When the Wrangler was redesigned for its current generation (aka JK), the iconic SUV saw its road test score more than triple. The larger, more powerful Wrangler had joined the 21st-century, though it remained a trail-bred machine lumbering in a world now dominated by civilized crossovers. As Chrysler Corp. has rapidly updated its models on this side of bankruptcy, we were interested to see if the new touches applied to the Wrangler could elevate its standing.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation into incidents of inadvertent air bag deployment without a crash in 2002 and 2003 Jeep Liberty vehicles.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has released its annual report of traffic fatalities from 2010, and it listed an additional 13 rear-end collisions with 1993-2004 Grand Cherokees that killed another 14 people, according to the Center for Auto Safety (CAS).

The upcoming March 2012 issue of Consumer Reports magazine features road tests of the BMW X3, Jeep Wrangler, Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, Volkswagen Tiguan, and Toyota Prius V. These new or updated models were treated to the full battery of more than 50 tests, and the full results are available now to online subscribers.

Amid news reports of Chevrolet Volts catching fire after crash tests, here’s a news item worth noting.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. It’s expensive, thirsty, harsh-riding, and doesn’t offer the off-road capability of typical Jeeps. But it’s hard to deny that it has a certain appeal.

In our initial Just In report, we noted that Jeep Wrangler owners seem to really enjoy themselves, even routinely waving to one another. Admit it: The Jeep Wrangler looks like fun incarnate, but is it truly fun to drive? A lot of buyers must think so, because Jeep sells a lot of them. Now that we have logged more than a thousand miles on this newly purchased test model, let’s review the candid, initial logbook comments from the staff.

In such a large, diverse country as America, long-distance road trips feel like a birthright. But going the distance coast-to-coast isn’t for just any jalopy. It requires a good, safe, reliable car that excels in comfort and other factors. In anticipation of the long weekend, the Consumer Reports’ Cars team has been debating which model is the best road trip car, and below we present our picks.

Chrysler is recalling 667 model-year 2012 vehicles because debris inside the engine block could cause connecting rod bearing failure, which can lead to engine seizure and thereby increase the risk of a crash.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has received seven complaints of front airbags deploying without a crash in 2002 and 2003 Jeep Liberty vehicles. Of the seven complaints, five reported injuries. A preliminary evaluation has been opened by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Some days are better than others, especially if they are spent at a private test track with dozens of new cars. Several members of the Consumer Reports Cars team went to the Monticello Motor Club last week for the annual International Motor Press Association (IMPA) track days, sampling the latest cars on a 3.6-mile race track. Naturally, the staff found some favorites from among these high-speed first impressions.

Wrangler owners wave to each other. I had forgotten this until the first mile of driving our 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited home from the dealer. Critics have called me cynical and jaded, but I have to say, there is something heart-warming and friendly about people constantly waving at you. And since there are lots of Wranglers out there (including two owned by my Auto Test coworkers’ spouses), Jeep drivers get waved at a lot.

Investigators with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said they were looking deeper into 200,000 Jeep Liberty sport utility vehicles made by Chrysler. The vehicles may have issues with rust that could cause loss of control of the vehicle, say the federal regulators.

Despite navigating a tough corporate road, Chrysler managed to produce a significant cosmetic freshening for the 2011 Jeep Wrangler, updating the off-road icon inside and out. For 2012, the Wrangler completes its two-year makeover with a new engine and transmission.

With a heat wave continuing to cook much of the nation, we asked our team to share their personal choices for top-down, summer rides. Despite all the convertibles available today, the group focused on just a handful of models that tested well and/or just appealed on a more visceral level.