Sky-High Oil Prices There are lots of theories; most of them are right.

Unexpected Problems Confront Prius Owners Pleasure turns to pain for many purchasers.

California Court to Rule on Dex-Cool Settlement GM could pay millions in repair claims.

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cars Bring Hope, If Not Relief Honda is first out of the gate, closely followed by scam artists.

NHTSA Hears Testimony on Quiet-Running Hybrids Blind pedestrians say hybrids are a hazard.

NY Motorists Face Big Insurance Increase Last-minute deal carries a steep price tag.

$2 A Gallon Gas Possible, Analysts Tell Congress Eliminating 'excessive speculation' could bring back 'good old days.'

NHTSA Probes Saturn Timing Chain Again More than 400,000 L-Series cars could be affected.

Speculators Buy More Oil Contracts Than Oil Companies Bush White House says speculation not a big factor; others not so sure.

NHTSA Hears Testimony on Quiet-Running Hybrids Hybrids pose risk to visually impaired.

Rental Car Companies Gouging Consumers with Refueling Fees Maryland AG fights fill-up costs for rentals.

NHTSA Investigates 2.7 Million GM Trucks, SUVs Fire hazard probed in 21 models.

Record Gas Prices Move Higher California moves towards $5.

Golf Cart Injuries Increasing Adolescent, elderly males have high injury rates.

Reports of Prius Price Gouging Rise with Gas Prices Premiums of up to $10,000 can be the price of Prius envy.

Kia Owners Awarded $6 Million in Class Action Defective Sephia brakes need frequent replacement.

Toyota Resists Possible Tacoma Recall Feds probing unintended acceleration problems in popular pickup.

High Gas Prices Good For Kia, Honda Fuel-sippers slide off lots as gas prices hover around $4.

More Teens Using Cell Phones While Driving NC study finds state law is widely ignored.

Ford Trucks Burn in Virginia, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina Truck owners thought danger of fire was remote, ignored recall notices.

Feds Probing Possible Oil Market Manipulation Prices on the oil futures market up 32% this year.

Retailers Respond to High Gas Prices with Discounts, Promotions Kroger launches nationwide fuel discount program.

Spit Spark Plugs Still Hobble Ford Trucks Used truck buyers beware; problem still not solved.

Feds Probe Ford Windstar for Fire Hazard Two Homes Damaged by Fires.

Hybrid Sales and Prices Climb in Lockstep with Gas Prices Toyota slashes Prius incentives, jacks up price as demand jumps.

High Gas Prices Expected To Dampen Memorial Day Travel Travel industry feels pinch as consumers pull back.

Consumer Groups Urge FCC to Reject XM-Sirius Merger Justice Department rubber-stamped the deal in March.

Feds Probe Ford Windstar for Fire Hazard Family ignored recall notice on their Ford Expedition.

Nader Protests Feds' Roof Crush Plan Bush 'doesn't give a darn about it.'

Treacherous Treads Still Taking Lives Firestone tires on a Ford Explorer can still be a lethal combination.

VW Rabbit Tops Affordable Hatchback Tests Subaru Impreza, Toyota Matrix close behind.

Rising Gas Prices Drive Search for Savings Scams abound, but so do some simple gas-saving measures.

Ford Cruise Control Fire Strikes Florida Car Dealership More fires hit North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas.

Rusting Hyundai Sonatas Prompt Federal Probe Corrosion can cause suspension to fail, wheels to fall off.

Gas Prices Break Records in All 50 States Average price hits $3.57, up from $2.87 one year ago.

Is Tony Soprano Controlling Gas Prices? Attorney General suggests the Mob may be dabbling in energy markets.

Ford Hopes to Wind Down Recall of Fire-Prone Vehicles 7 million unrepaired cars and trucks still on the road.

California Tops in Car Theft Modesto has highest per capita rate in the nation.

Critics: New Federal Gas Mileage Standard Falls Short California, Public Citizen castigate Bush, Congress.

Ford Class Action Settlement Leaves Consumers in the Dust Explorer rollover case among the 'very worst' settlements.

Feds Probe Unintended Acceleration in Toyota Sienna Minivan Missing retainer pin can cause problems.

Midsize Side Impact Tests Show Safety Improvements Seven models get highest rating for occupant protection.

Ford Expedition Suspected in Fatal Ohio Home Fire Is there a time bomb in your garage?

Consumer Reports Picks VW Eos as Best Convertible BMW 328i a close second.

Sales of Ethanol-Burning Cars Up 10% Downside: Price of corn rising quickly.

Should You Buy a Second-Hand Prius? Maintenance costs may outstrip fuel savings.

Hybrid Parking Perk Under Fire in Los Angeles Growing budget problems prompt closer look at hybrid perks.

Brief Gas Price Decline Ends Prices jumped half a cent overnight.

Survey Finds Extended Car Warranties Often a Bad Deal Missouri cracks down on St. Louis-area warranty companies.

California Orders Allstate to Lower Car Insurance Rates 15% Consumers save $250 million.

High-Speed Steering Shimmy in Ford F-250, F-350 Probed Some big haulers 'out of control.'

Surf's Up: California Gas Prices Top Hawaii's Consumer group praises Hawaii effort to expose profits.

NHTSA Probes Hyundai Air Bag Failure Two deaths reported in Elantra crashes.

Urgent Fire Hazard Prompts Massive Pontiac, Buick Recall Cars can catch fire even when parked and idle, automaker warns. Don't park them in your garage!

Feds Investigate Fire Hazard in Mitsubishi Galant Automatic locks can trap passengers in burning vehicle.

NHTSA Investigates Saturn Sky, Pontiac Solstice Braking Probe could eventually lead to recall.

Ford Fires Continue Despite Long-Delayed Federal Warning Feds waited years to issue 'urgent' advisory about fire danger.

Consumer ReportsPicks 11 Worst Cars of 2008 U.S. SUVs again fill many of the slots, though Toyota gets two picks.

Gas Prices Head to $4 a Gallon Bush surprised by the news.

Feds Warn Some Ford Trucks and Cars Can Erupt in Flames After years of disastrous fires, NHTSA urges Ford owners to act quickly.

Feds Probe Fire Hazard in Chrysler Pacifica More than 50,000 SUVs may be affected.

Ford Fire Lawsuits Spread Ford owners lose vehicles, homes and, sometimes, lives.

Honda Civic GX Natural Gas Car Tops Greenies' List VW Toureg least eco-friendly.

OnStar Owners Bristle at Loss of Service Analog version of the popular service now officially defunct.

Feds Step Up Probe of Chevy Aveo Stuck Throttle Ice formation in engine can cause problems.

VW New Beetle Air Bags May Fail Latest recall unrelated to other fire-related Ford recalls.

Feds Probe Fire Complaints in Chevy Tahoe, GMC Yukon Fires also reported in Lamborghinis.

Isuzu Surrenders; Will Leave U.S. Company gives up on U.S. market after 28 years.

Ford Plans Another Recall to Fix Fire Hazard Previous recall ineffective in 225,000 vehicles.

Winter Weather Warning for Prius Drivers Traction control shuts down engine on slippery surface.

Feds Delay Roof Strength Rule Again Safety advocates say latest proposal is inadequate.

Toyota Extends Sienna Liftgate Warranty Consumers complained of injuries when gate closed unexpectedly.

Ford Fire Hazard Recall Creeps Along Parts shortages delay repairs of fire-prone Fords.

New Group Promotes Buckle-Up Laws for Pets Unrestrained dogs and cats a menace in moving vehicles.

NHTSA Probes Ford F150 Brake Failure Power assist can fail, consumers complain.

Ford Escape, Mazda Tribute Continue Ford Fire Tradition The little SUVs can go up in flames with no warning.

Toyota Sales for 2007 May Surpass GM GM has been No. 1 worldwide for 76 years.

Prius Again Tops Owner Satisfaction Survey BMW 335i, Porsche Boxster close behind.

Lexus EX35, Cadillac CTS Named Top Safety Picks Insurance Institute picks state-of-the-art vehicles.

Feds Probe Airbag Failures in BMWs Inquiry could lead to a recall.

Top Ten Automotive Outrages of 2007 Consumers pay for manufacturers' mistakes, government inaction.

NHTSA Dismisses Public Citizen Ford Complaints Flex-fuel vehicles prone to stalling, consumer group argues.

New Corvette Beast from GM, the Last of the Breed New gas-mileage bill may be the end of the muscle car.

Arkansas Researchers Say Chicken Fat Makes Good Fuel Why burn gas with all those chickens fit to be fried?

Nationwide Average Gas Price Just Under $3 Unleaded regular was $2.29 last year at this time.

Car Warranty Scams Target Seniors High-pressure tactics used to sign up unwary seniors.

Consumer Reports Snubs Toyota Highlander Magazine withholds its coveted "Recommended" designation.

Jumpin' Jeep Injures Two at Minneapolis Car Wash Jeep owners beware: Jeeps and car washes don't mix.

Japanese Dominate Car Owner Satisfaction Survey Europeans gain slightly, domestics inch upward.

Gas Price Holds Above $3 Canadian pipelines back on line, easing fears of a major price spike.

Ford Settles Explorer Rollover Lawsuits Consumers will get discounts on new Fords.

ExxonMobil Claims New Hybrid Battery Technology Could be good news for next-generation hybrids.

Feds Probe Ford F-250, F-350, Five Hundred, Freestyle Loss of control plagues trucks, cars have instrument problems.

Quality Auditor Charges Toyota Cover-Up Toyota denies safety was compromised.

Court Rejects SUV Mileage Standards Judge: White House 'put a thumb on the scale'.

Top Safety Awards Go to 34 Cars, SUVs and a Pickup Number of top awards more than doubles this year.

Tough Fuel Economy Demands from Senator Clinton She joins other candidates in supporting 40 mpg by 2020.

Smart and Sassy: The Smart 42 At last: a car that makes the Prius look big and bulky.

Crown Vic Disappears from Ford Dealer Lots Ford will continue to sell in bulk to police, cab fleets.

Jumpin' Jeeps Ruin Lives, Destroy Property Years of accidents, reports, complaints yield no action.

Ford Lacks Parts for Fire Recall Repair Supply problem affects passenger cars; truck supplies adequate.

Buy American? Not Again Spit spark plugs sour one consumer on U.S.-made cars.

Honda Most Reliable in Consumer Reports Survey Toyota drops out of first place.

Midsize SUVs Perform Poorly in Side Impacts Jeep Grand Cherokee, Chevrolet TrailBlazer among the worst tested.

OnStar Goes in Pursuit of Bad Guys New service disables stolen cars.

Declining Gas Prices Miss California Price War Hits Cayman Brac.

Hybrid Cop Cars for Aspen Ski capital grows ever greener.

Infiniti Holds Top Spot in Consumer Reports Luxury Vehicle Tests Mercedes E-Class close behind.

Toyota Recalls Floor Mats, NHTSA Warns Prius Owners Not all Priuis owners buy the floor mat theory.

New F150 Erupts in Flames as Ford Truck Fires Rage On More than 10 million vehicles recalled but fires continue

Lithium Ion Batteries to Power Mercedes Luxury Hybrid Mercedes confident the batteries will be safe.

Feds "Aware Of" Prius Runaway Acceleration Car seems OK after a "reboot" but the problem often recurs later.

Feds Require Side Curtain Airbags by 2013 Smaller test dummies will provide more protection for petite females.

Chinese-Made Auto Fuses May Cause Fire California auto parts seller recalls 295,000 sets.

Lemon Award: BMW's Automatic Transmission Readers report expensive problems with automatics in many BMW models.

Gas Price Decline Slows, Supplies Scarce California enjoys the lowest prices of the summer.

FTC Clears Oil Industry of 2006 Price Gouging In strong dissent, one commissioner finds "disturbing conduct."

GM Develops New High-Efficiency Engine HCCI engine sips fuel like a diesel, but without the sooty exhaust.

Honda's Immaculate Airbag Deployment 2006 Honda Civic wins "Lemon of the Week" award.

Red Hot Texas Car-B-Que Ford vehicles continue to burn as massive recall coasts along.

Saturn Astra Named Safest Car Under $25,000 The Astra is Saturn's latest rebadged Opel.

Prius Owners Report More Unintended Acceleration Incidents Toyota denies the problem exists, but consumers say otherwise.

Kerry Vows Action to Get Flaming Fords Off the Road Senator: "Unacceptable" that numerous recalls have not solved problem.

Importer Recalls Some Chinese Truck and SUV Tires Company claims lack of funds hampers recall effort.

Flaming Ford Scandal Disgraces Ford, Feds NHTSA fails in its mission to protect the public, Ford looks the other way while cars and trucks burn.

Massive Ford Recall to Fix Fire Hazard Despite Earlier Recalls, Fords Have Continued to Burn

Daimler Rids Itself of Chrysler German automaker unloads its ill-fated acquisition. Chrysler plans "celebration."

States Recall Chinese Tires Feds have been unable to force a recall because the tire importer is running low on cash.

Runaway Acceleration Plagues Prius Owners Toyota blames driver error or claims the carpet was on top of the accelerator pedal.

Summer Heat Means Less Gas at the Pump Activists want states to require a price adjustment on hot days.

NHTSA Probes Cadillac STS and CTS Cars may lose power to the rear wheel.

Honda Civic GX is the Greenest Car in U.S. No domestic models make the top 12 list.

Roof Crush Summit Highlights Safety Shortcomings U.S. automakers reluctant to improve roof strength of cars and SUVs.

Average National Gas Price at $3 Prices continue to slide at the pump.

Are Used Hybrids a Pig in a Poke? Owners complain battery replacement is very expensive.

Safety Agency Wants Tougher Recall Laws Growing prevalence of imported parts causing problems, Congress told.

Gas Prices Bite Into Consumer Spending Survey finds consumers cutting back sharply as gas prices remain above $3.

Lower Insurance Rates for Some OnStar Customers Onstar checks up on drivers' mileage claims.

Honda Sued Over Hybrid Mileage Claims Ads and Web promotions overstate fuel savings, suit charges.

Saturn Outlook Gets High Marks from Consumer Reports Outlook "easily outpointed competitors" in CR rankings.

July Gas Price Increase Expected Unexpected fall in inventories likely to push prices back up, analysts warn.

Feds Recall Chinese Tires Blamed for Fatal Van Accident Two killed when cargo van crashes in Pennsylvania after alleged tread separation.

Summer Car Sales Start to Sizzle Incentives and rebates will be thick as gnats this summer.

Chinese Tires Blamed for Fatal Van Accident Two killed when cargo van crashes in Pennsylvania after alleged tread separation.

Hybrids Save 5.5 Million Barrels, Feds Figure That's less than half a day's worth of oil per year.

Mexican Truck Program Endangers Motorists, Opponents Charge Poll finds majority of Americans oppose program.

The Ten Worst Used Cars and Trucks Our readers tell you which models to avoid ... like the plague.

Chinese SUV Headed for U.S. Via Mexico Zhongxing Automobile will build a plant in Tijuana to make SUVs and pickups.

Saturn Targets Toyota, Honda for Side-by-Side Tests Ford also taking on Japanese models.

Sales Top 1 Million but Some Owners Find Prius Doesn't Age Well Electrical, drivetrain problems plague consumers as cars age.

Honda Drops Accord Hybrid The Accord was trounced by Toyota's Prius. Honda promises new hybrids are in the works.

NHTSA Probes Jeep Wrangler Stalling Problem Consumers complain the Jeep stalls without warning.

Ford's Spit-Out Spark Plugs Hit Mechanics in their Wallets Troubled company stiffing its own mechanics as well as consumers.

Camshaft Flaw in New Tundra Pickup Twenty engine failures attributed to the problem so far.

Detroit Fights Back Against Higher Mileage Standards Ad campaign targets minivan moms, pick-up and SUV owners.

Americans Alarmed about Dependence on Oil Imports, High Gas Prices Survey finds wide support for tougher fuel economy standards.

GM Promises "Star Treatment," Dumps Old OnStar Subscribers Switch to digital leaves Onstar subscribers by the side of the road.

Prius Owners Losing Ground in Traction Battle Toyota says cars are performing as designed but owners can't get up their driveways.

Study Warns of Dangerous Chemicals in Child Car Seats Some seats better than others, environment group finds.

Miami Tops Road Rage Survey NY, Boston, Los Angeles, DC Close Behind

Black Car Buyers Pay Higher Interest Rates Study finds situation has worsened in recent years.

Suit Charges Honda Conceals Fire Risk in CR-V, Element Models Company's "double gasket" explanation doesn't wash, lawsuit charges.

Weekend Sees Record Gas Prices Nationwide average hits $3.07, analyst Trilby Lundberg reports, but prices may ease soon.

Gas Prices Breaking Records Every Day Average price of gas nationwide hits $3.01. California sets new records daily.

Feds Probe Jeep Commander, Pontiac G6 Problems Stalling and power steering problems reported by consumers.

One Ford the Recall Missed Despite massive recall, Ford trucks continue to burn.

Subprime Auto Loans Hit $50 Billion in 2006 Wall Street worried car loans will wind up like subprime home mortgages.

Prius Traction Control Complaints on the Rise Toyota can't seem to get a grip on the problem.

Gas Prices Top $3 in Five States Consumers seem to be accepting higher prices as the "new normal."

Gas Prices Push Towards New Record Texas hit the hardest as prices continue to push towards $3 in much of the country.

One Ford the Recall Missed Warning harness can corrode, leading to melting connections and possible fires.

OnStar Goes Digital, GM to Drop 500,000 Subscribers Nationwide conversion to digital cellular system leaves some OnStar subscribers by the side of the road.

Hybrids and Small Cars Staging a Comeback Prius supply catches up with demand, Ford looks for a better battery.

West Coast Gas Prices Lead the Nation Prices shoot past $3 and just keep climbing.

Online: The Worst Place to Buy a Car "Living room dealers" charge big bucks for flood cars, rust buckets and vehicles that don't even exist.

Public Citizen Objects to Carfax Settlement Charges settlement does not require Carfax to fully disclose limitations of its vehicle searchers.

Spit Spark Plug Ignites Ford Truck Federal safety regulators look the other way. Ford mechanic complains Triton engines are "dropping like flies."

Ford Stops Sales of Big Super Duty, Recalls 2008 Trucks Tailpipe fires reported in three of the big diesel trucks.

New Tundra Pickup Stumbles in NHTSA Safety Test Toyota pickup doesn't get the coveted five-star rating for frontal crashes.

Honda Recalls 166,000 Vehicles in U.S. Fuel pump problems can cause car to stall and not restart.

Automakers Resist Higher Fuel Economy Mandates The problem's not just cars, automakers tell Congress.

Ethanol Driving Up Meat Prices, Congress Told All that corn being turned into ethanol used to be chicken feed.

Consumer Reports Finds European Cars Perform Well, Lack Reliability Annual survey dispels the "Japanese Myth," finds improvements in domestic models.

Congress Urged to Protect Children from Vehicle Deaths Federal safety regulators and automakers refuse to act, Public Citizen charges.

Prius Stalls in Snow; Owners Steamed As winter comes to the East Coast, Prius problems mount.

Researcher Says Airbags Pose Threat To Hearing An airbag might save your life in an accident but it could also cost you your hearing.

NHTSA Gives Five Stars to 24 Passenger Vehicles But none earned five stars for front and side impact plus rollover resistance.

GM Buys Back 800 Problem Cars and Trucks Fleet vehicles were retrofitted with leather seats, possibly causing airbag sensor problems.

Nissan Altima Tops Consumer Reports' Ratings for Family Sedans Altima now ranks alongside CR's top-rated Volkswagen Passat, Honda Accord, and Toyota Camry.

Carfax Reports Record Amounts of Title "Washing" Flood-damaged cars being sold to unwitting consumers nationwide.

2003 Ford Trucks Now Spitting Spark Plugs Problem that has plagued 1997 to 2002 Ford trucks spreads to 2003 model Expeditions and Explorers and pickups.

Prius Shuts Down in the Snow, Reader Complains Toyota calls it a safety feature.

Toyota Recalls 533,000 Trucks for Failed Ball Joints Tundras and Sequoias prone to sudden ball joint failure.

CARFAX Settles Class Action Lawsuits Previous customers can get free reports, company agrees to more fully disclose limitations of its data.

Compact Vehicles Continue to Gain Market Share Compacts' share up from 27.9 percent in 2005 to 31.2 percent in 2006.

GM Wants Federal Support for Alternative Fuels GM's CEO vows to push for Congressional and White House action this year.

Study: Motorists Often Switch Insurers After Filing a Claim Amica Mutual, Erie, State Farm get best marks in J.D. Power study.

Transmission Failures Plague BMW Owners Automaker assumes no responsibility for widespread problems.

Feds Propose New Auto Safety Tests Too many cars getting five stars.

Toyota Agrees to Sludge Settlement for Consumers Class action settlement could benefit up to 3.5 million Toyota, Lexus owners.

Infant Fatalities Illustrate Car Seats' Shortcomings Infants die when car seats fail as predicted in Consumer Reports' testing.

Child Car Seats Not Up to the Challenge Consumer Reports finds serious safety issues in most seats tested.

Hybrid Sales Drop with Gas Prices But auto executives worldwide believe the Hybrid Age is upon us.

Toyota Says Sweat Detector Stops Drunk Drivers New system uses sweat from driver's hand to analyze blood alcohol content.

California Gas Prices to Set Record National average closes the year 15 cents above 2005.

2006 Gas Costs May Set Record Prices rising as year ends.

Consumers Choosing Tiny Cars Despite Safety Risks Subcompact sales up 42 percent as consumers seek fuel savings.

Mercedes-Benz Fined for Clean Air Act Violation Company failed to notify EPA of defects in 1999-2006 models.

EPA Lowers Prius Mileage Estimate Feds' new estimate of 45 mpg in city driving confirms consumers' complaints.

"Hot Fuel" Bilks Consumers, Lawsuit Charges Fuel expands when hot, delivering less energy per gallon, class-action suit alleges.

Whether Zip or Flex, Car Sharing Is On the Rise City dwellers finding hourly rentals convenient, economical.

Nissan Makes Cautious Entry into Hybrid Market Altima hybrid will be available only in California and a few other states.

Ford and Chrysler Offer Deep Year-End Discounts Automakers trying to clear out unsold inventory before year's end.

GM to Offer Rollover Airbags, Ford to Strengthen Roofs Automakers moving ahead of safety regulators, consumer advocates note.

Ford's Lemons Leave Sour Taste in Consumers' Mouths Company's rebuilding efforts ignore customers embittered by Ford's cavalier response to fires, engine defects.

Striking Union Questions Goodyear Tire Quality on YouTube Steelworkers use YouTube to raise doubts about tires produced during strike.

Prius Discounts Popping Up in Showrooms Production finally catching up with demand for the little hybrids.

Toyota Camry Named "Car of the Year"Motor Trend gives annual award to the best-selling car in the U.S.

Safety Groups Want Earlier Stability Control Rule Safety device could save 10,000 lives per year, Public Citizen argues.

Honda, Subaru Top IIHS' Safety Picks List Less expensive cars beat out more expensive brands this year.

Ford, GM Try to Clear Year-End Inventory Automakers hoping that big discounts, no-interest loans, rebates will move 'em out.

Feds Find Backup Sensors Ineffective Automakers also claim the devices are expensive and would save few lives.

Car Fire Reports Increasing Feds have conducted only one recall despite more than 520 deaths last year.

Prius Ranks #1 in Owner Satisfaction Prius owners love their little cars, survey finds.

Post-Election Gas Prices on the Rise It's two years til the next election and gas prices are on the rise once more.

Survey: Domestic Cars' Reliability Improving Consumer Reports finds some American models equal or surpass Asian brands; Euro marques slump.

Feds Probe Fires in Ford Escape, Mazda Tribute Antilock braking system's control module suspected in latest rash of Ford fires.

Ford Keeps Cutting Production as Consumers Walk Away Automaker struggles to reduce inventory but sales falling faster than it can cut production.

MIT Gas Saver: Ethanol Turbocharger A squirt of ethanol at just the right time could improve gas mileage, MIT engineers say.

Automakers Lobby to Weaken Roof Strength Proposal Safety advocates say proposed rules are already too weak.

Simpler Dashboards Might Make Cars Safer Study finds distracted drivers need simpler instrument panel.

Jousting with Jiffy Lube Consumers' beefs get action, at least sometimes.

EPA Finds Prius #1 in Gas Mileage Toyota has no fewer than five of the top ten fuel-efficient cars.

Software Glitch Slows Some 2007 Camrys Drivers may find car doesn't accelerate when they want it to.

Ford Flex-Fuel Claims Challenged Public Citizen claims Ford's flex-fuel cars won't run on ethanol.

Is Toyota's Quality Slipping? Survey and consumer complaints suggest quality slips as production rises.

CARFAX: Not Always All the Facts A ConsumerAffairs.com investigation finds serious shortcomings in the popular title search service.

New Study: Side and Roof Airbags Save Lives Universal adoption could save thousands of lives yearly, insurance study finds.

Study: Aggressive Driving Negates Benefits of Safety Devices Researchers find drivers' behavior changes for the worse in cars equipped with the latest safety gear.

Saab Stories Saab Owners Not Impressed by the Company's Aeronautical Heritage

Consumers Rejecting Vehicles with Poor Gas Mileage Despite dip in gas prices, J.D. Power finds consumers rejecting gas hogs.

Certified Dangerous: Airbags and Used Cars A five-month ConsumerAffairs.com investigation finds widespread fraud by unscrupulous scam artists who rebuild wrecked cars and sell them as "certified."

Gas Price Fall Aids Republicans Survey finds widespread mistrust among consumers.

Tax Credit for Toyota Hybrids Begins Fade Away October 1 Tax credits begin to disappear after 60,000 sales.

California Sues Automakers Over Global Warming Tailpipe emissions contribute to global warming, suit argues.

Toyota Closing In On GM for No. 1 Title Japanese ramp up as U.S. automakers trim jobs, close plants.

Ford to Challenge GM for Single-Year Loss Record Losses could reach $9 billion as second-largest U.S. automaker struggles to gain traction.

Feds Order Electronic Stability Control on All Cars Automakers have until 2012 to comply.

Ford Makes Stability Control Standard for 2009 Trying to regain its own stability, Ford plans safety upgrades for 2009.

GM Extends Warranty to Five Years, 100,000 Miles Embattled automaker hopes to improve image, sell quality.

Gloomy Labor Day for U.S. Automakers Toyotas sell themselves but U.S. brands languish on the lots.

Study Finds Ethanol Cleaner But Not CheaperConsumer Reports study concludes that E85 ethanol will cost consumers more money than gasoline.

GM Owners Still Steaming Over Dex-Cool Coolant blamed for corrosion, engine damage.

2006 Jeep Commander Named Worst "Blind Zone" Offender Children most frequent victims of "backover" accidents.

Ford Kicks Off Late-Summer Zero Percent Car Sale Automaker hopes to reduce large inventory of unsold models.

Mazda Plans Recall of Troubled RX-8 Leaks in the sports car's rotary engine causing a variety of problems.

Consumers Choose Toyota then Buick in Michigan Study Ford, Jeep and Kia tied for last place.

GMC Recall Too Late for California Family Yukon XL catches fire while parked in family's attached garage.

Car Dealers Improve Service Performance J.D. Power finds consumers more satisfied with dealer service.

Feds Wind Up Ford Engine Fire Probe with Massive Recall Latest recall involves 1.2 million trucks still at risk of catching fire while parked.

Car Thieves Like the Fast, Furious and Blinged Out BMW roadster, Hummers top most-stolen list.

Ethanol Lobbying Disclosures Questioned Public Citizen charges ethanol producers aren't coming clean about their lobbying and influence-peddling.

Test Drive: Toyota's 2007 Camry A week in the Camry wasn't thrilling but it was predictable, comfortable and fairly fuel-efficient.

Survey: Lexus, Buick, Cadillac Dealers Tops in Customer Satisfaction Volkswagen, Isuzu bring up the rear with worst ratings.

Toyota Recalls Near 800,000 for July Problems afflict the Prius and Lexus hybrids as well as other Toyota and Lexus models.

U.S. Fuel Economy Stagnant for 12 Years EPA finds no improvement in overall fuel consumption.

U.S. Fuel Economy Stagnant for 12 Years EPA finds no improvement in overall fuel consumption.

Test Drive: 2006 Toyota Prius Three lead feet meet little fuel sipper.

Toyota Tundra Recalled to Disable Front Passenger Airbag Switch NHTSA decision means front passenger seat will never be safe for small children.

Arizona Charges Wal-Mart, AutoZone with Consumer Fraud Stores consistently fail to correct pricing errors, state charges.

Study: Drivers Using Cell Phones As Bad As Drunks Researchers find using both handheld and hands-free cell phones as dangerous as driving drunk.

Federal Court Upholds Regional Auto Recalls Consumer groups had challenged fed regulators' letting automakers pick and choose which vehicles to recall based on geography.

Mercedes Smart Car Headed for U.S. Market Little two-seater can get 60 mpg but has a hard time doing 60 mph.

Toyota Builds More Efficient Gasoline Engine New engines will be cleaner and at least 5% more efficient than current models, Toyota says.

Gas Pill Busted in Texas Texas charges BioPerformance doesn't save gasm, but generates big profits for its promoters.

More Trouble for Popular Jeep Grand Cherokee Fan blades may fly off possibly injuring bystanders.

Jeep Grand Cherokee May Suddenly Accelerate Incidents in Connecticut mirror those reported by consumers around the country.

Some SUV Owners Burning More than Gas High cost of gas fuels arson fires in Southern California and elsewhere.

Bank Of America Offers Hybrid Rebate to Employees Pilot program applies to Los Angeles, Boston and Charlotte, N.C., workers.

Consumer ReportsGives RAV4 Rave Review Subaru Forester edges out Honda CR-V to finish in second place as CR reviews new SUV models.

Car Seats Impair Newborns' Breathing Study finds oxygen levels fall, heart rate may slow when infants are left in safety seats.

NHTSA Gives 2006 SUVs High Marks Chevrolet HHR the highest-rated SUV, Nissan Xterra 4x4 the lowest-rated.

Dodge Charger in Hot Pursuit of Ford's Police Interceptor With optional Hemi engine, the police Charger tops out at 150 mph.

Survey: Outlaw Cell Phone Use While Driving Most people would support a state law that makes it illegal to use a cell phone while driving, a University of Michigan study finds.

Cell Phones Cleared in Gas Fires Fire officials now doubt cell phones were to blame in much-publicized fires.

Aging Diesel School Buses Put Children at Risk Fumes and soot can cause health problems for children.

Automakers Warn Against Using E85 in Conventional Vehicles The ethanol-based fuel must be used only in vehicles built to burn it.

Texas Drains Fake Fuel Pill Scheme BioPerformance pills may actually decrease gas mileage, state charges.

Alternative Fuel Sources Are No Secret Diesel, biodiesel, E85 available today. Hydrogen may not be far away.

Alternative Fuel Not Hard to Find Researchers point to coal and oil shale, among others.

Congress Considers "Right to Repair" Bill Measure would require automakers to share information with independent repair shops.

Florida Sues Pandhandle Gas Stations Stations conspired for years to keep gas prices high, state charges.

Survey: Gas Prices Don't Shake SUV Popularity University of Maine study finds SUV owners are loyal, no matter what.

Ford May Build a Plug-In Hybrid High gas prices are a reality and Ford is trying to respond, CEO tells stockholders.

Prius Shortage Drags Down Hybrid Sales Toyota can't keep up with the demand in U.S. Ford hybrid sales improve.

Gas Prices Cause Panic at the Pump ... and in Congress It's a perfect storm for the oil industry as consumers, Congress and the White House react to sky-high fuel prices.

$3 Gas Just Pennies Away Average gas price up 70 cents over last year.

Bush Proposes Lifting Hybrid Tax Credit Limit Tax credits are now phased out after manufacturer sells 60,000 vehicles.

Runaway Prices at the Pump Pawn shops report brisk business in Wisconsin as residents hock their valuables to buy gas.

Cell Phone No. 1 Driver Distraction Study finds distracted drivers three times more likely to have an accident.

Prius Rage Give Rise to Hybrid Haters Carpoolers complain single-occupant hybrids are clogging carpool lanes.

GM Spends $17 Million Per Year on Viagra Automaker is the world's largest private purchaser of the little blue pills.

AAA: No Magic Pill For Gas Price Blues Potions, pills and additives may help a little but are seldom worth the money.

Kia Sedona, Subaru Impreza Ace Crash Tests Prius rated poor without optional side airbags.

Gasoline Prices May Be Leveling Off Supply may by catching up with demand.

Kids Getting Too Fat For Safety Seats, Study Finds Seats need to be redesigned to accommodate bigger kids, study finds.

Gay Automotive Website Takes on BMW Automaker's ads in gay publications don't make up for its lack of domestic-partner benefits for gay employees, Gaywheels.com charges.

New Government Rules May Fuel Gas Prices Average price for a gallon of gas now exceeds $2.50 nationwide.

Saturn Sky Prices Go Sky High Car dealers, even Saturn dealers, make hay while sun shines.

Honda Moves Toward Hydrogen Fuel Cells Honda funds development of home-based hydrogen system.

Consumers Protest Replacement Car Key Prices Key codes do little more than line automakers' pockets, consumer group argues.

Feds Probe Airbag Problems in Chrysler Minivans Corrosion can cause airbags to fail, or to open improperly.

Detroit Fuming OverConsumer ReportsTop Ten Picks Detroit was shut out of the magazine's ratings this year.

NHTSA Probes Unexplained Stalls in Chrysler Pacifica Dealers can't isolate the problem.

Consumer ReportsSizes Up Hybrid Costs Savings at the pump don't offset higher purchase price.

NTSA Probes Toyota Sienna Tire Pressure System Tire pressure and regulating system can fail.

Three States Consider Limits on Black Boxes Insurers, police increasingly see cars' black boxes as evidence.

Gas Prices Headed Up, Analysts Warn Recent price declines won't last, Trily Lundberg cautions.

GM Revives March Madness Sale Automaker swore off incentives but is backsliding as sales fall.

Honolulu Leads in Motorcycle Thefts, NYC in Accidents Bikers beware! Some cities are a lot riskier than others.

Big Brown Goes Hybrid UPS adds 50 electric hybrid trucks to its U.S. fleet.

Toyota Cuts Entry-Level Camry Price, Boosts Luxury Model Best-selling Camry responds to U.S. automakers' price cuts.

Japan's Big Three Take Aim at Gens X and Y Little fuel-sippers threaten to steal the market from U.S. gas guzzlers.

GM Regional Truck Recall Stops Short Truck owners irate over recall shortfall.

Toyota Prius Named in Patent Infringement Suit Challenge by Florida company could block Prius imports.

NHTSA Probes Durango Fires Fires reportedly start under the front seat.

Sunoco Agrees to $325,000 NJ Gas-Price Settlement Proceeds will help fund an assistance program for low-income residents.

VW Minivan Returning to U.S. It will actually be a Chrysler in VW cladding.

Statistics Show Airbags Getting Safer Fewer airbag-related deaths and injuries reported.

Recalled Trucks Burn As Ford Fiddles Slow-moving recall can't catch up with engine fires in Ford trucks.

Water-Damaged Katrina Cars Hit the Market Water-soaked cars being sold throughout the country.

Mercedes Hopes to Buff Its Image Legendary marque launches massive advertising campaign to rebuild its reputation.

NHTSA Probes Saturn Timing Chain Failures Failures can occur at highway speeds.

Volvo Recalls 42,000 Trucks Possible fire risk in some models.

Feds Probe Shattered Cadillac SRX Sun/Moon Roofs Occupants can be cut by glass fragments.

Ford Trucks Spit Spark Plugs Ignored by Ford, truck owners face massive repair bills.

Toyota Prius TopsConsumer ReportsMileage Tests The Dodge Ram 1500 SLT with a 5.7-liter engine got the worst mileage: 11 miles per gallon.

New Honda Civic Challenges Toyota Prius 2006 Civic promises to bring some competition to the hybrid market.

Illinois Settles Gas-Gouging Complaints New York considers legislation to tighten price-gouging laws.

Group Warns of Polluted Air Inside Cars Flame-retardant chemicals "toxic at any speed," environmental organization claims.

A Wild Ride in a Prius Michigan man's cruise control switches to runaway mode as car accelerates at full throttle.

Hybrid Sales Expected to Grow 268 Percent by 2012 J.D. Power predicts sales of 780,000 gas-electric hybrids by 2012.

Hybrid Driving Tips Pointers from a veteran of 85,000 miles behind the wheel of a Honda Insight.

Insurance Break for Hybrid Owners in 2006 Travelers is first major company to offer discounts to hybrids.

NHTSA Grants Airbag Exemption to Romanian SUV Company claims it would go out of business if it had to make a safe vehicle.

Study: SUVs No Safer Than Cars Children riding in SUVs have similar injury risks to children who ride in passenger cars, study finds.

New York Taxi Fire Puts Heat on Ford Sen. Schumer wants Ford to provide gas tank shields for Crown Victoria cabs.

Ford Loses Data on 70,000 Workers Computer was stolen last month. Ford buys credit monitoring service for affected workers.

California Dumps Zip Code-Based Auto Insurance Rates State finally implements key provision of Proposition 103, passed by voters in 1988.

Little Chinese Car Headed to Detroit Auto Show The Geely is expected to sell for less than $10,000 whe it goes on sale in a few years.

More Drivers Talking On Cell Phones The number of drivers talking on a cell phone at any given daylight moment continued to increase in 2005, according to the latest research.

Ford Settles Class Action Over Plastic Manifolds About 1.8 million motorists eligible for payments and warranty extensions.

Florida Sues Spammer Touting Bogus Fuel Saver Federal Trade Commission filed similar suit last year.

Consumer Advocates Challenge Regional Auto Recalls Suit challenges policy that allows automakers to limit recalls involving defects related to regional conditions such as snow or heat.

Lexus Leads in Customer Loyalty Suzuki, though still poor, shows biggest improvement.

Iowa Legislature Urged To Cap Car Title Loans Title loans drive consumers deeper into debt and may cause them to lose their car.

Illinois Sues Montell Chevrolet, Montell Pontiac Dealers allegedly failed to pay loan balances due on consumers' traded-in vehicles.

New Jersey Sues Car Dealers Deceptive advertising, withholding information about prior accidents among the charges.

Mazda5 Wins Best Overall Rating Consumer Reports picks Maza5 as best "tall wagon."

Mid-Size Cars Sweep Top Safety Pick Awards Winners are mostly mid- and fill-size sedans. No minivans made the cut.

Prius Owners Still Miffed about Mileage Careful driving helps some consumers get better mileage, but not others.

Prius Owners Question Mileage Claims Does the Prius' onboard computer display correct fuel consumption information?

Prius Runs Amok After Stalling, Hits Tow Truck California driver finds stalling incident more frightening than the company's warning led him to expect.

GM Cars and Trucks On Sale ... Again After a horrible October, General Motors tries another sale.

Five Reasons Not To Buy An Extended Warranty Based on the experiences of our readers, we'd have to say extended warranties are a bad idea.

Oil Companies Deny Price-Gouging FTC warns that price controls do "more harm than good."

Honda Tops Most-Stolen Car List Japanese models most coveted by thieves.

Pennsylvania Suit Challenges State Farm Salvage Title Deal Insurer's settlement with states was a "sweetheart deal," suit charges.

Negative Option: When No Means Yes "Implied consent" sales cost consumers big bucks, often for products or services they never heard of and don't want.

Toyota Continues to Sell Faulty Prius Hybrids Stalling problem can leave motorists stranded on the highway.

NHTSA Investigating Dodge Dakota and Durango Steering problem can cause loss of control.

Record Oil Profits Prompt Calls for Probe Congress stirs as ExxonMobil reports record profits.

Survey Sees Trouble Ahead for Many 2006 Model Cars, SUVsConsumer Reports finds European luxury models and most SUVs trouble-prone.

State Farm's Wrecked Car Owners Feeling Slighted Attorneys general brokered private deal with State Farm, which resold totaled cars without salvage titles.

Senator Proposes Hybrid Quota Sen. Joe Lieberman wants 10 percent of new cars to be hybrids.

Viper vs. Vette as Horsepower Wars Heat Up Don't care about the price of gas? Take one of these beasts out to the track.

Poll: Gas Prices Affecting Quality of Life in America Americans say they'll buy smaller cars, travel less this holiday season.

Toyota Recalls Scion tC to Fix Wind Deflector Deflector could shatter if hit by road debris.

More than Half of U.S. Consumers See a Hybrid in their Future Drivers more concerned with gas prices than with the environment.

Gas Prices Push Consumer Price Index Higher Iindex soared 1.2 percent in September as Gulf Coast hurricanes blew gas prices skyward.

Bridgestone Settles with Ford Companies settle long-standing suit over Explorer rollovers.

American Workers Pour 2005 Salary Increases Down Gas Tank Compensation experts say rising gas prices eat up most or all of workers' raises.

SUV Sales Plummet, Trade-In Values Collapse Consumers suddenly clamor for fuel-efficient cars.

GM Sells Subaru Stake to Toyota Toyota buys bigger share of key hybrid battery supplier.

Florida Accuses Island Food Stores of Gas Price Gouging Price of gas went up 72 cents per gallon during state of emergency.

Feds Urged to Act on Ford Spark Plug Blow-Outs Problem in big truck engines can lead to severe damage.

Missouri Charges 10 Gas Stations with Price Gouging Prices changed several times daily at stations in Southeast Missouri.

New Jersey Charges Stations, Oil Companies with Gas Price Gouging Hess, Motiva Shell, Sunoco and several independent companies charged.

Illinois Sues Chicago Auto Auction City Auto Auction allegedly deceived consumers through advertisements and sales tactics, suit charges.

GM Offers OnStar Diagnostic Service by Email Your car can tell you how it's feeling.

EPA Fuel Economy Ratings Have Shortfalls Of Up To 50 Percent Hybrids some of the most over-rated, but still among the most economical, study finds.

Analyst Sees $100 Per Barrel Oil By 2007 Katrina complicates pre-existing problem of rising consumption.

After Years of Stonewalling, Ford Recalls 4 Million Trucks to Fix Fire Risk F-150s and other popular trucks at high risk of bursting into flames while unattended.

New Jersey Finds 25% Of Gas Stations Overcharging State cites 100 of 400 stations inspected over Labor Day weekend.

Title-Washing Scams Follow Katrina Used car market may be flooded with "title-scrubbed" storm-damaged vehicles.

Feds Say Tire Quality Has Improved Nearly 90 tire lines get "A" rating for safety and reliability.

States Probe Gas Price Jumps Attorneys general want to know why gas prices skyrocketed after Katrina.

Major Fuel Pipelines Back On Line, Supplies Seem More Certain Something "a little ghoulish" about extreme price predictions, analysts note.

NHTSA Proposes New Child Safety Seat Rules Booster seats for larger children would be more stringently tested.

Gasoline Prices to Rise Sharply Following Killer Katrina Retail increases of 10 to 25 cents likely.

Gasoline Prices Spur Talk of Regulation and Price Controls Hawaii enacts price controls, other states may follow suit.

Hyundai Drops Out of Minivan Market Korean automaker finding "market resistance" in U.S.

Connecticut Blasts Sale Of Fake Air Bag Covers Consumers may not know there's no air bag behind the cover.

Consumers Confounded by Sudden Acceleration Problems Despite 20,000 complaints, feds blame driver error.

Critics Say Proposed Roof Strength Standard Doesn't Go Far Enough Nearly 25 percent of U.S. traffic deaths occur in rollovers.

Illinois Supreme Court Overturns $1 Billion State Farm Judgment It may be a bad omen for other class actions in Illinois, traditionally a consumer-friendly state.

Alert Consumer Foils Car Sale Scam It pays to look carefully at online escrow services you've never heard of.

GM Piston Slap Case May Become A Class Action Problem affects V-8 engines in pickup trucks and SUVs sold between 1999 and 2002.

Florida Motorcycle Deaths Soar After Helmet Law Repeal Fatal accidents up 81 percent, federal study finds.

GM Extends Employee Discount Program Ford and Chrysler extended their programs yesterday.

Detroit Is Most Expensive Place to Own a Car Philadelphia and Los Angeles close behind. Insurance the biggest variable.

California Tightens Emissions Rules for Big Rigs It's the first such regulation in the United States for heavy-duty trucks.

Volvo Asks Drunk Driving Waiver to Test Safety Technology Company is testing a device that would take over cars whose drivers were incapacitated.

Acura Integra Is Most-Stolen Car in America Interest in street racing driving heists of performance models.

Ethanol A Waste, Study Concludes Researchers find it uses too much energy to produce ethanol and biodiesel.

Senate Committee Wants Bitter Antifreeze to Protect Children and Pets Thousands are poisoned each year by the current blend.

California Cracks Down on Big Truck Emissions On-board computers would pinpoint emission problems.

Crash Risk Four Times Higher When Driver is On the Phone Australian study latest in a mounting body of evidence.

GM to Increase '06 Buick Warranty, Cut Prices GM hoping to build premium image for the Buick, long seen as dull but dependable.

Study: Parked Cars Get Dangerously Hot, Even on Cool Days Study finds even cool days are dangerous to children and pets locked in parked cars.

Ford, Chrysler Join GM in Offering Employee Discounts to Everyone GM scored a 46 percent jump in June sales, its best month since 1986.

GM Extends Employee Discount Program Chrysler launches me-too program while Ford ponders.

NHTSA Seeks Safety Improvements in Cars and Trucks Electronic stability control in more models tops agency's agenda.

Arizona Sues Over Vehicle Sublease Scheme Subleases illegal in Arizona, attorney general alleges.

Ford Agrees to Settle Plastic Manifold Lawsuit Owners of affected models to be reimbursed at least $735.

Wrongful Death Suit Charges House Fire Started in Ford Pickup Truck Iowa woman died in blaze that allegedly started in her F-150.

VW Fined $1.1 Million for Clean Air Violations Defective oxygen sensor caused excessive ozone emissions.

California Gets More Crude Oil Storage Capacity Under Antitrust Agreement It's part of an enforcement settlement that resolves antitrust objections to Valero's $2.8 billion acquisition of Kaneb.

Tire Manufacturers Ask Feds for Age Standard Major automakers disagree; rubber companies want government to decide.

Toyota Raising Prices to Help Ailing U.S. Auto Industry The price hikes of 2 percent to 3 percent will likely start in October.

Feds Say Hands-Free Cell Phone Use Ineffective Study finds it's talking that causes accidents.

Front Airbags Risky for Teens Study finds younger teen-agers prone to injury when airbags deploy.

Ford Urges Replacing Tires After Six Years GM the major hold-out as automakers warn that tires break down whether used or not.

Brake Problems Plague Silverado Owners Investigation moves slowly; so do Silverado drivers, who fear their brakes may fail at any time.

Arai Motorcycle Helmets Top J.D. Power Survey Helmets with convertible face shields becoming more popular.

Study Confirms 15-Passenger Van Rollover Risk NHTSA reissues urgent warning to drivers to check tire pressure, make sure passengers buckle up.

Side Airbags Help Mitsubishi, Toyota, Volvo Sedans Top Crash Test Ratings All newly-tested cars won 4-star rollover rating.

Kia Sedona Recall A problem with the hubcaps could cause a crash, regulators said.

Suzuki Verona Rates Lowest in Government Crash Test Latest government tests again show the value of side airbags.

GM Gives Employee Discount to Anyone Desperate to move cars, GM asks retired executives to recruit new buyers.

Toyota Probes Prius Stalling Problem Popular hybrid sometimes stalls at highway speeds, owners report.

Toyota And GM Ponder Joint Hydrogen Car Deal The two biggest automakers in the world are talking about forming a joint venture to begin manufacturing hydrogen-powered cars.

Fuel MAX Settles Federal Charges Bogus fuel-saving product's e-mail and Web sites violated federal laws.

Car Buyers Flee SUVs, Prius Sales Triple Gas prices puncture SUV balloon. Consumers look for fuel-stingy models.

Hyundai to Enter Hybrid Market Korean automaker will introduce small hybrids in U.S. next year.

Study Confirms Children Safer in Back Seat Use of proper restraints also important in reducing fatalities in car crashes, study finds.

Ford Launches SUV Ads, Hoping to Spur Sales High gas prices have put a big dent in sales.

U.S. Automakers Lag in Hybrid Sales Japan captures 96 percent of fast-growing market.

North Dakota Limits Use of Cars' Black Boxes By Insurers Many motorists don't realize their car may be recording their every actgion.

Your Next Car: Made in China? DaimlerChrysler looking at making cars in China for export to the U.S.

American Auto Industry in Deep Trouble GM's disastrous financial results bring the picture into focus. It's not pretty.

Safety Experts Worry over LATCH Child Car Seat New system of anchors leaves shoulder belts hanging loose; one strangulation reported.

Energy Wars: GM, Toyota Follow Different Strategies GM gets federal subsidy to build hydrogen car, Toyota plans more hybrids.

Chrysler Rolls Out New Dodge Charger Police Car A challenge to Ford, which has strong-armed police complaints about its Crown Vic.

Gas Prices Above $2 in Most of the Country Highest price ever in many locations.

Feds Finally Look for Ford Fire Causes Fed safety agency expands probe to model years other than 2000, already the subject of a recall.

Car Dealers May Offer Walkaway Insurance Policy would cover owners who were "upside down" in their equity.

Blazer Most Dangerous Vehicle, Insurance Study Finds Mercedes E-Class sedan the safest vehicle in Insurance Institute study.

Soaring Gas Prices Hurt SUV and Pickup Sales GM, Ford take huge profit hits as sales dry up.

GM Crushes Electric Car Hopes The EV1 had its ardent fans ... but there just weren't enough of them.

Toyota Prius Tops Consumer Satisfaction Survey Ninety-four percent of Consumer Reports readers say they would buy another Prius.

Fewer 16-Year-Olds Involved in Car Crashes Study finds graduated driver licensing is reducing accident rate.

GM Quits Quadrasteer Innovation General Motors is the latest automaker to give up on marketing a four-wheel steering system.

Fiat Splits Maserati from Ferrari Fiat shook up its car brands today, splitting the Maserati marque from the Ferrari racing unit to link it more closely to its sporty but slow-selling Alfa Romeo.

Houston Lawyers Sue Ford Over F-150 Fires Fires not confined to 2000 model year, attorneys charge.

Ford Recalls Fire-Prone Trucks Automaker finally recalls some F-150, Expedition and Navigator models to fix fire hazard.

Forbes Lists Worst Cars Ford's Lincoln Navigator judged the least reliable.

State Farm Pays $40 Million to Settle "Branded" Car Title Issue In multi-state agreement, insurer will compensate owners of vehicles that had been wrecked or stolen.

Kia Spectra Flunks Frontal Crash Test Mazda 3 performs best while Saturn Ion, Hyundai Elantra, Suzuki Forenza are acceptable.

Kentucky Sues J.D. Byrider Attorney General charges local franchisee preys on low-income consumers and violates state and federal laws.

Dodge Durango, Dakota Models Recalled to Fix Suspension Problems Feds finally act on ball joint problems in Dodge trucks.

Honda Addresses CR-V Engine Fires Sends letter to owners urging them to check with their dealer to ensure first oil change is done properly.

Iowa Gas Station Owner Caught In Shell Game Davenport station put regular in all three pumps.

Supreme Court Weakens Consumer Protection in Car Financing Court rules that $1,000 is the maximum allowable penalty for Truth in Lending Act violations by car dealers.

$105 Million Verdict Against DaimlerChrysler in Minivan Baby Death Front seatback collapsed in rear-end accident, killing baby in middle seat.

Petition Calls for Tire Dating At least 27 deaths attributed to "aged" tires.

Feds Sue Bogus Fuel Saver FTC charges FuelMAX and SuperFuelMAX do nothing to save gas.

Missouri Sues Towing Operator for Charging Exorbitant Fees Attorney general received 88 complaints from St. Louis area consumers.

Electronic Stability Control A Lifesaver, Study Finds Widespread use could save 7,000 lives per year, insurance study predicts.

Subaru Outback Tops Crash Tests, Rollover Ratings Ford Focus and Ranger bottom out.

Airbag Fraud Endangers Motorists Accident repairs often include phony airbags.

Lawsuit Claims Infiniti Brake Defect G35 brakes wear out much faster than normal, reducing resale value, suit charges.

Court Extends Deadline to File Claims Against Warranty Gold No new date established for consumers who bought extended warranties on their cars.

Feds Re-Open Honda Fire Probe CR-V engine fires thought to be caused by loose oil filter. But why so many?

VW Admits Sludge Problem Engines in the VW Passat and Audi A4 affected. Meanwhile, a consumer group wants Chrysler to own up to problems in its engines.

Caution: Windshield Replacement Scams Ahead Scam artists lure consumers into insurance fraud.

Car Buyers Scammed on Warranties, Illinois Charges Consumers should proceed with caution when buying extended warranties.

Ford SUVs Laggards in Rollover Tests Some models of Explorer and Mountaineer SUVs get worst rollover rankings; Chrysler Pacifica gets best ranking among SUVs.

Saturn Vue Suspension Collapses in Government Tests Feds open defect investigation after failures in two test vehicles.

Toyota RAV4 Wins "Double Best Pick" Safety Rating But same model gets a "poor" without side airbags.

New York, Illinois Sue Car Dealers for Deceptive Practices New York dealer sold rental cars to unwitting purchasers, Illinois dealers ran deceptive ads, suits charge.

Most Fuel Savers Don't Do the Job EPA study finds most popular additives and devices do little to cut gas consumption.

Loose Oil Filter Caused Honda CR-V Fires, NHTSA Concludes Most fires occurred in recent models shortly after oil change.

Make a Call, Get a Ticket New Jersey, D.C. outlaw handheld cell phones while driving.

Airbag Problems Plague New Hyundais Sensor shuts off passenger seat bags for lighter adults.

Ford Credit Owes Refund to 150,000 Lease Customers Company and dealers settle suit brought by 38 states.

Jury Awards Ford Explorer Rollover Victim $369 Million First big loss for Ford in series of Explorer rollover trials.

15-Passenger Vans Most Likely to Flip NHTSA study finds vans electronic stability systems only "moderately" effective.

Hyundai, GM Score Big in Total Quality Index "Amazing" ascent by Hyundai.

Hyundai Offers $85 Million to Settle Horsepower Suit Korean automaker overstated horsepower on 840,000 Hyundai and Kia models.

Cell Phones Blamed in Fires Student burned at Mobil station, oil workers injured in Texas.

Hybrids Don't Always Deliver on Low-Mileage Promise Buyers blame manufacturers, manufacturers blame EPA mileage tests.

Lawsuit Challenges Carfax Claims Vehicle history service doesn't include accident reports from 23 states, lawsuit charges.

Isuzu Fading to Black? Desperation-level incentives and cost-cutting are Isuzu's only hope.

Korean Automakers Race Ahead in Consumer Satisfaction Study Japanese remain in first place but Hyundai spurts ahead of Euro-U.S. brands.

Group Wants Better Seat Belts Motorists dying needlessly in rollovers, Public Citizen argues.

Oil Mergers Blamed for High Gas Prices Public Citizen investigation says excessive consolidation, government inaction spur gas price hikes.

Sears Settles Wheel Alignment Case Will pay $625,000 to settle New Jersey charges it charged for work not done.

GM Recalls 4 Million Pickups Tailgates can collapse without warning in full-sized pickups.

Consumer Groups Challenge Regional Motor Vehicle Recalls Cars should be made safe in all parts of the country, suit argues.

New Jersey Sues Nissan Company failed to warn Maxima owners of headlight theft risk, suit charges.

Feds Probe Sudden Acceleration Surge in Toyota Camry 30 crashes reported so far, including one pedestrian accident.

Dallas to Equip Ford Police Cars with Fire Suppressant Ford's attempt to shore up fuel tanks inadequate, city charges.

GM Truck Probe Widened Tailgate cable failures implicated in injuries.

Ford Sport Trac Flunks Rollover Test Test vehicle tipped up on two wheels during fishhook maneuver.

Philadelphia Joins Suits Against Ford Police Cars Ford has not done enough to make cars safer, city argues.

DaimlerChrysler Recalls 2.7 Million Cars Problem with floor-mounted gear shift.

GM Recalls 824,000 Cars to Fix Power Steering Eight injuries reported so far.

U-Haul Unhitches Ford Explorer Company cites cost of defending against lawsuits.

Nissan Sentra Recall Announced Other recalls involve Nissan FX, Buick Park Avenue, Volve S40 & V40.

Nissan Sentra Recall Announced Other recalls involve Nissan FX, Buick Park Avenue, Volve S40 & V40.

Suzuki Recalling SUVs Grand Vitara, XL-7 accelerator cable will be fixed.

Ford Escape Recall Ford will fix seat belt problem.

GMAC Faces $125 Million Penalty in California Repo Case Company violated California law regarding legal notice to consumers, judge rules.

Report Alleges Massive Fraud in Auto Sales Public Citizen calls for law enforcement crack-down on crooked dealers.

Volvo Recall to Fix Fuel Leak Problem Fuel could leak into engine.

California Study Finds Rampant Fraud in Auto Body Shops Fender benders dispute state's findings.

GM Buys Back Noisy Trucks, SUVs "Hundreds" of Sierras, Silverados, Yukons, etc., repurchased to settle lemon law cases.

Ford Offers New Fuel Module for Focus Models Recall-plagued Focus choking on U.S. fuel, Ford says.

Chrysler recalls 438,000 Jeep Libertys Suspension problem can result in loss of control.

Ford Recalls 2001-2003 Windstar Vans Rear seat can come loose in a crash.

Ignition Flaw Leads to Honda Recall Car can roll forward even after key is removed.

Nissan Recalls 2.5 Million Units Worldwide Sensor flaw can cause engine to stop running.

Sears to Sell National Tire & Battery TBC Corp. will take over NTB's 226 stores.

Feds Upgrade Honda Ignition Probe Key can sometimes be removed when vehicle is not in park.

Mazda Offers to Buy Back RX-8 Company misstated horsepower of the 2004-model rotary-engine sports model.

Side Airbags Saving Lives, Study Finds Insurance tests find airbags with head protection cut deaths by almost half.

Illinois Sues Car Dealers Two Chicago-area dealers allegedly took consumers for a ride.

NYC Cracks Down on Car Ads 19 dealerships cited for violations.

NHTSA Creates New School Bus Category To Discourage Van Use Modified school buses wouldn't be required to have traffic control lights and stop arms.

National Warranty Insurance Company Insolvent "Smart Choice" extended warranties worthless.

Feds Probe Durango Steering Problems Upper ball joint in the front suspension could fail, NHTSA says.

Mercedes-Benz Replacing 2,000 E-Class Cars Problems with navigation system in early models blamed.

Domestic Cars Outpace Euros in Reliability Study GM, Ford up, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Audi down.

Auto Leasing Companies Flee New York State law lets accident victims sue leasing companies.

Feds Issue New Tire Safety Standards Light truck tires must meet tougher speed and endurance standards.

Saturn Recalls 254,000 L-Series Cars Exhaust system problem could cause fires.

American Products Company Fined Replacement bulbs & lenses don't meet federal highway safety standards.

Bridgestone Steeltex Tires Recalled Defect can cause tread separation in the heavy-duty tired used in pickups, SUVs and motor homes.

GM Will Offer Overnight Test Drives Desperate to jumpstart sales, GM will let prospective buyers take cars home overnight, drive them up to 100 miles.

Ford Settles Van Rollover Suit Judge denounced company's alleged withholding of safety data "almost criminal."

VW, Audi Will Finally Replace Defective Ignition Coils Companies squirmed around for more than a year, letting customers twist in the wind.