Family Car Guide

2012 Nissan Murano, Rogue: Recall Alert

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:51:00 +0000

Nissan is recalling certain 2012 model year Murano and Rogue mid-size and compact crossover SUVs, respectively, over concerns that the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) was not activated during assembly. A notice on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) site lists the number of potential affected units at 2,983. Affected...

NHTSA Unveils New Child Crash Test Dummy, Amends Child Seat Standard For Heavier Children

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:07:00 +0000

Under development for the past decade, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has just unveiled a new addition to its crash test dummy family: a 10-year-old child crash test dummy. The reason the NHTSA is adding the child-sized crash test dummy is to evaluate how higher-weight child seats perform in a crash. According to NHTSA...

2012 Honda Pilot, Acura MDX: Recall Alert

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 17:51:00 +0000

Honda is recalling certain 2012 model year Honda Pilot and Acura MDX SUVs over concerns about a possible fuel leak. A notice on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) site lists the number of potential affected units at 8,709. Documentation from Honda indicates the dates of manufacture on the 2012 Pilot are from mid-December...

One In Five Teens Reports Driving Under Marijuana Influence, Study

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:18:00 +0000

What should serve as a wake-up call to parents of teen drivers comes in the form of a new study that shows one in five teens (19 percent) reports driving while under the influence of marijuana. The most recent study of teen driving behavior and attitudes is from Liberty Mutual Insurance and SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions), and has...

2008-2009 Honda Odyssey: Recall Alert

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:21:00 +0000

Honda is conducting a voluntary safety recall of certain 2008-2009 model year Odyssey minivans over concerns about a liftgate flaw. A notice on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) site lists the number of potential affected units at 45,747. Documentation from Honda indicates that potential defect involves certain 2008...

2013 Infiniti JX Production Begins

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:09:00 +0000

It was a very important day for the employees of the Nissan Smyrna (Tennessee) Vehicle Assembly Plant as the first luxury vehicle and the first Infiniti to be built in the state, the all-new 2013 Infiniti JX seven-passenger luxury family crossover, decked out in a rich Emerald Green, rolled off the line February 20, 2012. Addressing the group...

Can Smarter Cars Prevent Vehicle Crashes?

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:48:00 +0000

Cars that “talk” to each other and can intervene to help prevent vehicle crashes may still be a ways off for most consumers, but the kind of advanced safety systems that can create “smarter” cars are currently under development by universities, the government and automakers. How’s this for a frightening statistic?...

Americans Keeping New Cars Nearly Six Years

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:00:00 +0000

As we reported last month, the average age of cars on the road today is 11 years, according to the research firm R.L. Polk. Now a new Polk study takes a look at new car ownership length and finds that Americans are holding on to their vehicles nearly six years, which is an all-time high. The reasons for such a lengthy new car ownership cycle...

Mazda Teams With Dr. Seuss To Promote 2013 CX-5 Crossover In New Ads

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 00:06:00 +0000

Families with small children, or those who love Dr. Seuss, will get a glimpse of the all-new 2013 Mazda CX-5 in TV commercials designed to heighten interest in the new small crossover and get consumers into the theaters for the March 2 debut of Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax. In the spots, created in 30-second and 45-second versions, a cartoon-like...

2012 Nissan Altima, Versa: Recall Alert

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 23:15:00 +0000

Nissan is conducting a voluntary safety recall of certain 2012 model year Altima mid-size sedans and Versa subcompact cars over concerns about a side curtain airbag defect. A notice on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) site lists the number of potentially affected units at 976. Documentation from Nissan indicates that...

2012 GMC Terrain AWD SLT-2: Road Trip In Florida

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 19:35:00 +0000

For my travel time to the 50th anniversary Rolex 24 at Daytona, I was told that GM would provide a 2012 Chevrolet Volt. Three days before arrival, all that changed and suddenly there was a 2012 quicksilver metallic GMC Terrain AWD SLT-2 waiting for me at Orlando's airport. So my dog Leah and I went from driving an ecologically sound sedan to an...

2013 BMW X3 Gets New Turbo Four-Cylinder Engine

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 19:08:00 +0000

BMW calls it a “return to its roots” and with the announcement that the 2013 BMW X3 xDrive28i SAV arriving in dealerships this May will sport a new 2.0-liter “TwinPower” turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the news may well be welcome for family car buyers looking for a more fuel-efficient engine in a luxury compact...

DOT Releases “Voluntary” Guidelines For Automakers Aimed At Curbing Distracted Driving

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:45:00 +0000

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today released proposed “voluntary” and “nonbinding” guidelines for automakers to encourage them to develop “less distracting” in-vehicle electronic devices. U. S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood made the announcement which will apply to communications...

2012 Honda Civic Rated “Least Toxic” Vehicle In New Study

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:00:00 +0000

There’s nothing like the smell of a brand-new car, right? Actually, that the “new car smell” is bad for your health and that of children and pets, as it is composed of chemicals coming off the steering wheel, seats, armrests and dashboard. A new study of toxic chemicals in new cars from the Ecology Center released on...

2012 Subaru Legacy, Outback: Recall Alert

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Subaru is conducting a voluntary safety recall of certain 2012 model year Legacy and Outback vehicles over concerns about a potential defect in side curtain airbags. A notice on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) site lists the number of potential affected units at just 381. Affected Legacy and Outback vehicles were...