Recall Alert: 2012 Acura MDX and Honda Pilot

Honda is voluntarily recalling 8,700 model-year 2012 versions of the Pilot and Acura MDX SUVs due to problems with the fuel tank.

An emissions-related piece of equipment could detach from its mounting inside the tank. This could lead to an overflow of fuel or a fuel leak. Both issues increase the risk of fire, but Honda cautions that no fires have been reported.

Honda will notify owners starting in mid-March, and dealers will replace the affected fuel tank free of charge. In the meantime, owners can visit www.recalls.honda.com or www.recalls.acura.com to determine if their vehicles are part of the recall. They can also call 800-999-1009 (Honda) or 800-382-2238 (Acura) for more info.

Most Popular Car Seat Checks

Parents, grandparents and caretakers know what a pain it can be to install child-safety seats into a car. Imagine doing it over and over and over again. That's what our Car Seat Check team does nearly every week as it tests new cars to find out how easy it is to use the Latch system.

Car Seat Checks are performed by Cars.com editor Kelsey Mays, Cars.com photographer Ian Merritt and Cars.com editor and certified car-seat technician Jennifer Newman.

2012 Toyota Camry Earns Five-Star NHTSA Rating

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released its first batch of 2012 model year ratings this month. Under the stricter guidelines, only three 2012 models — the Chevrolet Camaro, Cadillac CTS and Toyota Camry — have earned five-star composite scores from the safety agency. In fact, as we previously reported, the Camaro is the only vehicle to earn a perfect rating across the board since the new guidelines took effect for the 2011 model year.

NHTSA’s composite scores are composed of five-star ratings for frontal, rollover and a combined side pole and barrier tests. The side pole test, which is new, simulates a 20-mph side-impact crash into a 10-inch-diameter pole or tree at a 75-degree angle just behind the A-pillar on the driver’s side.

The redesigned 2012 Camry earned a five-star overall rating, getting four stars in the frontal test, five stars in the side-crash test and four stars in the rollover test.

Honda To Build Two High-Tech Hybrid Systems, More Fuel-Efficient Standard Engines

Honda’s powertrain lineup is starting to look stale tech-wise compared to the competition. Despite the fuel-economy increases, the recently redesigned Honda Civic and CR-V essentially have carryover technology underneath their hoods. Under Honda’s just-announced three-year powertrain plan, that landscape is about to change … quickly.

In real-world testing, the Civic has outperformed 40 mpg cars from Ford and Hyundai. Honda’s updates will help reposition it as the most fuel-efficient automaker, overtaking Hyundai, according to the carmaker’s plans.

Vote for the Cars.com's Shoppers' Choice Award

Cars.com's annual popularity award is back. We have found the 10 most popular new-car models that shoppers are not only searching for on Cars.com but are contacting dealers about. These models also receive positive consumer reviews.

This fervent interaction delivers a top 10 that might surprise some enthusiasts, but probably not the people who buy and sell cars.

Voting for this year’s Shoppers' Choice awards will be conducted entirely on Facebook, so go vote, share it with your network and get your favorite car the shiny trophy when it's announced Jan. 10 on the eve of the Detroit auto show.

Shoppers' Choice finalists (in alphabetical order):

• Audi Q5
• Dodge Challenger
• GMC Terrain
• Honda Accord
• Honda Pilot
• Kia Soul
• Ram 1500
• Subaru Outback
• Toyota Highlander
• Toyota Sienna

2012 Honda Pilot: Car Seat Check

This Car Seat Check was originally published in October 2011 on MotherProof.com.

Honda has softened the Pilot's harsh corners for the 2012 model year. The three-row SUV's exterior, interior and powertrain have been updated, and the front-wheel-drive Pilot gets an EPA-estimated 18/25 mpg city/highway. What impressed us most is the Pilot fit all three of our child-safety seats in the second row.

For the Car Seat Check, we use a Graco SnugRide 30 rear-facing infant-safety seat, a Britax Roundabout convertible child-safety seat and Graco high-back TurboBooster seat.

MotherProof.com Car Seat Check Recap

We recently tested two large three-row crossovers in our Car Seat Check series: the refreshed 2012 Honda Pilot and the revived 2012 Dodge Durango. The Pilot impressed us with its ability to easily fit three child-safety seats across its second row. Two child-safety seats also fit in the third row. The Pilot recently won our $37,000 SUV Shootout. To find out more about the Car Seat Checks, go to MotherProof.com for more details.

2012 Dodge Durango: Car Seat Check
2012 Honda Pilot: Car Seat Check
2012 Honda Civic Coupe: Car Seat Check

Cars.com Reviews the 2012 Honda Pilot

Despite its age and ho-hum looks, the 2012 Honda Pilot is Cars.com’s top choice among reasonably priced large crossovers and SUVs in a recent Shootout. That’s because the Pilot does everything really well and offers plenty of standard features at a reasonable price, according to Cars.com Executive Editor Joe Wiesenfelder.

2012 Honda Pilot Review

Cars.com's $37,000 SUV Shootout

Cars.com's editors continue to dissect some of the most popular car segments in the country. We've tackled midsize sedans, compacts and small crossovers, but what about the vehicles of choice for people needing three rows of seats? The three-row crossover/SUV segment is booming with the entry of the redesigned Ford Explorer and Dodge Durango. However, tried-and-true picks like the Mazda CX-9, Toyota Highlander, Honda Pilot and Chevy Traverse held their own in our competition. We even threw in the smaller Kia Sorento. Oh, and they all had to be priced under $37,000 as-tested.

See which one wowed our editors and our real-life test family.

Cars.com $37,000 SUV Shootout

Honda Recalls 310,773 Pilot SUVs

Honda announced it is recalling 310,773 Pilot SUVs from the 2009 through 2011 model years because of a seat-belt defect, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In the recalled vehicles, the stitching that holds the front lap belts together could be incomplete or missing. If the stitching is incomplete, the belt could detach, which could be dangerous in the event of a crash.

Honda will begin the recall around Oct. 3, and dealers will inspect the belts and replace any that have the defect.

Owners can call Honda at 800-999-1009 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.