By Joni Gray
Most Reliable Car Brands
Consumer Reports recently announced the results of the top ten car brands, putting Toyota squarely at the top with its Scion, Toyota, and Lexus brands in the top three spots. Next were four other Japanese companies – Mazda, Subaru, Honda, and Acura. Also on the list of the top ten was the only German company listed, Audi. Kia was the only one Korean company to make the top ten, and no American brands were represented on the top list.
Of the American brands, General Motors had the biggest gain in reliability with Cadillac brand taking 11th place in the study.
 Most Reliable Car
The subcompact Toyota Prius C earned the top reliability rating overall – however, Consumer Reports’ testing did not put that particular model in their “recommended” list. The company is both applauded and criticized for its objectivity due to the way it tests cars, refrigerators, vacuums, and other products. They buy one product from a retailer and put it through a bastion of testing to measure not only reliability, but satisfaction and comparative features.
The 2012 Toyota Prius C (Source: Toyota)
How CR Measured Reliability
In the case of these new car reliability ratings, the goal of the survey is to discover how each model is likely to hold up after a year of use. Basically, consumers are asked which problems and repairs they have experienced in one year of ownership. If the model has been unchanged for any other years of its life cycle, its past track record is also measured. Since it’s a “prediction” of sorts, there has to be at least one year of history reported by the owner, so brand new models that are built from the ground up don’t count into the survey results until next year.
Consumer Reports weighs each individual issue differently by how severe it considers the individual issue. For instance, a major engine problem is weighed quite a bit higher than a glitch in the audio system. By contrast, J.D. Power and Associates’ Initial Quality Study (IQS) measures all problems found in the first three months of ownership as equal in weight.
The Bottom of the List
The most notable fail on the bottom of the list is Ford, which only a few years ago, dominated the top of the list. The brand had issues with drivability in its PowerShift transmission and the MyFordTouch infotainment system, which had been cited for failing while in use and being difficult to use. Only two years ago, Ford was the most reliable of the American brands in the study; however, Ford had three new models that were too new to qualify for this survey – the 2013 Ford Escape and Fusion and the Lincoln MKZ.
From first being best to 27th being worst, here’s how Consumer Reports ranked car brands for reliability:
1. Scion: 72% above average
2. Toyota: 47%
3. Lexus: 47%
4. Mazda: 40%
5. Subaru: 37%
6. Honda: 36%
7. Acura: 26%
8. Audi: 16%
9. Infiniti: 14%
10 Kia: 11%
11. Cadillac: 10%
12. GMC: 6%
13. Nissan: 5%
14. Mercedes-Benz: 4%
15. Chevrolet: 3%
16. BMW: -2%
17. Hyundai: -3%
18. Volkswagen: -9%
19. Jeep: -12%
20. Volvo: -14%
21. Buick: -29%
22. Mini: -42%
23. Chrysler: -43%
24. Dodge: -46%
25. Ram: -55%
26. Lincoln: -58%
27. Ford: -59%
28. Jaguar: -141%
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A self-driving Ford Focus spotted in Mountain View, Calif., is one of Google’s employee cars currently in testing. (Photo credit: Flickr: Mark Doliner)
Thanks to the folks at Google, self-driving cars are the next technology that will change the world. The average driver may not be ready to turn the wheel over to a robot car, but the U.S. government and many car companies are taking this technology very seriously.
David Strickland, the head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, believes that, although these cars may not be commonplace on the road for another decade, they would eliminate a huge factor responsible for 90% of traffic deaths — human error.
“We have the chance of saving thousands and thousands of lives as cars in use today are replaced with automated vehicles,” Strickland said.
With NHTSA in the national seat for creating automotive safety standards, the question is, are they ready to re-write the book of the rules of the road to include completely autonomous cars? Strickland would not say while speaking on the topic at a recent industry gathering in Washington.
“Setting such standards would require the government to fundamentally rethink the way it evaluates auto safety,” he said.
This is only a test
What that would involve is testing several cars that can each communicate with each other — which is just what the government is doing in a massive, year-long road test that started this summer in Ann Arbor, Mich.
The road test, conducted by the University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute, uses 3,000 cars, trucks, and buses set up with V2V (vehicle-to-vehicle) technology. These vehicles were donated by many of the car companies developing this future technology and include Ford and GM.
A goal of the testing is for regulators to be directly involved in setting industry standards to make sure that each type of technology can communicate with another in an open system.
The companies known to be already testing robotic cars include GM, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Audi, BMW, Volvo, and Cadillac. But the technology that started this craze began in 2005, when a professor named Sebastian Thrun and his Stanford team won a contest called the 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge. The vehicle they created successfully traveled 132 miles across the desert.
Since then, Thrun has headed up a three-year partnership with Google Maps and has driven more than 300,000 miles in its many autonomous vehicles. Google has also been a driver of the government’s involvement and its lobbyists have convinced Florida, Nevada, and California to make self-driving cars legal for testing. Next in line are Hawaii, New Jersey, Oklahoma, and Washington, D.C.
Critics have valid points
But as the wonders of the technology are being lauded, others are concerned about the implications of this brave new world. The legal implications of accidents, liability, and integrating self- and non-self drivers on the road, have some legislators worried. Some traffic laws for motor vehicles have been on the books for 100 years, meaning new laws would have to be created from the ground up.
Other naysayers include consumer groups who fear that companies like Google and major auto manufacturers will use data they collect via GPS, radar, and computer vision techniques for marketing purposes.
The biggest hurdle will, of course, be consumer willingness to turn over the wheel to a computer-based system. With technology advancing as fast as the speed of light, we may be ready in another 10 years. One thing is certain — our government has taken the stance of encouraging this behavior to further the cause of safety. So in reality, the road from horseless carriages to driverless vehicles may be much closer than we think.
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A survey says many teens are “completely clueless” when it comes to car maintenance. (Photo credit: Flickr Creative Commons: Joseph Gilbert)

When teenagers (ages 16 - 20) have their own cars, the danger of them crashing it are 2 and 1/2 times more likely than the teens who used the “family car.” So those priviledged few teens who are responsible for their own car should also consider themselves warned — things can go wrong and you can avoid many dangers by learning good maintenace habits.
Yes, teens have much to learn about keeping safely out of a crash, but a recent survey shows that young drivers know even less about car maintenance. According to a recent survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, two-thirds of teens are rated by their parents as “somewhat or completely clueless” when it comes to how to take care of their car.
This spurred the folks at AutoMD.com to put together six tips for teens (and parents) to keep their cars running well with the ultimate goal for staying safe on the road.
  1. Know your car’s maintenance intervals and keep up with service.
    Look at your owner’s manual and find the car’s required maintenance schedule. This tells you when to have the fluids, tires, brakes, and oil and filter changes.
  2. Take care of your tires — make sure they can get you to school, work, etc.
    Keep your tires properly inflated and watch for tire wear. Consult your owner’s manual or tire sticker on the door jamb for manufacturer-recommended tire pressure settings. Also, look at your tires for wear and tear every time you stop for gas.
  3. Don’t ignore dashboard warning lights
    Dashboard warning lights serve as notification that something may be wrong with your car. The warnings include Check Engine, Oil, Temperature, Brake, Tire sensors and more, depending on the car’s technology. Read the owner’s manual and pay close attention to the lights, what they mean, and how you should respond to them.
  4. Don’t let your car run too low, or out of gas
    Like food, your car needs fuel to survive. Today’s cars are not made to run all the way to the last drop, as many have fuel-injected engines that use gas to cool and lubricate their components. A good rule of thumb is to keep the fuel level above a quarter tank to keep your car running well, and to avoid being stranded on the side of the road.
  5. Steer clear — take care of your windshield
    The windshield is like the eye of your car. Therefore, it is critical to keep it clean and clear for safe driving. Wiper blades that have cracks or that skip, streak, or leave smears should be replaced. You should also check spray nozzles for proper aim. If the nozzles are clogged, clean them with a needle.
  6. Teen life moves fast, but your car doesn’t have to.
    Slow down and avoid speeding. It may seem fun to drive fast, or you may be running late to school, but the best way to keep your car well maintained and safe on the road is to avoid speeding. Speeding is not only dangerous, but it’s bad for your car too. Driving slower puts less demand on your car’s engine and transmission, and also helps to reduce the amount of gas you use in the process. Avoid all driving habits that put stress and strain on your vehicle.
Teen training is only the beginning of a lifetime of good safety habits. To get further information, AutoMD.com has made a Teen Drive Car Maintenance and Repair Guideavailable on its site where your teen can take a maintenance and repair quiz and sign a certificate of commitment with their parent or guardian.
Preparing the teenage driver to be aware of his or her car’s condition can prevent many a mishap from ever happening at all. And if you have teenage kids, you have enough to worry about without having to add a flat tire, broken down vehicle, or a car stranded on the road to the list.
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On the eve of the Los Angeles Auto Show, GM announced three user-friendly infotainment products that may well give Ford a few headaches. Available soon on some of Chevrolet’s most affordable cars, there’s an integrated and inexpensive navigation iPhone app, Siri EyesFree interface, and an upgraded version of Chevrolet’s MyLink that includes an Apple-like customized screen design.
For a solid five years now, GM has watched Ford gain sales and goodwill based on two things. One, it did not take the government bailout money in 2008 and, two, Ford has successfully marketed its in-car connectivity in its lower-end, more affordable cars. Marketing executives at both brands have fired verbal shots across their respective bows via the automotive press, downright bad-mouthing one another in the war to win back the nation’s confidence in American car brands.
And after Ford spent years touting its technology to win over young buyers, its quality ratings dipped for the past two years of J.D. Power and Associate’s Initial Quality Survey (IQS). The complaints were centered on its MyFordTouch system that controls the entertainment and climate systems in Ford and Lincoln vehicles. Complaints covered everything from a confusing interface, to unresponsive voice commands, to the fear that the system distracted them while driving. The resulting IQS score sank Ford in the rankings from No. 7 to a low No. 28.
Although this has been a setback, it has not slowed down Ford’s technology push one bit. Jim Farley, Ford’s group vice president for global marketing, told Automotive News that the Ford brand has hung its hat on its connectivity.
“Technology is one of the main reasons why people see us differently now today than they did just a few years ago,” Farley said. So it was only a matter of time until GM caught up.
GM infotainment goes for mainstream acceptance
Not to be outdone, the largest American carmaker is attempting a “leap-frog” of technology offerings via its dominant Chevrolet brand.  Its three new technology applications will begin to appear on Chevrolet vehicles coming to market in 2013.
In theory, these systems are right in the pocket of a generation who have Steve Jobs as a role model and Apple iPhones in their pockets. Time will tell if the products prove to be easier to operate than Ford’s current systems, but GM has certainly made some milestone moves with these three approaches to bringing technology into the car, making the solutions more familiar to a mobile generation.

Chevrolet Spark BringGo App (GM)
BringGo App
GM is doing for its tiny Spark microcar what no other brand has done successfully yet — making an inexpensive navigation app from your phone work on the car’s system. The app costs $50 (one-time only) and the mapping data is downloaded from the app, so you’re not using up your data plan. The system will work only with an iPhone and the Chevrolet Spark LT that includes MyLink, which costs $14,495, but the BringGo app has many of the features you’d find in an embedded navigation system:
  • Emergency information such as police, fire, and the nearest hospital
  • Thousands of points of interest, such as the nearest department store, type of restaurant, repair shop, etc.
  • Local Search via Google
  • Where am I? locator
  • Live traffic functionality provides crash reports and lane closures, and alternative routes 3-D maps
  • Ability to calculate remaining miles of range
  • Ability to store native maps to the customer’s smartphone, giving them access to locations and turn-by-turn directions even when phone signal quality is poor. Many GPS-enabled apps do not do this.
Siri EyesFree System (GM)
Siri EyesFree
If you know Siri from using an Apple iPhone, you know that she will help you if she can, and if not, she’ll point you to a Google search that might do the trick. These truths have been forever etched into our culture, which is why GM has teamed up with Apple to create a voice-activated interface for its upcoming Chevrolet Spark and Sonic. The phone is connected to your car via a Bluetooth connection, and you never need look at your phone while driving — even the light won’t go on while you’re asking Siri a question with the use of a button on the steering wheel.
Here’s what Siri in your Chevy Spark or Sonic can do:
  • Make voice-activated, hands-free calls to contacts on your iPhone
  • Play songs in the iTunes library, and even switch music sources automatically from AM/FM/XM radio to iPod mode
  • Listen to, compose, and send text messages to a phone number or anyone in saved contacts
  • Access your calendar and add appointments
  • Minimize distraction by keeping the screen of the iPhone from lighting up, even when Siri answers simple questions, such as game scores or the dates of national holidays

Chevrolet MyLink System (GM)
Chevrolet’s Next Generation MyLink
We won’t see this new system until the 2014 Chevrolet Impala comes out in the Spring of 2013, then later on GM trucks, SUVs, and the Corvette, but the new generation of MyLink will offer:
  • Chevrolet’s first natural voice recognition for all commands — no key phrases to learn
  • Four screens that change the 8-inch appearance based on your personal preference: Contemporary (clean, simple), Edge (the youth), Velocity (car guys), Main Street (average Joe/Jane).
  • Ability to link up to 10 technology devices (think phones, Bluetooth, MP3 players, USB drives, etc.)
  • A screen that “swipes, clicks, and drags” like an Apple product.
GM’s approach to all this new technology was to find out what people could handle first, then have designers build simple solutions that mimic the software that has already found its way into the people’s consciousness. The key was to take engineers out of the design process. The result is to mimic Apple’s simplistic icon design and interface. Not a bad strategy when you consider that Apple is the most valuable public technology company in history.
So get ready to start seeing a major advertising push featuring these technologies from Chevrolet. With the goals of both safety and connectivity in mind, it’s a pretty compelling message.
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Keeping kids safe in the car is a concern for every parent.
Keeping kids safe in the car is a concern for every parent. (image by babble.com)
If someone asked us when parents should consider and begin to practice child safety as it relates to cars, we’d answer that these things should start before their child is even born.
This may sound strange, but as any mother will tell you, the impact from a child begins months before birth. Thus, our answer to the previous question. Since mothers are carrying unborn children for the gestation period, child safety is impacted by the mother’s safety.
While expectant mothers are undergoing physical changes to their bodies, such as the expansion in their abdomens and widening of their hips in the first trimester — changes that continue for all 40 weeks they’ll carry their child — we suggest the same for them as we would any other driver. Wearing their seat belts.
We’ve heard the myth that seat belts endanger the lives of the unborn, but it’s just that — a myth, as long as seat belts are worn properly. That means expectant mothers should wear their seat belts, with the lap belt should be across her hips and below her belly, and the shoulder belt should be across her chest, between the breasts.

Car Seat Installation

With the new arrival of a bundle of joy, we shift from the safety of the mother to the child itself. It may be easy to think that installing a car seat is a simple matter. Put the child seat in the car, insert child, and we’re done, right?
Not so fast. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) says 75% of car seats are installed and/or used incorrectly. Fortunately, many hospitals have Child Passenger Safety (SPC) Technicians who can help parents of newborns properly install and secure their car seats.
But what do you do if you’re on your own? While the documentation and instructions included with the child seat is a good start, we think the NHTSA’s free child safety seatinspection centersare also worth the few minutes of time they’ll take to visit. These government-funded centers are based throughout the nation, and they’ll help to ensure a child seat is installed correctly,preferably using the LATCH system.
LATCH, or the Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children system, has been standard equipment on every car sold in the United States since 2002. All child seats produced since that time are also LATCH compliant. The system employs different sets ofÿanchors to be used with child restraints.
However, if you don’t have access to these resources then you’re left to install it yourself. With all the latches and straps installation may seem complicated. But don’t worry; we’ve got you covered below.

Installation for Infants

The primary role of a car seat for infants is to protect the head and neck, which are the most vulnerable to long-term complications in the event of a collision. There are two types of car seats for infants: rear-facing, infant-only; and convertible seats. Rear-facing, infant-only care seats are ideal for newborns but they become obsolete once the child grows to more than 20 pounds. When you’re installing your little one’s car seat we suggest you follow the steps outlined in the manufacturer’s instruction manual. However, here are some general tips that will help you properly secure your newborn. If you’re more of a visual learner you can watchinstallation videos provided by the NHTSA.
  • If you can move the car seat more than an inch then the straps aren’t tight enough. To get them tight enough we suggest you find a way to put your weight into the car seat and then pull the straps as hard as you can. It’s important that the seat moves as little as possible while you’re in transit.
  • Ensure the carrier straps are tight and the harness clip is even with your baby’s shoulders or armpits and the straps are in the slot that lines up close to the infant’s shoulders.
  • If your baby has some extra space in the seat you can place rolled receiving blankets or towels on each side to keep him or her from wobbling. Avoid placing anything under the harness straps.
  • Locking clips are necessary for some vehicles made before 1997. This is necessary because these vehicles don’t have seat belts that lock when the brakes are slammed, so the clip keeps belt from slipping if an accident occurs.
  • Your baby’s head should be at least two inches below the top of the safety seat and make sure the seat is set at a 30 to 45-degree angle.
  • You can see more tips at DMV.org or Kids Health.
Convertible seats, the alternative to rear-facing, infant-only seats, are designed so that they can be used by infants after they’re heavier than 20 pounds. When the baby reaches that weight the seat can be turned to face forward and it’s secured with three types of harnesses: T-shield, tray shield, and five-point. All of these types meet required safety standards, but the five-point harness is regarded as the best option since it can be tightened to fit snugly and it doesn’t get in the way of the baby’s head. When installing a convertible seat you should make sure all straps are as tight as possible to prevent it from wobbling.

Ages One to Three

While infants should always be placed in rear-facing car seats, once a child has reached at least one year of age and weighs at least 20 pounds they can utilize forward-facing child safety seats installed in the rear of the car. That being said, they’re safer in a rear-facing seat, so keep them in one for as long as possible.Forward-facing seats, like the ones that come before, should be installed using LATCH rather than seat belts, if possible. Here are some other tips:
  • If you’re installing a forward-facing seat make sure it’s set directly against the back and bottom of the car seat. When you’re installing the seat make sure to put weight on the seat to push it back as far as possible so the straps will be as tight as they can be.
  • Make sure the seat can’t move side to side or tip forward more than an inch. If it does then unbuckle it and try again.
  • If your car was made before 1996 then you’ll probably need to buy a locking clip to prevent the lap and shoulder seat belts from slipping.
  • Make sure the straps lie flat and tug on them to make sure they’re secure once your baby is fastened into the seat.
  • If you can pinch any of the harness material between your fingers then it’s too loose and needs to be adjusted.

Ages Four to Seven

There are no rear-facing car seats available for this age group, and we don’t know of any children of this age group that would be content to sit facing the rear of the car. So, once a child reaches age four, you’ll have no choice but to move to a forward-facing seat.
Keep a child in this age range in their child seat until they outgrow either the height or weight limits specified by the seat manufacturer. Once this happens, it’s time to switch to a booster seat.

Ages Eight to Twelve

Once a child reaches eight years of age or is at least 4’9” tall, they should be placed in booster seats. Most booster seats simply elevate the child’s seating position and enable them to use the standard seat belts on a car. LATCH is not required nor should it be used with booster seats.
At some point during this period, you’ll likely transition the child from booster seat to just using the standard seat belt of the automobile with no otherÿencumbrances. Make sure they’re wearing the belt properly, with the lap portionÿacross their upper thighs and the shoulder portion across their chest.

Other Considerations

We’ve heard lots of chatter regarding the so-called “combination seats.” These seats are marketed as being able to go from a rear facing infant seat to a forward facing toddler seat and then finally to a booster seat for older children. A testing study performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found significant problemswith these combination seats.
Children should always ride in the back seat of a car, if possible, no matter if they’re in a car seat, a booster seat, or if they’re old enough to wear seat belts.ÿAll modern cars now have both driver side and passenger side front airbags, which are designed for full-sized adults. Airbags can injure or kill a child, and the back seat is simply the safest place in the car.
Finally, don’t assume that just because your child isn’t in a car that all auto-related dangers areÿabated. Child pedestrians are killed at a greater rate than any other age group. In fact,male children, aged 5 to 9 years old, are the largest group of pedestrians killed every year. Children can still fall victim to an automobile by darting into a road without looking or by playing on a street.
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