2009 Annual Auto Reliability Survey: Best and worst models by car maker

It is easy to assume that certain automakers build only reliable cars and others don’t, however, nearly every manufacturer have their share of winners and losers in our annual reliability survey. Each company and even brand product portfolio runs a spectrum of reliability performance, with its own best and worst examples. For some, the range can span from much better than average to much worse than average, whereas other may be centered around average. The key lesson from scanning the data within an automaker is not to make assumptions.

For example, the best Toyota Motor Company model in our reliability survey is the Lexus SC—its predicted reliability score is the second highest out of over 300 vehicles, but the worst is the Lexus GS (AWD), which scores in the bottom 10 percent, and receives a much worse than average rating, and is not recommended in our testing. While it is true that Lexus models tend to be reliable and test well, this is not the case for all Lexus vehicles.

The greatest disparity comes from Volkswagen. The VW Golf (aka Rabbit) is one of the most reliable small cars you can buy, but the Volkswagen Touareg has the lowest predicted reliability score in our 2009 Annual Auto Survey.

In most cases, the best model for reliability is a recommended model and the worst is not. However, Honda’s top reliable vehicle in our survey, the Honda Insight, is not recommended due to low scores in our testing. The least reliable Honda vehicle is the Acura RL, but it has an average reliability score and is recommended. Honda is one of the more consistent manufacturers and has no model that scored below average in reliability.

The two more reliable General Motors products are from two brands that are leaving the GM umbrella. The Saturn Aura (4-cyl.) is newly recommended this year and the Pontiac Vibe will be phased out in the coming months.

Below are the best and worst models in reliability. Models with an * are based on data of one model year only.

BMW
Best: BMW 328i (RWD)
Worst: BMW 535i (AWD)*

Chrysler
Best: Jeep Patriot
Worst: Chrysler Town & Country/Dodge Grand Caravan

Ford
Best: Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan (4-cyl.)
Worst: Ford F-250 (turbodiesel, 4WD)*

General Motors
Best: Chevrolet Malibu (V6)
Worst: Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon (4WD)

Honda
Best: Honda Insight*
Worst: Acura RL

Hyundai/Kia
Best: Hyundai Tucson
Worst: Kia Sedona

Mazda
Best: Mazda3 sedan
Worst: Mazda CX-7

Mercedes-Benz
Best: Mercedes-Benz GLK*
Worst: Mercedes-Benz GL-Class (turbodiesel)*

Nissan
Best: Infiniti M35 (RWD)
Worst: Nissan Versa sedan*

Subaru
Best: Subaru Impreza Outback Sport
Worst: Subaru Impreza WRX*

Toyota
Best: Lexus SC*
Worst: Lexus GS (AWD)

Volkswagen
Best: Volkswagen Golf (Rabbit)
Worst: Volkswagen Touareg*

Volvo
Best: Volvo S40 (FWD)*
Worst: Volvo XC90 (V8)*

The main take away from this information is don’t judge a book by its cover. Avoid assumptions and do your research before you buy your next vehicle. It takes just a few minutes to browse the model overview pages, or use the interactive new car selector tool, which sorts and filters by the parameters that matter most to you.

Either path will reveal Consumer Reports recommended models that did well in our road tests, score average or better in reliability, and performs at least adequately if included in government or insurance industry safety tests.

For more details on our 2009 Annual Auto Survey including the full list of most and least reliable new cars by vehicle type, see our reliability report. Also, check out our guide to car reliability for more details on new and used car reliability as well as owner satisfaction.

—Liza Barth 

Just In: 2010 Mazda MX-5 Miata

The evening I drove our 2010 Mazda MX-5 Miata Grand Touring PRHT (which stands for Power Retractable Hard Top, obviously) home was one of those warm September nights, the kind where summer tries hard to hold off fall from coming. On what I thought would be a short trip, I dropped my wife off at the neighborhood book club and turned to head home. But I couldn’t. I just kept driving with the top down, not going very fast or very far, listening to the exhaust note, letting the stars shine in.

So, I can understand how Yutaka Katayama, “Dr. K” of Datsun/Nissan Z-car fame, created something of a stir when he said that the 370Z was “very heavy” and “very expensive.” According to Autoblog, he’d “like to have a sports car like a Miata,” since it’s closer to the elemental 240Z he championed than the current-day Z is.

A CR Top Pick for “Fun to Drive” for multiple years, the Miata recently had a light freshening. We bought one to see what the freshening brought and to find out if the quick-folding hard top adds some top-up calm to the Miata’s interior.

Despite the Miata’s carefree image, our loaded car goes beyond cheap fun. Adding the Premium Package (HIDs, electronic stability control, transponder key, Sirius) to a manual Grand Touring requires you to also buy the Suspension Package (Bilstein shocks, limited- slip differential). All of this set us back $31,150. Another sour note: the only way you can buy stability control on the Miata is to get a loaded Grand Touring version with the Premium Package.

We’ll see if the Miata keeps us smiling as we accumulate break-in miles.

—Tom Mutchler 

Coming soon: 2011 Mazda2

Mazda announced plans at a dealer meeting yesterday to import its sub-compact Mazda2 to the United States in late 2010. Smaller than the Mazda3, the Mazda2 is sold overseas as a front-wheel drive three- or five-door hatchback. It is sized like the Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris.

Along with the upcoming Chevrolet Spark and Ford Fiesta, the 2 will add to the competition in the subcompact segment--a category that had virtually vanished from the U.S. a few years ago. We’ll likely see a 1.5-liter double-overhead-camshaft engine version with variable induction that makes about 102 horsepower.

The Mazda2 won European Car of the Year when it was introduced there in 2008. Other small Mazdas we have tested are very competitive in their classes and enjoyable to drive. We look forward to trying the Mazda2 when it arrives to see if it lives up to its reputation.

For more on the upcoming Mazda2 and other new cars, see our New Car Preview.

—Eric Evarts

Personal Picks: Sporty and muscle cars part 2

Continuing our staff's personal insights into the October-issue sporty car test group.

Tom Mutchler: Among the muscle cars in this group, my clear favorite is the Ford Mustang. After I get over the “hey-look-at-me” styling of the Chevrolet Camaro, the Mustang is simply more rewarding and satisfying to drive. Plus, I can see out of the thing.
 
However, there are many more sports cars on the market than the just the big domestic iron we tested. When it boils down to choosing one I’d actually buy, one manufacturer keeps popping up in my mind: Mazda. You’d be insane to try to drag race a Camaro or Mustang with a stock Miata or RX-8. But there is so much more to driving satisfaction than that.
 
The Miata and RX-8 are both twisty back road warriors, with fantastic steering and a nimble feel. The Miata has the top-down charms of its roadster-ness, the RX-8 is surprisingly civilized on a highway trip. Given the RX-8’s near-gluttonous fuel consumption and so-so reliability record, the Miata is probably a better long-term proposition, but it’s hard to beat the smile I had revving the wee out of the RX-8’s rotary on the track.
 
Mike Quincy: There are times when I sheepishly express admiration for certain cars that my colleagues, well, don’t really care for. I had a thing for Saabs, but that’s over. I also seem to be gravitating toward diesels these days – I see them as the sort-of anti-hybrid. But this month’s group has me split a few ways.
 
I really like the Dodge Challenger R/T – and I’m probably the only one. There is no doubt that this slick-looking muscle car turns into an absolute pig on a track. There’s also no argument that it’s overweight and has numb steering – making it as agile as a pregnant elephant. But what I like about the R/T is how civilized it is as a long-distance cruiser. My wife and I drove the Challenger to Saratoga Springs, NY (and visited the Saratoga Automobile Museum). I was amazed at its comfortable ride, even after the three-hour drive. Plus, I never got tired of listening to the exhaust note – the sound coming out of the Challenger’s twin pipes makes you want to drive down streets in a gear or two too low with the window down. But it does have flaws that you can’t overlook (including a pitiful 18 mpg overall).
 
The Mustang is a very close second is this group, and it performs better than the Challenger in almost every category. It’s an easy car to like and enjoy everyday.
 
The other car that surprised me was the Nissan 370Z. I think it looks fabulous; Nissan also did a nice job improving the interior. But when a friend of mine asked what it was like to drive, I said “The new Z is a commitment.” In other words, you have to commit yourself to its small interior, crummy visibility, and one of the noisiest cabins in recent memory. But the Z rewards such a commitment with incredibly grippy handling, excellent steering, and agility that takes a backseat to few cars for twice the price. I also like that the 332-hp, 3.7-liter V6 produces wicked acceleration without turbo or supercharging. I drove the Z into New York City for an early TV interview one Saturday morning; the roads were empty and the car was in its element. As long as you don’t mind the small size and noise, the 370Z is a very satisfying ride and a commitment worth making.

IIHS midsized sedan bumper test–None rated Good

Fixing bumpers can be expensive. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tested six midsized sedans and found none of their bumpers held up well in the kinds of low-speed impacts bumpers are supposed to sustain.

The Institute tested the Chevrolet Malibu, Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Mazda 6, and Nissan Maxima. None were rated Good. Bumpers on the Mazda 6, the best performer in the test, rated Acceptable. IIHS rates cars on a scale of Good, Acceptable, Marginal, and Poor. The Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata rated Marginal. The other three cars received Poor ratings. (Follow the links in this paragraph for complete crash test and safety ratings, available to online subscribers.)

In the tests, the cars’ bumpers are rammed straight into a solid barrier at 6 mph in the front and rear. One front and one rear corner are also subjected to 3 mph impacts. Current federal standards call for 2.5 mph for the front and rear barrier portion of their tests, and 1.5 mph for the corner impacts. Repair estimates for the four impacts are totaled and averaged according to how prevalent each type of accident is in the real world. The evaluation includes a weighting that reflects real-world accident patterns. Weighted average repairs of less than $500 merit a Good rating, under $1,000 is Acceptable, and less than $1,500 is marginal. Any estimate over $1,500 is considered Poor.

The bumper tests have no bearing on crash safety. But they do impact insurance rates, since many accidents submitted to insurance companies are minor and involve repairing body damage that could have been avoided with better bumpers.

The best bumpers prevent damage to other body parts such as headlights, radiator supports, fenders, and trunk lids, which are usually more expensive to repair or replace than bumper materials. The Institute noted significant changes with the Accord helped it to lower repair costs, while the design changes for the Fusion and Malibu have increased potential repair costs. However, there is more to a vehicle redesign than bumper performance and buyers need to weigh all the factors, including crash test performance.

Four of the six new vehicles tested improved relative to their predecessors. IIHS rated 9 other midsized sedans on the market in 2007 that have not been redesigned since the test. None of those vehicles earned better than a Marginal score. Only the Mitsubishi Galant and the Toyota Camry received Marginal ratings, the rest scored Poor, indicating average repair costs of more than $1,500 in low-speed accidents.

In June, IIHS released bumper tests of small cars, and in that category the tested cars performed poorly. (Read: “Most small cars rate Poor in IIHS bumper tests.”) 

Over 300 crash tests conducted by IIHS can be seen in our crash test video player. Also, videos on current-generation vehicles are now available from the model overview pages (for subscribers).

—Eric Evarts

Test complete: Mazda 3 sedan and hatchback

The Mazda3 has been one of our top-scoring small cars for several years, distinguished by agile handling and a high-quality, well-laid-out interior. The freshened 2010 model brought modest changes, including transmission upgrades and a new 168-hp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine for higher-level models. The 2.0-liter got an optional five-speed automatic and the 2.5-liter now has either the five-speed automatic or a six-speed manual. Stability control is standard on all but the lowest two trim lines of the sedan.

We tested three Mazda3s: a pair of 2.0-liter Touring sedans—an automatic and a manual—and a Sport hatchback with its standard 2.5-liter. Prices ranged from $18,170 for the stick-shift sedan to $20,700 for the Sport hatchback.

While the Mazda3 rated well, it doesn’t quite take the top spot. The Hyundai Elantra is quieter; the Toyota Corolla gets better fuel economy; and most small cars these days have more room for rear-seat passengers.

Where the Mazda3 stands out from the pack is how it feels to drive. The 3 is almost like a good sports car, especially when equipped with one of the slick-shifting manuals. In fact, it’s vastly more fun to drive than some traditional “sporty cars” like the Scion tC or the Mitsubishi Eclipse. 

Learn more about the Mazda3 line, with road tests, pricing, and more, in the model overview (available to online subscribers).

—Jake Fisher

August issue road tests: Wagons & hatchbacks

For our August issue test group, we tested hatchbacks and wagons. These vehicles are good alternatives to small SUVs. They offer better fuel economy, have a sedan-like ride, and flexible cargo-carrying capabilities.

The full road tests from the magazine (available to subscribers), have been posted online, along with videos of some of the models hosted by our automotive experts. These videos highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the vehicles, bringing the road tests to life.

For this month’s group, we looked at the Chevrolet HHR, Hyundai Elantra Touring, Kia Soul, Mazda3, Pontiac Vibe, and Volkswagen Jetta. Plus, we also feature the newly introduced Honda Insight hybrid, which gets 38 mpg overall.

In the September issue we’ll report on family sedans, including the Kia Optima and Ford Fusion and Fusion hybrid.

Ratings for all of the hatchbacks and wagons we have tested can be found with our dynamic New Car Selector tool.

Car brands: Who owns what?

The auto industry is very complicated these days, with constant change across all corners of the globe. The worldwide economic slowdown dictates widespread cost reductions, inspiring partnerships and changes in ownership. Further confusing the scene are past commitments between companies: For example, the new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee is based on a Mercedes-Benz platform–even though Chrysler and Mercedes are no longer joined at the hip.

To help clear up some of the confusion, here is a road map to navigate who owns what brands among the major companies that sell in the U.S. car market.

BMW owns: BMW, Mini, and Rolls Royce

Fiat owns: Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Fiat, Lancia, Maserati; Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep–20-percent stake

Ford Motor Company owns: Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo (for now), and still owns 13.4 percent of Mazda

General Motors owns: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC. Also owns a controlling interest in Daewoo, as well as Opel and Vauxhall in Europe and Holden in Australia. (Pontiac to be discontinued)

Honda owns: Honda, Acura

Hyundai owns: Hyundai, Kia

Tata Motors (India) owns: Jaguar and Land Rover

Mazda (partially owned by Ford)

Mitsubishi

Daimler AG owns: Mercedes-Benz and Smart

Nissan owns: Nissan and Infiniti (Nissan is owned by Renault--France)

Porsche owns: Porsche and a majority share in Volkswagen

Subaru (A controlling interest of Subaru is owned by Toyota)

Suzuki

Toyota Motor Company owns: Lexus, Toyota, Scion, Daihatsu and Hino Motors, with a stake in Fuji Industries (Subaru’s parent company) and Isuzu

Volkswagen owns: Audi, Volkswagen, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, and overseas SEAT and Skoda.

In formal negotiations to be sold:
Hummer: Tengzhong (China)
Saturn: Penske Automotive Group
Saab: Koenigsegg (Sweden)

--Liza Barth

Top 40 Best Deals on American-Made Cars

Memorial Day is a time to commemorate the sacrifices made by men and women to protect our freedoms and values. It is a time to rally around the flag, with picnics, parades, and yes, car sales. In the patriotic spirit, our Auto Price Services team has studied the market and compiled these best deals on American-made cars for the holiday weekend.

Made in America
Buying an American-made car puts a new car in your driveway, and it also stimulates the economy from the automaker down through the parts suppliers, factory workers, and neighborhood dealerships. Given the recent announcements from Chrysler and General Motors that they will be making drastic cuts in the number of franchised dealerships, there will now be a greater drive than ever for these stores to make a deal. Likewise, their competitors will also offer significant discounts.

As is the case with our Best New Car Deals, to make this list, a vehicle must meet our stringent requirements to be recommended. Specifically, the vehicle must have performed well in Consumer Reports' tests, have average or better reliability, and, if crash-tested, provide good overall safety. Vehicles also must not have tipped up in the government rollover test.

To truly judge the deals, we factored customer rebates as well as hidden dealer incentives, as available in our new car price reports. From a list of all discounted models, we whittled it down to the 40 American-made models that meet our recommended criteria and offered the greatest discounts.

The list showcases a diverse assortment of 11 brands, reflecting the global nature of the auto industry and the reality that most companies build cars in the United States. (Conversely, many models from Chrysler, Ford, and GM are imported from other countries.)

While pro-America motives may fuel your purchase, be sure to research the models that best suit your needs and budgets, weighing the potential risks in choosing from a brand in bankruptcy proceedings or being divested, such as Hummer, Pontiac, Saab, and Saturn. Tremendous up-front savings can be overshadowed by excessive depreciation unless you plan on keeping the car longer than five years. There also may be limited dealer access.

Regardless of the model that catches your eye from this list, buying these models will help keep America working and put you behind the wheel of a good car.

Make & model	Expires	MSRP	Invoice price	Customer rebate	Dealer incentive	Bottom line price	Potential savings below MSRP
2009 Nissan Titan SE 4X4 Crew Cab SWB	6/1/2009	$33,200	$30,061	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	25%+
2009 Ford Focus SES Sedan	6/30/2009	17,865	16,552	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	20%+
2009 Ford Focus SES Coupe	6/30/2009	17,865	16,552	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	20%+
2009 Nissan Armada LE 4X4	6/1/2009	47,860	43,562	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	20%+
2009 Ford Mustang GT Premium Coupe	6/1/2009	29,160	26,734	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	20%+
2009 Ford Mustang V6 Premium Convertible	6/1/2009	27,345	25,100	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	20%+
2009 Ford F-150 XLT 4x4 SuperCrew 157-in.	6/1/2009	34,760	31,303	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	20%+
2009 Ford Escape XLT 2.5L 4WD	6/30/2009	25,205	23,381	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Honda Odyssey EX	6/1/2009	29,455	26,692	No	Yes	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Mercury Sable Premier	6/30/2009	29,380	26,917	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Ford Escape XLT 3.0L 4WD	6/30/2009	26,215	24,300	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Ford Taurus Limited FWD	6/30/2009	30,670	28,053	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Mercury Mariner Premier I4 4WD	6/30/2009	26,515	24,598	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Honda Ridgeline 3.5 Auto RTS	6/1/2009	31,305	28,363	No	Yes	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Nissan Frontier 4.0 LE Crew Cab 4X4 AT	6/1/2009	29,190	27,045	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Mercury Mariner Premier V6 4WD	6/30/2009	27,515	25,508	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Toyota Tundra 5.7 Auto 4WD SR5 Crew Max	6/1/2009	34,285	31,369	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Ford Taurus X Limited AWD	6/30/2009	34,175	31,272	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Toyota Camry 2.4 Auto Hybrid	6/1/2009	26,150	23,796	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Toyota Camry 2.4 Auto SE	6/1/2009	22,815	20,533	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Toyota Camry 2.4 Auto LE	6/1/2009	21,650	19,593	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Lincoln Navigator Luxury 4x4	6/1/2009	56,020	51,383	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer 4x4 EL	6/30/2009	45,730	41,628	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Subaru Outback 2.5 Auto I	6/1/2009	23,295	21,907	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Toyota Camry 3.5 Auto V6 XLE	6/1/2009	28,695	25,823	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Hyundai Sonata GLS I4	6/1/2009	18,700	17,922	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Subaru Tribeca Limited 5-Passenger	6/1/2009	32,595	30,727	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 1LT 4X4 Crew Cab	6/1/2009	34,295	31,723	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Mazda Tribute 2.5 Auto i Grand Touring 4WD	6/1/2009	26,375	24,681	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Subaru Outback 3.0R Limited w/Navigation Auto 4WD	6/1/2009	34,095	31,721	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Honda Accord 2.4 LX-P	6/1/2009	21,905	19,869	No	Yes	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Honda Pilot EX-L 4WD	6/1/2009	35,295	31,969	No	Yes	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Mazda Tribute 3.0 Auto S Grand Touring 4WD	6/1/2009	27,635	25,856	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Honda Accord 2.4 LX-P 5AT	6/1/2009	22,705	20,592	No	Yes	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 Nissan Altima 2.5 HEV Auto	6/1/2009	26,650	24,976	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	15%+
2009 GMC Sierra 4WD Crew Cab SLT SWB	6/1/2009	41,855	38,716	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	10%+
2009 Hyundai Sonata GLS V6 A/T	6/1/2009	22,450	21,466	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	10%+
2009 Nissan Altima 2.5 S Sedan	6/1/2009	21,040	19,728	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	10%+
2009 Nissan Altima 3.5 SE Auto Sedan	6/1/2009	25,680	23,800	Yes	No	Get the Bottom Line Price	10%+
2009 Honda Accord 3.5 EX-L V6 5AT	6/1/2009	28,955	26,240	No	Yes	Get the Bottom Line Price	10%+

—Jeff Bartlett and Michael Dempsey

 

Recalls: Hyundai, Mazda, GM, and Jeep vehicles

There have been a number of vehicle recalls announced recently affecting Hyundai, GM, and Mazda vehicles. If your vehicle is listed here, the manufacturer may contact you with information about what to do, or you can use one of the numbers we list below to contact the manufacturer yourself.

2010 Mazda3

Mazda is recalling over 25,000 2010 Mazda3 vehicles due to a problem with the clearance between the engine harness and starter housing. The cover of the harness may be damaged during operation and cause a short circuit. This may result in the engine stalling and not being able to restart.

Dealers will inspect and add a protector clip to the harness. If necessary, the harness will be repaired. The service will be done at no charge.

The recall is expected to begin on May 6, 2009. Owners may contact Mazda at 1-800-222-5500.

2001-2003 Hyundai Elantra and 2003 Hyundai Tiburon
2001-2003 Hyundai Santa Fe
1999-2004 Hyundai Sonata and 2001-2004 Hyundai 300/350

Hyundai is recalling over 170,000 2001-2003 Elantra and 2003 Tiberon models as well as over 85,000 2001-2003 Santa Fe and over 175,000 1999-2004 Sonata and 2001-2004 XG300 and XG350 vehicles sold or registered in states that use large quantities of salt for de-icing during the winter months. Vehicles that are used in these so called “salt-belt states” may have internal corrosion. The Elantra and Tiberon models could have thinning of the steel in the front lower control arms. The Santa Fe could have thinning of the rear trailing arm steel and the Sonata and XG300/350 models could have thinning and corrosion of the front sub frame steel.

All could increase the risk of a crash.

On all models, the dealer will inspect the areas affected for corrosion and will replace in necessary. If a replacement isn’t necessary, the dealer will add drainage holes and rust proof the area. All procedures will be done free of charge. For more information, contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.

2006-2007 Hyundai Accent, Entourage, Sonatas
2007 Hyundai Azera, Elantra, and Santa Fe
2005-2007 Hyundai Tucson
2007-2008 Hyundai Veracruz

Hyundai is recalling almost 532,000 models from various years due to a malfunction in the stop lamp switch, which may cause the brake light to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or remain illuminated after the pedal is released. This malfunction may also affect the transmission shifter-- the vehicle may not be able to get out of Park. The electronic stability control light may turn on and cruise control may not deactivate when the brake is applied.

Dealers will replace the stop lamp switch free of charge.

For more information, owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.

1997-2003 Buick Regal
2000-2003 Chevrolet Impala
1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina
1998-2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
1998-1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
1997-2003 Pontiac Grand Prix

GM is recalling over 1.4 million vehicles due to a problem with the 3.8-liter V6 naturally aspirated engine. Engine oil may be dropped on the exhaust manifold when the vehicle goes through hard braking. If the manifold gets hot enough and the oil runs to the heat shield, an engine fire could occur.

Dealers will remove the spark plug wire retention channel and install two new plugs free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin sometime in May. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, Oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537 and Pontiac at 1-800-620-7668 or www.pontiac.com or www.gmownercenter.com.

2002-2003 Jeep Liberty

Chrysler is recalling over 42,000 Jeep Liberty vehicles sold in various “salt-belt states” on the East coast and Midwest due to a problem with the front suspension upper control arm ball joint. The area may have a loss of lubrication, which could cause a failure in the ball joint and result in a loss of steering control.

Dealers will replace the arm free of charge.

For more information, owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

2001-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Chrysler is recalling over 102,000 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles due to an overheating problem with the front heated seats, which could potentially cause a fire.

Dealers will replace the heater elements free of charge.

Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.