Safety

Why hasn't there been a recall in regards to CVT automatic transmissions in Australia, despite there being recalls in America and other parts of the world? Surely, other countries are having the same CVT problems we facing in Australia?

A roadworthy certificate, also called a RWC or a safety certificate, is a document provided by an authorised inspector who has deemed a car safe to drive on public roads.

The speed alarm in my 2023 Kia Cerato GT sounding every time I exceed 105km/h. I’ve checked the manual and cannot find the issue. It only started when car had its first check-up.

My 2023 Nissan X-Trail has done this twice; it applied the brakes only on the passenger side of the car at 70km/h whilst I was in the middle of the outside lane of a three-lane (in each direction road). It released them after about five seconds but I had to fight the car to stop it changing lanes and colliding with the cars in the middle lane. An alarm did sound but it went away quite quickly so couldn't see what it was; I had other things to keep me occupied at the time.

What is causing this?

The implementation of screen controls for important functions in new cars, for everything from climate control to indicators, has become an "industry-wide problem" that needs to be reversed, according to the European New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).

The P plate car restrictions in Australia can be rather complicated, as the list of P plate legal cars not only varies from state to state, but is subject to change as the automotive landscape evolves.

As modern performance cars have become faster and more complex, car companies have developed race track-specific driving modes as part of the search for the ultimate in speed and handling. 

How do I know if my 2013 Holden Captiva diesel has been recalled?
 

Chery’s mid-2023 re-emergence in the Australian market has seen the challenger brand go from strength-to-strength with the increasingly popular Omoda 5 small SUV leading the charge and the larger Tiggo 7 Pro SUV recently joining the line-up.But the Omoda 5 is now the subject of a safety recall due to a potential fault in its braking system, with all vehicles so-far sold in Australia impacted.According to an alert issued by the Federal Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communication and the Arts, “Due to a manufacturing defect, the bolt securing the brake pipe union may not have been tightened sufficiently. “This could cause the brake fluid to leak and result in reduced braking performance.”In a worst-case scenario the department says, “A reduction in braking performance could increase the risk of an accident resulting in serious injury or death to the vehicle occupants, pedestrians and other road users.”The recall relates to 5901 examples of the Omoda 5 across BX and EX grades, manufactured in 2022 and 2023. Chery recorded 5370 Omoda 5 registrations in 2023 with 515 units sold so far in 2024.It’s worth noting the Omoda 5 scored a maximum five-star ANCAP safety assessment against the independent body’s current testing criteria in late 2023.Omoda 5 owners are advised to contact their preferred Chery dealership to have their vehicle inspected and rectified free-of-charge.Available contact options regarding the recall are: Chery Customer Care - 1800 424 379 / recall@cherymotor.com.au.

Some off-road vehicles are capable of being driven straight out of the dealership and into the Simpson Desert … and some aren’t. Here’s our condensed list of some of the more important aftermarket mods and products you’ll need for safe and stress-free off-road adventures.