The recall applies to 2010 model year Chrysler Sebring sedans, Dodge Avenger Sedans, Dodge Nitro SUVs and Jeep Liberty, Commander and Grand Cherokees.

Consumer Reports is a US based expert, indepenent, non profit organisation not unlike our Australian Consumers Association so when they do their annual report on the best and worst cars it’s well worth a look … unless you happen to be Mercedes Benz.

If you happen to be Mercedes Benz then the 2007 report5 does not make for good reading or good public relations. Almost every current Mercedes Benz model appeared in the list of the ‘least reliable’ used cars. The SL, SLK, CLK, CLS along with the E, R and M class models all made an appearance in the list.

Other manufacturers didn’t do much better. Five vehicles made it to the ‘most disappointing’ list and four of them were from Chrysler. Of interest to us here in Australia both the Sebring and the Caliber were included in that list.

You can read more about the report here

by Stuart Livesey

Since the beginning of March they’ve all issued recalls on vehicles and the recalls have all had to do with the braking system.

Toyota has issued the biggest recall of vehicles and it’s safe to say that this recall would have to be one of the biggest in Australian automotive history. It potentially affects approximately 137,000 vehicles; 134,000 Landcruiser 70 and 100 series and 3,000 Lexus LX470 models.

All these vehicles were manufactured between September 1997 and December 2005 and the recall is so that Toyota can check and replace faulty retaining bolts on the front disc brake rotors.

Jeep, Chrysler and Dodge are all marketed in Australia under the Daimler-Chrysler name and the vehicles affected are those in the following models fitted with an ESP/ABS brake system:

Chrysler 300C and 300C Touring – built from 11 October through to 23 November 2006

Dodge Caliber – built from 7 September through 18 November 2006

Jeep Compass – built from 7 September through 18 November 2006

Jeep Grand Cherokee – built from 11 October through to 23 November 2006

Jeep Commander – built from 11 October through to 23 November 2006

Jeep Wrangler – built 9 November through to 8 December 2006

The software programmed into the ABS control module needs to be re-programmed for, in it’s present form, may cause the rear wheels to lock up in certain braking conditions. Around 490 vehicles are affected by the recall.

Aussie Motoring has already taken a preview peek at the Dodge Caliber in a piece called The Yankees Are Coming but we also thought we should present the views of your typical SUV driving American and there’s no one more typical than our man in the US – Jim Williams – who was happy to give us his views on the Dodge Caliber

Dodge, that great American institution of innovation and cool tough looks, has taken it upon itself, as a company, to create the Dodge Caliber a “Neon-replacement mini-SUV car”. With good fuel economy, spacious interior and improved safety features, it’s the SUV of the future right? Well, I don’t think so, and I am going to tell you why.

First things first, the good stuff, the Caliber does in fact get pretty good fuel economy with most models of it getting 28 mpg city and 32 mpg on the open road, so it gets respectable gas mileage for something that’s supposed to be an SUV. I think I can back out of my driveway in my full sized, 5 door Ford Explorer on a gallon of gas, so 28 mpg sounds great to me.

And they seemed to have taken safety with this thing pretty seriously as well, with side curtain air bags and advanced multi-stage airbags in the dash, it’ll be a comfortable slide into the windshield at 70MPH if you happen to be so unfortunate. Headlights on this thing are huge and fog lamps come standard on one model and optional on another cast a low wide beam for added visibility.

Now on to spaciousness, when I think of an SUV space is one of those things that comes immediately to mind. I can toss a 4 foot by 8 foot sheet of plywood inside my explorer and it will fit.

But the Caliber, being a mini-SUV has a wheelbase shorter than the wheelbase of Chrysler’s Neon sedan. Neon’s wheelbase is 105 inches, (and that’s small folks) while the Caliber ‘boasts’ a wheelbase of only 103.7. The overall length for a Neon is 174.4 inches and the Caliber sadly measures 173.8.

Now on to how I really feel about this mutation of an SUV. This is not a true Sport Utility and you can tell by the things they hype about this vehicle. Rims, sound system, cool looking headlights are not what I would call features that a serious SUV buyer is looking for. And to top it off you’re going to need all those safety features because Dodge decided to throw in so many distractions you’ll get a fender bender leaving the garage.

The interior is packed with things like:

an in dash beverage cooler, ok if you just said ‘how cool’ leave now,

a holder for your mp3 player or cell phone in the center arm rest,

and a ‘golly gee, look at this’ lighted beverage holders!

Toss in the mp3 jack on the dash, the DVD driven navigation system, and a radio that you will find yourself fiddling with for far too much time, and you get to test the theory all on your own that the number one cause of accidents isn’t alcohol, but people distracted by other things while they are driving.

Overall Dodge has put a lot of time and money into producing a car that is in no way any sort of a sport utility vehicle. This thing couldn’t even with any self respect call itself a station wagon. If you closed the doors on the Caliber you could probably fit it inside an average US station wagon.

If you’re in the market for an economy car this may work out for you, but as an SUV, even a mini one, it is a sad excuse of a vehicle.

You may have already seen their advertising on television – even here in regional Queensland they’ve given us a glimpse of three of the vehicles they will be selling over here. And you can expect to see those vehicles on display in Melbourne.

The company really seems to want to prime the market because it’s reported that the first to hit the marekt place will be the Doge Caliber and that won’t start selling until September.

It looks like something of a cross between a station wagon and a minivan but what will actually power this beast is yet to be decided.

However it’s interesting to note that, at a time when 5 speed autos are common and 6 speed autos are appearing the Caliber is not going to get anything better than a 4 speed auto. Somehow that seems to rather date the vehicle as last year’s effort – especially seeing it’s not going to go on sale till almost next year.

The interior looks a little dated too – but it does come with a drink cooler so that should make all the difference – and the Americans wonder why they can’t sell cars to their own people.

Of course, I’m always prepared to be proven wrong but somehow I don’t think this is the vehicle that’s going to do it.