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.

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.

Shoppers have many choices when it comes to buying a car. Once the research begins, it is clear that each automaker has their winners and losers. However, some manufacturers are consistently at the top of the list for reliability and road-test scores. Our automaker report cards highlight how the companies compare, as detailed in the video.

Car owners were more satisfied with independent shops for maintenance than dealerships, according to the last annual auto survey by the Consumer Reports National Research Center. The survey found that owners of all makes were equally satisfied with the timeliness and courtesy of the maintenance service at the dealership, where the majority turned for this routine work.

The Chrysler Group is recalling 2012 Jeep Compass and 2012 Jeep Patriot SUVs due to faulty fuel tank valves, said the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). About 1,700 of the recalled Jeep sport-utility vehicles have damaged roll-over fuel valves, which may leak during collisions or roll-over accidents, increasing the risk of a fire.

You would assume that if an automaker poured millions of dollars into a major redesign of one of its models that the new version would be better than the old one. But more and more, that’s not the case. In fact, a lot of the slip-sliding we’re seeing here at Consumer Reports has been coming from some traditionally high-performing brands, including Honda, Toyota, and Volkswagen. (See our automaker report cards.)

Our recent test of a Chrysler 300 sedan equipped with the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 left a favorable impression, as evidenced by the significant improvement in the big sedan's road test score. Like many recently updated products from Chrysler, the 300 got an extensive freshening for 2011 that included a much-improved interior and other updates, transforming it into a comfortable and refined large sedan.

Each year, the Consumer Reports Annual Auto Issue featuring the latest ratings, rankings and expert insights garners significant attention. The focus invariable turns to Top Picks and the automaker report cards. Both special reports given a quick snapshot of how makes and models compare, informing car buyers, as well as auto industry trivia enthusiasts. While everyone loves a winner, what about those brands that just never made the Top Pick cut?

Chrysler has issued a recall notice for nearly 210,000 Jeep Liberty SUVs sold or operated in the so-called "salt belt" states of the U.S. According to Chrysler, the rear suspension of the Jeeps may corrode and break after excessive exposure to winter road salt. Failure of the rear lower control arms may cause a loss of vehicle control and increase the risk of a collision.

Our Annual Autos Issue presents a dizzying array of facts and figures, all aimed at helping car shoppers choose the right model for their needs and budget. While we rate the automakers and present numerous best and worst lists, we haven’t offered a simple guide to the best and worst models by brand. Until now.

Following annual tradition, it’s time again for our American Top Picks list spotlighting the top-scoring domestic-branded models in Consumer Reports testing. An alternative compilation to our official 2012 Top Picks, here we show the buyer who favors buying an “American” car the many strong choices that have stood out in our tests.

Riding a wave of impressive redesigned models in the last few years, Subaru for the first time has earned the top score in Consumer Reports automaker report cards for 2012. Meanwhile, Honda, which had been the perennial winner for the past four years, slipped two points to fourth place among 13 major automakers, behind Mazda and Toyota.

Fires in older Jeep Grand Cherokees have resulted in hundreds of deaths since the SUVs rolled out in 1993, and dramatic incidents involving fire continue to occur. Since reporting last month, we have dug into the statistics, and gained more insights into the real risks.

Ford, Chevrolet, and Toyota have a commanding lead in car brand awareness, as determined from interviewing car owners for the 2012 Car Brand Perception Survey.

Automakers are constantly mining their past glory for new products: Special edition this; anniversary model that…sometimes it’s no more than a tape stripe or special numbered badge.