Safety

AEB is a system that makes your car a better, safer driver than you, basically, which is why it's a shame it's not standard fitment on every new vehicle sold.

The updated Jeep Cherokee has scored the dubious honour of being recalled on the day of its official launch in Australia.This is arguably the first time ever that a new vehicle has been recalled on the day it was released.An advisory notice issued via the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) says that the updated Cherokee's braking system may have been contaminated with air pockets during the manufacturing process, potentially leading to "a vehicle crash without prior warning".The chrome finishing on the rear brake caliper pistons has been identified as the culprit, with air bubbles introduced into the sealed system potentially affecting pedal feel.A Jeep Australia spokesperson told CarsGuide that a brake fluid flush and system bleed will return the cars to full health, and that all cars currently on the ground in Australia will be rectified before going on sale.An initial shipment of 178 Cherokees are the only ones affected by the current notice. Vehicles from that batch were registered for internal purposes, which then triggered the recall process.The Cherokee goes on sale in October.Somewhat ironically, Fiat Chrysler Australia officials were defending Jeep's reputation against its history of local recalls during a press conference at the Cherokee's launch yesterday, without making mention of the issue hanging over the Cherokee.FCA Australia's managing director Steve Zanlunghi said that recalls are not ideal.  "But at the same time, customer safety is our focus, so if there is a doubt we recall the vehicle," he told journalists, without making reference to the Cherokee.Jeep's head of brand Guillaume Drelon also affirmed the brand's stance on safety. "I think it's a key focus making sure that in any circumstances our vehicle would be safe," he said."Some of the recalls would just be updates. It's called a recall, but it's like what you would do on your phone; you are updating your apps every day."There are obviously things linked to product safety, and we cannot joke with that – that needs to be done."Mr Drelan pointed out that recalls are an industry-wide issue. "It's not only Jeep; all the OEMs (vehicle brands) are the same way," he said. "If it is something serious we need to take care of it."But some of those recalls can be just updates and that's happening all the time."Mr Zanlunghi agreed. "One recall was for a label on a strap, another last week was for two (vehicles) – which we take seriously," he said."There are people out there that just keep count of the overall number , but if you look at the overall number of units recalled, it's a little different."There have been 15 recalls issued for Jeep products in 2018, with only four issued in 2017. A total of 20 were issued in 2016, which was the highest in the company's local history.The KL Cherokee was launched in 2014, and a facelifted version was revealed in the United States late in 2017. CarsGuide will have a review on the 2019 Cherokee up on Friday morning.

Toyota's recently-released 12th-generation Corolla small car has been awarded a full Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) five-star safety rating.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has issued its latest round of safety recalls, with German-brand models from Audi, Mercedes and Volkswagen called back alongside Jeep, Ford and Fiat vehicles.Audi has issued a notice for 14,435 examples of its A4, A5, A5 Cabriolet and Q5 models built between April 2011 and May 2015 for a potential problem with the auxiliary heater element in the air conditioner, which may overheat, leading to smoulder damage or a fire.Mercedes-Benz has also initiated a recall for a potential fire risk, concerning five C- and E-Class luxury sedans.According to the notice, the left cut-out for the exhaust systems on the aforementioned models may be missing due to incorrectly installed paneling, which in high-temperature conditions could cause a fire.A total of 15,264 examples of the previous-generation model year 2017 and 2018 Volkswagen Polo light car has been called back due to improper welds on the towing eye.The risk here is that the towing eye could tear, forcing the towrope to sling back and cause injury to bystanders or damage to a vehicle.Fiat Chrysler Australia (FCA) also joins the list of companies to call back some of its cars in August, this time for two 2018 Jeep KL Cherokee and 1847 2015-2018 Fiat 500X units.The notice for the Cherokee details an issue with the halfshaft assembly, which could lead to a loss of power or the inability to park the vehicle.Meanwhile, the affected Fiat 500X small SUVs may be subject to faulty rear seat latches, which could cause the rear seats to unintentionally fold forward in the event of an accident.Importantly, child restraints using the ISOFIX anchors could be impacted by this issue, potentially causing increased risk of injury to children.Ford's Australian wing has called back 49 examples of the EcoSport small SUV built between May and June of 2017.Those affected vehicles may be fitted with poorly-welded front lower control arms, which in the event of a failure, could cause the front wheel assemble to hit the inner guards leading to a front wheel lock-up and reduced steering control.Owners of the recalled vehicles will be contacted by their respective manufacturer, at which point they can arrange to have the issue fixed, free-of-charge.For those looking for more information – or to check if their vehicle is affected – can go to the ACCC's product safety website.

The Wrangler is set to add five-star safety to it's seemingly endless arsenal of capabilities when the all-new JL model launches in Australia in Q1 2019.   Speaking with CarsGuide at the international launch of the new Wrangler in the USA this week, FCA Australia and Jeep Asia Pacific boss Steve Zanlunghi confirmed AEB will come standard on all versions. New 2.2-litre four cylinder and 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesels are planned internationally, although Australia is expected to only see the 2.2-litre, in addition to a revised version of the existing 3.6-litre petrol V6. Both will be equipped with AEB.Mr Zanlunghi explained his team will be shooting for the highest safety rating available, and AEB is now a pre-requisite for scoring the maximum five-star ANCAP rating. The availabilty of AEB is no guarantee for the top rating though, with the Kia Stinger initially scoring dual three and five-star ratings when it launched because AEB was not available on all versions. This situation has not affected the Honda CR-V however, with all versions carrying a five-star rating despite only the top-spec VTi-LX coming with the auto braking tech.The current two-door, 3.6-litre JK Wrangler was given a four-star ANCAP rating when tested in 2012. 

NSW Police will be able to hand out on-the-spot fines and automatic licence disqualification for low-range DUI offences under new legislation currently being considered.

Since the advent of early, basic and, frankly, slightly annoying traction-control systems cars have become cunningly adept at keeping us on the road.

When you've saved hard, researched endlessly and finally experienced the joy of buying a new car, it can come as a painful blow to hear that your cherished vehicle is flawed.But is it really that bad? With so many cars being recalled - for faults ranging from faulty airbags that could spray shrapnel to wriggling seats - should you even be surprised if it happens to you?Essentially there are two ways of looking at it. On the one hand, you could applaud the company who made your car for being extremely honest and exceedingly careful because in most cases, while the manufacturer may have to go through the embarrassment and huge expense of recalling every single one of a particular model, the fault in question might only affect a tiny number of vehicles.Sorry, I just remembered the meat in there is off - and one of my kitchen hands spat in itBut on the other hand, if the brand you've bought from seems to be endlessly recalling its cars, far more than other makers, then you have to wonder if they know what the words "quality control" mean.Spotting a flaw in the design of your vehicle after you've already put it on sale is, after all, a bit like being at a restaurant and having the chef run out of the kitchen and swipe your meal off the table saying "sorry, I just remembered the meat in there is off - and one of my kitchen hands spat in it".Holden recently recalled some 26,000 of its Colorado utes - meaning it put out a notice ordering dealers to stop selling them and then wrote to all of the owners asking them to bring their cars in to be fixed, at no expense to them - because five people experienced what it euphemistically called "thermal incidents".The way the alternator cable had been designed meant that it could make contact with a steel bracket, which could cause the cable to rub through its insulation, melt and possibly catch fire.The safety bulletin made Holden, once again, the most recalled brand so far this year. In 2014, Holden issued a record 14 recall notices, a number equalled only by Jeep.Some recalls can be for something as minor as a dodgy windscreen wiperThe Colorado recall was Holden's fifth so far this year, while Jeep and Nissan have four each and Suzuki, Mazda, Hyundai and Honda three each, and Toyota two.So, while recalls aren't exactly uncommon, you might want to consider just how many some brands have as a marker of whether they're cooking up the right designs.Last year, Australia posted a truly mind-boggling number of recalls, with more than 800,000 cars being returned to dealers for some kind of factory-funded repair - at an incalculably large overall cost - so you really shouldn't feel put upon if it happens to you.With the number of recalls hitting such highs, is this a sign that car makers are becoming more careless or cutting corners? Not entirely. Partly, they are being more careful than ever, and more honest, because they fear legal recriminations. Thus some recalls can be for something as minor as a dodgy windscreen wiper.The other issue is that as motoring brands have become larger and more global - witness the vast size of the Volkswagen Group for example - they have sought to lower costs by outsourcing more parts and cashing in on economies of scale.So when one company is the single source for a part found in millions of cars - like the Japanese company that makes airbags for most leading brands, Takata - then a single mistake can have huge effects.A global recall effecting Takata airbags, which could potentially explode and spray shrapnel at occupants, affected more than 50 million cars from nine different brands worldwide.Tragically, the fault was linked to at least five deaths in America, which is an example of why all recalls should be taken seriously.Don't ignore it, or put it off, basically. Most recalls relate to safety and, because it's not going to cost you anything, except time and inconvenience, they are not something you should wait to get fixed. So when you get the letter, follow the instructions and make an appointment with your local dealer as soon as possible.They are not something you should wait to get fixedEven if you have a mechanic who normally does your servicing, you will need to go back to the dealer because the car company will only pay its own people to do the work, in line with its own strict conditions. But remember, the cost of a recall all falls on the company, not you, so you won't have to pay for parts or labour.If you don't get the work done, you're not just risking your safety, and that of your car's occupants, but the resale value of your car down the track.See all Carsguide.com.au recall stories here.The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission maintains officials list of Product Safety Recalls for all kinds of products, including cars, on its website.It's an interesting place to click through each brand and see how many recalls they've had, and what kind, and possibly worth having a look at before you choose a new car.

The problem with drawing up a list of the Top Five Most Annoying Behaviours of Other Drivers Who Shouldn't Even be Allowed on the Road is not knowing where to start, but where to stop.

There's something just a little bit kindergarten about the whole demerit-points thing, only without the good parts - the six-hour days, tuck-shop lunches, being allowed to wee in your pants if you feel like it, and the gold stars. The police don't give you gold stars for good driving, of course, they just take them