A safety recall has been issued for 2010 Jeep Wrangler sport-utility vehicles. Nearly 68,000 of the popular SUVs can catch fire due to a flaw in the design to protect the Wrangler's automatic transmission, warns the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Honda has recalled 52,615 of its 2007-2008 Acura TL sedans because over time, the power steering hose can deteriorate and develop a fluid leak, leading to a loss of power steering assistance.

We just took delivery of a car that is made for spring: a "Mars Red" SLK250. This two-seat convertible is just what the doctor ordered to get us out of the winter doldrums. And if the cold weather reappears, our SLK has a folding hardtop, heated seats, and the automaker's exclusive "airscarf neck-level heating system," which features vents in the head restraints that blow warm air on your neck. It's a nice touch that we really liked in the last SLK, and its SL big-brother we tested.

The safety of 2012 Hyundai Elantra sedans is being investigated after the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration received a report from an owner who had been severely cut from a piece of metal reportedly from the car's side air bag deployment during a collision.

Any consistent reader of the Consumer Reports blog knows that when buying test cars, we try to do nearly all of the research and interaction with the salesperson(s) online. And while most domestic and Asian brands work well this way, it's harder when buying German cars. Why is this?

If the Toyota Prius plug-in is not electric enough for you, soon you'll be able to have a pure-electric Toyota RAV4. Toyota has been developing an electric RAV4 for years, starting with the first-generation RAV4. And at the 2010 LA Auto Show, Toyota announced its intent to build a production version. On Monday, the production RAV4 EV was unveiled at EVS26 (26th-annual Electric Vehicle Symposium) in Los Angeles.

With the exception of the upcoming, lease-only Smart EV, Mercedes-Benz has been almost absent from the electric-car movement. But that's not to say their advanced alternative fuel activities are dormant. Rather than field battery-powered cars, the automaker has been focusing on more forward-reaching technology: fuel cells. (A fuel-cell car is essentially an EV with an on-board electricity generating ability.)

Chrysler is recalling a small number of 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans equipped with powered rear liftgate doors. About 471 of the minivans have faulty sensors that may not prevent the door from closing on a finger or other appendage says the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The Kia Soul and Subaru Impreza hatchback are similar in some ways, such as engine size; use of simple controls; easy access to the noisy cabin; and comparable fuel economy, cargo room, and turning circles. Yet, there are big differences in styling and performance.

Chrysler is recalling nearly 120,000 2011-2012 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 sedans in the U.S. The vehicles have electronic stability control (ESC) and anti-lock brake systems (ABS) which may overheat and cause loss of control, warns the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In the wake of the sudden unintended acceleration (SUA) crisis that rocked Toyota's safety reputation in 2009 and 2010, automakers have sped up implementation of smart-throttle technology, also known as brake override. With this safety feature, should a stuck throttle problem occur, the driver can intuitively apply the brake pedal and the engine management system will reduce the power, allowing the vehicle to quickly stop. The full Hyundai line starting with May production will come standard with brake override.

Electric cars pose a distinct challenge for testing, with their limited range and lifestyle factors creating a wrinkle during the break-in miles and subsequent "living with" evaluations. Several Connecticut and New York staffers had tales of range anxiety, and worse, during the testing period for the Nissan Leaf. So, after the road test and Ratings were published, we shared the Leaf with our colleagues down in the Washington, D.C., office to learn their hands-on perspectives in a more urban setting.

We just took delivery of a new 2012 Azera, a complete redesign based on the accomplished current Sonata. Positioned above midsized family sedans, the Azera competes most directly with the Toyota Avalon, and both updated cars strive to bring more character to class that aims at baby boomers. Just as Buick has been doing.

At a time when all automakers are offering small, fuel-efficient cars, they are mostly stamped out from the same cookie cutter. Familiar shapes and boring personalities are commonplace. But then there is the Hyundai Veloster, a three-door couple-like hatchback that dares to put fun in the mix. We just finished testing the Veloster, finding it funky, efficient, and with some compromises.

As toll-collection agencies have moved to automated payment systems that use car-mounted transponders in place of traditional tollbooths, many drivers have found the technology to be a real convenience and time saver. But some are also finding unexpected violation notices in their mailboxes because of how they are used and in which vehicles they are mounted.