Recall Alert: 2004-07 Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey

Ford is recalling 196,500 model-year 2004-06 versions of the Freestar and Mercury Monterey minivans due to a third-row corrosion issue, according to a Reuters report.

In the affected vehicles, corrosion could prevent the third row from locking into place. Ford told Reuters that the recall only applies to vehicles sold or registered in the District of Columbia and the following Salt Belt states: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Ford dealers will install a new third-row-seat mounting bracket for free. Owners can call Ford at 866-436-7332 for more information. To look up your VIN on Ford’s recall site, click here.

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Mom Must-Have: Conversation Mirror

I'm a mom, but I wouldn't consider myself a minivan person. One look inside the cavernous Chrysler Town & Country I just tested, however, has me changing my tune. Aside from the oodles of room in the van, its list of comfort and convenience features made me want to move right in. A small, easy-to-overlook one is the conversation mirror, which acts like a spyglass with a view of the backseat.

The small, convex plastic mirror flips down from the ceiling near the rearview mirror and provides the perfect angle to quickly check in with your back passengers — no head turning or rearview mirror adjustment necessary. Sometimes all it takes is a quick, sharp look from Mom or Dad to settle the circus in back, and the mirror is the perfect tool for it.

I've found this feature in obvious places, like minivans and larger crossovers such as the Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot, but it's also popping up in more unexpected places. The Honda CR-V compact crossover features one, as does the new-for-2014 Fiat 500L, the stretched hatchback version of the compact 500 coupe.

This may seem like a minor feature, but what parent wouldn't want eyes in the back of their head?

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2013 Dodge Grand Caravan: Car Seat Check

In terms of passenger room and cargo space, minivans are king. When you add comfort and family-friendly features to the list, the Dodge Grand Caravan reigns supreme. Plenty of room and easy-to-use Latch anchors mean installing child- safety seats is easy.

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.

Cars.com Family Reviews the 2013 Nissan Quest

Before the arrival of her third child, Cars.com Family reviewer BreAnn Ahara placed the Nissan Quest high on her list of favorite minivans. With baby making five, BreAnn had to put her oldest daughter and her booster seat in the third row, but the seats were too narrow to accommodate the car seat. That kicked the Quest down a few notches on the list, BreAnn said. But she maintains that there's still plenty to like about this stylish minivan.

2013 Nissan Quest Review

Recall Alert: 748,000 Honda Pilots and Odysseys

Honda is voluntarily recalling 748,000 model-year 2009-13 Pilot SUVs and 2011-13 Odyssey minivans due to problems with the driver's-side airbag.

According to Honda, the driver's-side airbags in the affected vehicles could be missing some of the rivets that secure the airbag's plastic cover, causing the airbag to not deploy properly. This could lead to an increased risk of a crash or injury; Honda has stated that no related crashes or injuries have been reported.

Honda will begin notifying customers in mid-February, and dealers will inspect and replace the affected parts for free. Owners can call Honda at 800-999-1009 or visit www.recalls.honda.com to see if their vehicle is part of the recall.

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Dodge's People Haulers Get Blacktop Package

More Dodges get the sinister-looking Blacktop Package as the 2013 Durango, Grand Caravan and Journey can now be equipped with the option’s blackened exterior features. The Dodge Charger, Challenger and Avenger were previously the only cars privy to the blacked-out look that includes gloss-black-painted wheels, grilles, headlights and more.

It doesn’t take much to equip Dodge’s people haulers with the Blacktop Package. Pricing starts at $295 on the Dodge Durango Rallye and R/T, which includes a gloss-black grille and gloss-black 20-inch aluminum wheels.

Recall Alert: 807,000 Honda SUVs, minivans

Honda has issued a voluntary recall of 807,000 minivans and midsize SUVs due to a problem with the ignition interlock mechanism that could cause the vehicles to roll away while parked, according to the automaker. Honda said it already has received several complaints of such malfunctions, and two minor injuries have been reported.

The recall affects 318,000 Honda Odyssey minivans and 259,000 Honda Pilot SUVs, all from the 2003-04 model years, in addition to 230,000 model-year 2003-06 Acura MDX SUVs. The vehicles' ignition interlock mechanism can be damaged or worn during use, and it could become possible to remove the ignition key when the transmission is not in Park, Honda stated. If this happens while the parking brake is not set, the vehicle could roll away and a cause an accident.

Honda will notify owners by mail in early February and encourages owners to take their vehicles to a dealer as soon as they receive notification. Owners can determine if their vehicles require repair by calling 800-999-1009 or by going to www.recalls.honda.com. Acura owners may call 800-382-2238 and select Option 4, or go to www.recalls.acura.com.

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2014 Ford Transit Connect Wagon: Up Close

It ain't pretty, but the 2014 Ford Transit Connect Wagon may be able to fill a void in the passenger-car marketplace with its spacious interior, room for seven and promising 30-plus mpg estimates with an optional engine. Most widely known as a commercial workhorse van, this second-generation people-carrying Transit Connect Wagon is far from just a commercial van with extra seating.

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Inside, the cabin feels like a modern Ford passenger vehicle, with the looks and features you’d expect to find in a family hauler. There's overhead storage up front and available overhead storage in the rear rows, flat-folding second and third rows in seven-passenger models, and a liftgate – dual side-hinged cargo doors are available. MyFord Touch and voice-activated Sync are available features, as well as a panoramic roof, leather seating and heated seats.

2014 Ford Transit Connect Wagon Video

Ford introduced an all-new cargo van for 2014, and Cars.com reviewer Joe Bruzek takes a look at the passenger variant of the Ford Transit Connect. Available in short- or long-wheelbase form, the Transit Connect Wagon seats up to seven and gets a class-leading 30 mpg thanks to an optional EcoBoost four-cylinder engine. This isn’t just a commercial van with seats in it; the Transit Connect Wagon offers plenty of storage — a generous 100 cubic feet of cargo volume with the seats folded flat — and luxury features like heated leather seats, a panoramic roof and MyFord Touch.

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The 2014 Ford Transit Connect Wagon is set to go on sale in late 2013. Check out the video below.

2014 Ford Transit Connect Wagon: First Look

• Competes with: Minivans and larger vans like the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Nissan NV passenger van
• Looks like: Minivans may be out, but Ford’s all-in with another seven-passenger people mover
• Drivetrain: 2.5-liter four-cylinder and an optional turbocharged 1.6-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder
• Hits dealerships: Late 2013 

Ford may have gotten out of the minivan segment years ago, but it's still solidly in the people-mover market. Its Transit Connect van lineup is growing to include a new seven-passenger version.