The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Consumer Reports announces top 10 choices for best cars of 2020

While luxury brands Porsche and Genesis claim the top two spots, moderately-priced brands are close behind in the latest Brand Report Card Rankings from Consumer Reports, a product testing organization. The annual rankings show which automakers are producing the most well-performing, safe, and reliable vehicles based on Consumer Reports testing and member surveys. 

Brands from South Korea and Japan, including Genesis, Subaru, Mazda, Lexus, Hyundai, and Kia, claim six of the 10 top spots in Consumer Reports’ 2020 rankings.

Porsche went up two positions from last year to claim the top spot, replacing Subaru. Rounding out the top-10 are Audi, BMW, and Mini. Kia and Mini are the only two brands that are new among the top group in Consumer Reports Brand Report Card Rankings, replacing Toyota, down three spots from last year, and Lincoln, down five spots from last year.

Chrysler recalls nearly a quarter-million 2014-2019 Ram ProMaster vans for shifter cable issue

Photos: Mr.choppers

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is recalling about 222,207 model year 2014-2019 Ram ProMasters vans equipped with the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine.

The transmission shifter cable could separate, disconnecting the transmission shifter from the transmission, which could result in the inability of the driver to shift the transmission. The gear shift level position may not match the transmission gear, according to the recall.

As a result, the driver may not know the actual gear position and unintended vehicle movement could occur, increasing the risk of a crash.

Mercedes-Benz recalls about 745,000 vehicles due to sunroofs that could detach

Photo: OSX

Mercedes-Benz is recalling nearly 745,000 vehicles in the United States due to faulty sunroofs where the glass panel could detach from the vehicle. Cars affected by this recall range from model years 2001 to 2011.

The National Highway Safety Traffic Administration said the bonding between the glass panel and the sliding roof frame could deteriorate and possibly cause the glass panel to detach from the vehicle.

This recall affects C-, CLK-, CLS- and E-Class models over about 10 years:

Facts and figures for the holidays 2019: Travel

A record number of Americans  – 115.6 million – will travel this holiday season. That’s an increase of 3.9 percent over last year, or 4.3 million more people taking a holiday getaway, according to AAA.

Auto

More than 104 million of those holiday travelers will drive to their destinations and delays to be the worst on Thursday, Dec. 26, INRIX, a transportation analytics company, predicts. The number of Americans driving for the holidays is up 3.9 percent or 3.9 million people compared with last year.

Gas prices steadily declined in November. AAA expects most motorists will see gas prices drop before the New Year, but gas prices will likely be slightly more expensive than last December’s national gas price average of $2.37.

Air travel

With 4.9 percent growth, air travel will see the biggest increase in travel volume during the year-end holidays, with 6.97 million Americans expected to fly – the most since 2003.

Americans resolving to pay off debts and save money in 2020, survey shows

The New Year is approaching rapidly, and money continues to be America’s top concern with almost 99 million people planning to make a financial resolution for 2020.

WalletHub, a personal finance website, conducted a survey of the “Top 10 Financial Resolutions for 2020” and found the No. 1 financial resolution for men is to save more, while women are focused on paying off debt.

Other highlights of the survey include:

Yes, boomers are doing O.K.

Carol Cassara of A Healing Spirit is still a Beatles fan, and, all these years later when she hears one of their songs, she’s instantly transported back to the 1960s. An image of a van, like the one in the photo, which was popular at the time, does the same thing. She just goes there.

Cassara also thinks about the 1960s when she reads posts by her favorite boomer bloggers. Some of their latest articles include:

• The most memorable Christmas.
• How to make Polish Sauerkraut Soup.
• The top three challenges to expect from “gray” divorce, divorce when couples are age 50 and older.
• A narrow escape on the freeway when a box truck veered off the highway toward the center median, then careened back onto it.
• How to plan goals for 2020 and beyond.
• The new, frozen Asian desserts.

Cassara writes about these articles in the Best of Boomer Blogs #627. Click here to get the links to the articles. And, be sure to join in the conversations. Boomer bloggers appreciate hearing from readers. It makes their day.

Copyright 2019, Rita R. Robison, Consumer and Personal Finance Journalist

Dodge Durangos and Jeep Grand Cherokees are being recalled due to possible engine stalls

Photo: IFCAR

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is recalling about 528,594 model year Dodge Durangos and Jeep Grand Cherokees. The fuel-pump relays may have silicon deposits that interrupt electric current, and, as a result, the engine might not start or could stall.

This recall affects 2011 to 2013 models that have had the relays corrected in a previous recall.

By Jan. 3, customers will be contacted about going to their dealership for a free inspection and repair, the FCA said.

Nissan, Infiniti vehicles are being recalled again due to fire risk

Photo: Alexander Migl

Nissan is recalling 450,000 vehicles in the United States and Canada.

The anti-lock brake system actuator may leak brake fluid and cause a fire. If this happens, the ABS warning lamp will light up and remain lighted on the instrument panel.

If the ABS warning lamp in a vehicle lights up continually for more than 10 seconds after the engine starts, Nissan advises consumers to stop driving the vehicle immediately and call Nissan Roadside Assistance at 800-647-7261 to arrange towing the vehicle to a Nissan dealer for repair.

Nearly 1 million Toyota, Scion, and Lexus vehicles recalled due to possible failure of replaced airbags

Photo: IFCAR

About 928,000 vehicles are being recalled because the driver or front passenger airbag inflators were replaced as part of the Takata airbag recall using the same defective inflators. The replacement inflators may explode due to the propellant degrading after long-term exposure to high humidity and temperature. An inflator explosion could result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, causing serious injury or death.

Dealers will replace the defective airbag inflator or the airbag assembly using an alternate inflator. There will be no charge for the repairs. Toyota will begin notifying owners Nov. 15.

Vehicles affected include model year:

At AutoNation, 1 in 9 used cars have unrepaired safety recalls, consumer groups say

AutoNation, America’s largest auto retailer, is selling used vehicles with unrepaired safety recalls including explosive Takata airbags, faulty GM ignition switches, and defects with no fix available. “Unsafe Used Cars for Sale,” a report from the U.S. PIRG Education Fund and Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety Foundation, found that one in nine cars for sale at AutoNation dealerships across the country have unrepaired defects that make them dangerous to drivers, passengers, and others on the roadways.

“By selling recalled cars with safety defects, AutoNation puts customers in danger before they even reach home,” said Adam Garber, consumer watchdog for the U.S. PIRG Education Fund. “The only way that AutoNation can ensure a ‘worry-free’ purchase is to repair every recalled vehicle before selling it.”

The survey found numerous unsafe cars among more than 2,400 vehicles analyzed at 28 dealerships in 12 states. The recalled vehicles had defects that could cause vehicles to stall in traffic, seat belts to fail, Takata air bags to propel metal fragments at passengers, cars to catch on fire, or steering to malfunction.