Archive for January, 2010

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Most Read Stories of the Week

Sunday, January 31st, 2010
Explorer

Surprisingly, the most read story of the week had nothing to do with the Toyota recall. Although the ongoing brouhaha with Toyota’s sticking accelerator pedals occupied four of the top five slots, the most read story of the week was the details of the 2011 Ford Explorer to be built at a plant in our home base of Chicago. Check out all five for a roundup of the big news in the auto industry this week.

1. More Details on the 2011 Ford Explorer

2. 2009 Pontiac Vibe Added to Toyota Recall

3. Toyota Recall: Answering Your Questions

4. Recall Alert: 2010 Toyota Corolla

5. Toyota Recalls 23 Million Vehicles Over Sticking Accelerator Pedal

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Most Read Car Reviews of the Week

Saturday, January 30th, 2010
Kizashi

The Hyundai Tucson continues its reign at the top of the charts this week, but we have a few upstarts elbowing their way in. The Suzuki Kizashi returns to the list at No. 5, and the 2009 Toyota Venza cracks the top 10. Click on a few reviews, which will automatically cast your vote for vehicles that intrigue you for next week’s list.

1. 2010 Hyundai Tucson

2. 2010 Subaru Outback

3. 2010 Chevrolet Equinox

4. 2010 Subaru Forester

5. 2010 Suzuki Kizashi

6. 2010 Lexus HS 250h

7. 2010 GMC Terrain

8. 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour

9. 2010 Subaru Impreza

10. 2009 Toyota Venza

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Today’s News From the Cars.com Family

Friday, January 29th, 2010

Buttons

A reader wants to know what other vehicles are like the Ford Escape in terms of size and engine, and Ask.cars.com lists some competitors. Then, PickupTrucks.com tells you everything you need to know before hitching up a trailer to your pickup. Finally, MotherProof.com reviews the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox, a modestly priced SUV that impresses with luxury quality, according to our mom reviewer.

What Cars Are Like the Ford Escape in Size and Engine? (Ask.cars.com)

Pickup Trucks 101: What You Need to Know Before Hitching Up a Trailer (PickupTrucks.com)

2010 Chevrolet Equinox (MotherProof.com)

Posted in Ask.cars.com, Mother Proof, PickupTrucks.com | Comments Off

Today’s News From the Cars.com Family

Friday, January 29th, 2010

Buttons

A reader wants to know what other vehicles are like the Ford Escape in terms of size and engine, and Ask.cars.com lists some competitors. Then, PickupTrucks.com tells you everything you need to know before hitching up a trailer to your pickup. Finally, MotherProof.com reviews the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox, a modestly priced SUV that impresses with luxury quality, according to our mom reviewer.

What Cars Are Like the Ford Escape in Size and Engine? (Ask.cars.com)

Pickup Trucks 101: What You Need to Know Before Hitching Up a Trailer (PickupTrucks.com)

2010 Chevrolet Equinox (MotherProof.com)

Posted in Ask.cars.com, Mother Proof, PickupTrucks.com | Comments Off

Owners Still Waiting on Toyota Fix

Friday, January 29th, 2010

Reports earlier today pointed to Toyota announcing a fix for owners of 2.3 million vehicles over a defective accelerator pedal. However, as of this afternoon no fix has been announced. USA Today is reporting that while new and improved pedals are being sent to factories, there are still questions on how to repair the cars already on the road.

One remedy has been sent to the NHTSA for approval, and Toyota says it is waiting for a decision before making a final call on a fix.

Even if a decision came today, there would still need to be time to produce the proper parts and train technicians before any vehicles could be repaired. We’ll post as soon as we learn of an update.

Toyota sends new gas pedals to factories (USA Today)

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Owners Still Waiting on Toyota Fix

Friday, January 29th, 2010

Reports earlier today pointed to Toyota announcing a fix for owners of 2.3 million vehicles over a defective accelerator pedal. However, as of this afternoon no fix has been announced. USA Today is reporting that while new and improved pedals are being sent to factories, there are still questions on how to repair the cars already on the road.

One remedy has been sent to the NHTSA for approval, and Toyota says it is waiting for a decision before making a final call on a fix.

Even if a decision came today, there would still need to be time to produce the proper parts and train technicians before any vehicles could be repaired. We’ll post as soon as we learn of an update.

Toyota sends new gas pedals to factories (USA Today)

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Where Do Recalled Pontiac Vibe Owners Go?

Friday, January 29th, 2010
2009pontiacvibe

There are currently 99,293 2009 and 2010 Pontiac Vibes on the road that are also part of Toyota’s floormat and accelerator pedal recall, according to General Motors. If you’re a Vibe owner, you should expect a letter soon from GM explaining that you’ll be able to take your car to a local GM dealership once it has been informed from Toyota about repairs to address the recalls. As of now, there is still no official word of a timeframe for a fix, but owners will not be dealing with Toyota dealers directly for the repairs.  

 

The two recalls that affect 2009 and 2010 Vibes revolve around unintended acceleration. One recall is for floormats that can interfere with the accelerator. Toyota recommends removing the floormats until repairs can be made.

 

The other recall is for a potential faulty accelerator pedal, which could feel balky, stiff or slow to return to idle position. If your pedal suffers from any of these symptoms, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says you should contact Pontiac at 800-620-7668 or visit GM’s owner center at www.gmownercenter.com.

 

Currently, GM says it hasn’t identified any incidents or customer complaints of sticking accelerator pedals with the Vibe. Like Toyota, GM has halted sales of Vibes, though at Cars.com we show only 13 Vibes in our national inventory.

Posted in Pontiac, Pontiac Vibe, Toyota, Toyota Recall | Comments Off

Where Do Recalled Pontiac Vibe Owners Go?

Friday, January 29th, 2010
2009pontiacvibe

There are currently 99,293 2009 and 2010 Pontiac Vibes on the road that are also part of Toyota’s floormat and accelerator pedal recall, according to General Motors. If you’re a Vibe owner, you should expect a letter soon from GM explaining that you’ll be able to take your car to a local GM dealership once it has been informed from Toyota about repairs to address the recalls. As of now, there is still no official word of a timeframe for a fix, but owners will not be dealing with Toyota dealers directly for the repairs.  

 

The two recalls that affect 2009 and 2010 Vibes revolve around unintended acceleration. One recall is for floormats that can interfere with the accelerator. Toyota recommends removing the floormats until repairs can be made.

 

The other recall is for a potential faulty accelerator pedal, which could feel balky, stiff or slow to return to idle position. If your pedal suffers from any of these symptoms, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says you should contact Pontiac at 800-620-7668 or visit GM’s owner center at www.gmownercenter.com.

 

Currently, GM says it hasn’t identified any incidents or customer complaints of sticking accelerator pedals with the Vibe. Like Toyota, GM has halted sales of Vibes, though at Cars.com we show only 13 Vibes in our national inventory.

Posted in Pontiac, Pontiac Vibe, Toyota, Toyota Recall | Comments Off

Hyundai Offering $1,000 Rebate for Toyota Owners

Friday, January 29th, 2010

2009Elantratouring

Current Toyota owners thinking of buying a car this weekend have a new incentive from Hyundai: $1,000 in cash back on top of other current incentives. It’s good on only three models — the 2009-2010 Elantra, Elantra Touring and Sonata. This matches a similar incentive GM launched earlier this week and runs through Monday but may be extended.

Hyundai spokesman Dan Bedore says the company is not looking to capitalize on another automaker’s misfortune but has to stay competitive while other automakers offer similar deals.

There is currently $1,500 cash back on the 2009 Elantra Touring, $1,000 cash back on the 2010 Elantra Touring,  $3,000 in cash back on the 2009 Sonata, $3,500 cash back on the 2010 Sonata and $2,000 cash back on the 2009 Elantra and $1,500 cash back on the 2010 Elantra. These amounts are in addition to the $1,000 Toyota incentive. You can be a current owner of any Toyota model, not just a competing one to the three eligible Hyundais.

Cars.com Incentives: Rebates & Financing Offers

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Specific VINs for Recalled Toyotas Released

Friday, January 29th, 2010
2010ToyotaHighlander

An easy way to determine if your specific Toyota model was included in the accelerator pedal recall of 2.3 million cars is to locate your vehicle identification number (VIN) under the windshield on the driver’s side of the car. With the exception of the 2007-2010 Toyota Camry, which we explain later, the recalled cars will have the following VINs:



2005-2010 Avalon with VIN starting with 4T1

2009-2010 Matrix with VIN starting with 2T1

2007-2008 Tundra with VIN starting with 5TB

2007-2010 Tundra with VIN starting with 5TF

2008-2010 Sequoia with VIN starting with 5TD

2009 Corolla with VIN starting with 1NX or 2T1 CTS*

2010 Highlander with VIN starting with 5TD CTS*

2009-2010 RAV4 with VIN starting with 2T3 CTS*

 

All 2007-2010 Camrys with VINs starting with 4T4 CTS are also included, but owners of Camrys with the VIN 4T1 need to have the car’s pedal inspected to know which part was installed.



The asterisked vehicles above, as well as the Camry, are also built in Japan. Any VIN for those specific models starting with JT are not included in the recall. Every single Avalon, Matrix, Tundra and Sequoia in the recall are assembled in the US and all have these VIN numbers.

Posted in Toyota, Toyota Avalon, Toyota Camry, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Highlander, Toyota RAV4, Toyota Recall, Toyota Sequoia, Toyota Tundra | Comments Off

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