Chrysler to Fix Jeeps

Chrysler announced today that it will launch a campaign to inspect — and if necessary — fix nearly 2.7 million Jeep SUVs that the government claims are unsafe due to a problem with the fuel system that could possibly lead to fires.

Chrysler Says Jeeps are Safe; NHTSA Wants Recall

The vehicles in the action — which Chrysler is not labeling a recall — are 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2002-2007 Jeep Liberty SUVs. Chrysler will perform "a visual inspection of the vehicle [that] will, if necessary, provide an upgrade to the rear structure of the vehicle to better manage crash forces in low-speed impacts."

According to our sources at Chrysler, the fix will be implemented depending on whether or not the Jeeps have a trailer hitch installed. If a Jeep has a factory-installed or Mopar accessory hitch installed, no enhancements will be made. SUVs without a hitch will get one installed. This is the "rear-end upgrade" being discussed.

A trailer hitch generally includes a hitch receiver, which is a large piece of welded metal that does add strength to a vehicle's structure. A quick search on Mopar's site shows the parts for such a fix cost around $300 for a 2003 Jeep Liberty.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had not suggested a fix. The federal agency generally waits until the automaker determines how to proceed before announcing a formal recall.

Chrysler maintains that there is no defect with the vehicles and that they were built to the same standards as — and performed as well as or better than — competitive vehicles at the time.

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2013 Infiniti FX37 Video

The sporty Infiniti FX just got sportier for 2013 as the luxury crossover — now called the FX37 — gets a more powerful 325-horsepower V-6 along with improved fuel economy. Cars.com reviewer Mike Hanley says what's most notable is how the low-slung FX37 punches up the driving experience without sacrificing utility. Can you overlook some subpar cabin features and limited visibility? Watch the video and decide.

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Recall Alert: 2013 Dodge Dart

Chrysler is recalling 12,907 model-year 2013 Dodge Dart sedans due to a powertrain problem that could cause the engine to stall in cold weather, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Affected vehicles were manufactured between March 1, 2012, and Feb. 28, 2013, and are equipped with a 1.4-liter MultiAir turbo engine and dual dry clutch transmission. The sedan’s engine could stall when the temperature is 20 degrees or colder, increasing the risk of a crash.

Chrysler will begin notifying owners starting this month, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module for free. Owners can call Chrysler at 800-247-9753, NHTSA’s vehicle-safety hotline at 888-327-4236 or go to www.safercar.gov.

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Sun's Out, Surf's Up, Top's Down: Research Convertibles on Cars.com

You can have the radio on, your hair slicked back and those Wayfarers on, but if you want to complete the romantic image of Don Henley's "The Boys of Summer," you'll need one more essential element for your drive along the beach — even if that beach is only in your mind. Cars.com can help you research the droptop you're daydreaming about with its Convertible Buying Guide, where you'll find photos, invoice prices, expert reviews and car ratings to help you narrow the field. Follow the link below to get started.

Cars.com Convertible Buying Guide

2013 Toyota Venza: Car Seat Check

Toyota's Venza offers the passenger and cargo room of an SUV but the look and ride height of a wagon. It scores high on the family-friendliness scale thanks to a comfortable, roomy backseat, but loses points for awkwardly placed Latch and tether anchors.

Cars.com Reviews the 2013 Toyota Camry

The cliche tells us less is more, and so it goes with the 2013 Toyota Camry as it pertains to cylinders. Cars.com Managing Editor David Thomas says added oomph from the sportier Camry SE's 268-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 reveals shortcomings not evident in the midsize sedan's four-cylinder version. It provides plenty of passing power, but that's at the expense of both fuel economy and ride quality. Meanwhile, lackluster cabin materials might make you wonder why you didn’t just save yourself some money and buy a Corolla instead. Read Thomas' review and decide.

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2014 BMW 4 Series: First Look

• Competes with: Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupe, Audi A5
• Looks like: A less-funky-looking 3 Series coupe
• Drivetrain: 240-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder; 300-hp, turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder; standard eight-speed-automatic transmission and available six-speed-manual transmission, rear- or all-wheel drive
• Hits dealerships: Late summer

The all-new 2014 BMW 4 Series looks amazingly similar to the sleek concept that debuted at the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit earlier this year. Essentially a coupe version of the redesigned 3 Series sedan, the 4 Series is a replacement for the currently sold 2013 3 Series coupe — which rides on the aging previous-generation platform — with a new name/number for the brand.

The 4 Series improves upon the old car in many ways to earn its 4 Series designation, notably with improved proportions featuring 6-Series-inspired rear styling in the fastback rear roofline. BMW further distinguishes the four-seat coupe from the sedan with a sportier appearance and driving dynamics.

Recall Alert: 2013 Ram 2500, 3500 Pickup Trucks

Chrysler is recalling 1,253 2013 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks due to a problem in the exterior lighting system that could reduce the driver's visibility and blind oncoming traffic, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Affected vehicles were manufactured between Jan. 7 and Feb. 28, 2013, and are equipped with optional premium headlamps. The headlamp shutters may function improperly when in high-beam mode and fail to conform to federal safety standards; the problem could reduce the driver's visibility and possibly blind drivers of oncoming vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.

Chrysler will begin notifying owners next month, and dealers will reconfigure the central body controller for free. Owners can call Chrysler at 800-247-9753 or the NHTSA vehicle-safety hotline at 888-327-4236, or go to www.safercar.gov for more info.

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Recall Alert: 193,000 GM SUVs

GM is voluntarily recalling 193,000 SUVs due to an electrical problem that could cause power windows and door locks to malfunction and possibly cause a fire, the Detroit News reported. Affected vehicles include model-year 2006-07 Chevrolet Trailblazers, GMC Envoys, Buick Rainiers, Saab 9-7x's and Isuzu Ascenders, as well as model-year 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXTs and GMC Envoy XLs.

This latest recall is an expansion of an action that started last August and now includes 443,000 SUVs in the U.S. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating the issue in February 2012 and has received 83 complaints, with 66 alleging that the door module had melted or burned, the Detroit News stated.

In the recalled vehicles, fluid may enter the driver's door, resulting in rust that could cause the circuit board to short. The problem could cause the power door-lock and window switches to function intermittently or become inoperable; it could also cause overheating, which could melt components of the door module, producing odor, smoke or fire, the newspaper reported.

Cars.com's Issues With MyFord Touch

The news today that Ford is rethinking its capacitive touch-heavy MyFord Touch multimedia system isn't a shock to our team of editors. Since we first tested it in a 2011 Ford Edge there has been a nearly unanimous cascade of criticism from our team.

Ford to Add More Physical Buttons to MyFord Touch

"While there's plenty to like about the 2011 Ford Edge, its electronics remind me of my not-so-smart phone: bedazzling in theory, befuddling in practice," editor Kelsey Mays said in that first review. "A number of editors got behind the wheel, and the verdict among them was unanimous: MyFord Touch needs a lot of work, and it's worth sticking to an SE or lightly equipped SEL trim to avoid it."

That was in January 2011, a year after Ford introduced MyFord Touch to raves prior to the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Our disdain has carried on to the most recently upgraded system found in the redesigned Ford Fusion. "The Sony system is busier with many more capacitive buttons — none of which feature an audible click or send a pulse of feedback through the panel to confirm you've actually achieved the desired result of your finger pressing," said Managing Editor David Thomas in his review.