Rivalries between car companies run deep, especially when they’re sharing the same American turf. So it’s somewhat surprising, if not sensible, that General Motors and Ford are coming together in order build the best fuel-efficient automatic transmission out there. At least, that’s the goal. [More]
GM & Ford Decide To Be Best Pals In Order To Build New Transmissions Together
By April 16, 2013
Toyota & Ford Fighting On The Playground Over Who Has The No. 1 Car
By April 10, 2013
It’s an all-out slap fight on the playground these days between Toyota and Ford, as both claim they’re No. 1 in the world as the makers of the top-selling car of 2012. Toyota contradicted Ford’s claim of the Focus being the coolest by sayings its Corolla is actually the best around. [More]
NHTSA Investigating 1.3 Million Fords, Toyotas & Hondas For Safety-Related Issues
By February 25, 2013
There’s a whole lot of investigating going on right now at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and it includes almost 1.3 million vehicles from Toyota, Ford and Honda. All three are in potentially hot water for safety-related issues, from steering problems to brake issues. From the sound of it, the Prius is bearing the brunt of the scrutiny. [More]
Ford Continues To Sink Toward Bottom Of Consumer Reports’ Reliability Ratings
By October 29, 2012
In 2010, Ford was among the top 10 auto brands in Consumer Reports’ Annual Auto Reliability Survey, with more than 90% of its models rated average or better by CR readers. But in the two years since, the shine has gone off the Ford brand, and in the newly released survey, it now comes in next to last place. [More]
Third Time Is Far From The Charm For The Once Again Recalled 2013 Ford Escape
By September 5, 2012
Another day, another 2013 Ford Escape recall: After issuing recalls for scary fires and gas pedals that wouldn’t quit in July, Ford is issuing a third recall for its sport utility vehicles, this time citing a fire hazard in the engine compartment. On the bright side? There were no Escape recalls in the entire month of August. [More]
U.S. Car Makers Post Double-Digit Sales Increases
By September 4, 2012
Need some decent news to brighten up your dreary day? This may not do it, but it’s worth a shot: Chrysler, GM and Ford have released their August sales numbers and each of the automakers saw substantial year-over-year sales increases during the last month of summer vacation. [More]
Ford’s Steel F-150 Pickups Could Get Aluminum Body Makeovers To Save On Fuel Costs
By July 27, 2012
Is it the end of the super steely era? Ford is reportedly mulling over a decision to use aluminum panels in its F-150 pickup trucks, which have utilized steel panels since the vehicle’s birth decades ago. The company has already moved toward technology that helps its vehicles save on gas, and this aluminum move is yet another, as it will cut 700 pounds out of the pickup. That’s a lot less truck to move. [More]
Ford Recalling 484,600 Escape SUVs Because Drivers Should Be Able To Ease Off The Gas
By July 26, 2012
As if scary fires weren’t enough, it seems Ford is having even more problems with its Escape SUVs. This time the problem is focused on an issue with some models having sticky gas pedals — not quite ideal if you’d like to slow down your car at some point. Ford is now recalling 484,600 Escapes from 2001 to 2004 after discovering the problem. [More]
Ford Issues Immediate Recall Of 2013 Escape SUV Because Fire Is Scary
By July 20, 2012
Fewer than 5,000 model year 2013 Ford Escape SUVs have been delivered to customers so far, including one to our colleagues over at Consumer Reports Cars for testing. But Ford has already announced a recall of the vehicles, ordering dealers to stop selling and offering test drives on the 1.6 liter engine base model. Ford has also asked Escape owners to stop driving their vehicles immediately. Why? The engine compartment fuel line might split and leak. If the engine is started or already running when a leak occurs, the vehicle could catch fire. [More]
Ford Developing Technology That Reacts To Calm Stressed Or Distracted Drivers
By June 28, 2012
While it’s not the same as having a soothing chat with KITT the talking Trans-Am, the folks at Ford are working on technology that would not only recognize when drivers are distracted or in stressful situations but would also act to cut down on external factors in order to calm things down. [More]
Give Ford Dealership Bad Survey Rating, Get Told ‘You Are No Longer Welcome Here’
By June 14, 2012
After Wil’s purchase of a new car didn’t go as smoothly as he expected based on past transactions with Ford, he didn’t give them a great survey rating. The dealership manager’s completely proportionate response? To e-mail Wil and tell him that he is no longer welcome at the dealership, and to never come back. [More]
Five Big American Businesses Teaming Up To Develop Plant-Based Plastic
By June 5, 2012
Coca-Cola might be super proprietary about its secret soda formula, but when it comes to sharing technology that could help the earth, it’s willing to to spread the wealth with other big American businesses. Coca-Cola, Ford, Heinz, Nike and Procter & Gamble announced today they’ve teamed up to work on how to develop plant-based plastic material. [More]
It Could Take Years For Some Fuel-Efficient Cars To Be Worth The Savings On Gas
By May 31, 2012
While car makers have been touting new higher-efficiency versions of some of their more popular vehicle brands, tests show that it could take years for the average driver to realize enough cost savings on gas to make up for the higher price tag. [More]
Sirius XM: Two Companies With Single Mission To Confuse Customers
By April 11, 2012
When satellite radio providers Sirius and XM merged almost half a decade ago, consumers and regulators feared that the combined company would begin to act like a fearsome monopoly with a stranglehold on the entire satellite radio market. Not quite. They’re still acting as separate companies working together to confuse the hell out of their customers. Emily’s family are longtime XM subscribers who bought a car with a Sirius receiver, assuming that since it’s all the same company, the services are interchangeable. No, not even close. [More]
Giving A Ford Dealership Bad Survey Grades Is Basically Tossing Their Employees Out On The Street
By April 4, 2012
Customer service surveys at car dealerships must be serious, serious business. That’s the only conclusion I can draw from Bob’s story about being bullied by the Ford dealership where he bought his Fiesta. They called him up to say that if he planned to rate his (unsatisfactory) service experience as anything but satisfactory, he would be hurting the dealership and practically stealing money out of employees’ pockets and yanking food out of their kids’ mouths. If he didn’t say nice things, the service manager insinuated, the dealership might decide not to service his car at all. [More]
Safety Regulators Investigating Claims Of Sticky Throttles In Ford Tauruses
By March 12, 2012
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is looking into claims that 2005-2006 Ford Tauruses are having acceleration problems, reminding us that the Ford Taurus still exists. Those cars have been around so long, it’s more like, dino-taurus! Am I right? [More]
U.S. Car Buyers Seeing Less Difference Between Car Brands
By January 24, 2012
Not so long ago, saying the name of any of the top car brands — Toyota, Chevy, Ford, Honda, etc — conjured up very distinct associated images and preconceptions, especially when compared to the smaller and newer brands on the market. But it looks like that line between champs and challengers is blurring as consumers re-think what they prize in an automobile. [More]
NHTSA Investigating Electric Vehicle Batteries Following Chevy Volt Fire
By November 11, 2011
As mass-produced plug-in electric vehicles continue to roll off assembly lines, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is taking a closer look at the batteries that power these cars following an incident in which a Chevy Volt caught fire three weeks after undergoing a NHTSA side-impact crash test. [More]
