Kia Motors has announced that it will be recalling 145,755 Optima sedans and Rondo crossovers in the United States due to potentially faulty driver airbags. The model years that are affected are 2006-2008 Optimas and 2007-2008 Rondos. According to Kia, the recall is expected to begin in March and if your vehicle is affected by this problem your airbag light will be illuminated. The clock-spring assembly used in the airbag system can become damaged over time and prevent the airbag from deploying. If you have an Optima or Rondo with the model years listed above and your airbag light is on, keep your ears open in the months to come.

I have noticed in recent months that there is often an uncertainty with customers about how the auto shipping process works with a broker. I would like to take a moment today and explain the process. Typically your auto shipment starts with simply requesting a quote either on a website via a quote form or by calling an auto transport company to speak with them directly. You will receive an estimated price based on the size of your vehicle, the mileage between the origin and destination, and the going rate in the market at that given time. Once you decide on an auto transport company you will need to place an actual order. The associate you speak with will take more detailed information such as information about your individual vehicle, your pickup and destination street addresses, the areas surrounding these addresses, and any payment information required. On average, it takes about 1-7 days from your ready date, the first day the vehicle is available to be picked up, for your vehicle to be dispatched to a carrier. Once your vehicle has been dispatched, it will depend on how close the truck is to your vehicle in their route. They may want to pick it up the same day or it could be a few days until they are in your area. When the truck arrives to load your vehicle, the driver should request that you participate in a brief inspection of the vehicle. Once this is finished, the driver will load the vehicle and transport it to the destination location. Upon arriving the vehicle will be unloaded and another inspection should be preformed. If there are any payment arrangements that have been made for cash on delivery, this is time that transaction would take place. As you can see the process is relatively easy and is really aimed at providing convenience to customers.

Rarely do I read an article about a new car and walk away from it with a feeling of hope and inspiration towards the world. This exact thing happened when I read this article: http://bottomline.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/12/10119683-new-rock-solid-ride-for-wheelchair-bound-drivers In short, the Vehicle Production Group has created a vehicle that is made specifically for handicapped drivers. There are currently no other vehicles like this on the market, as of right now you must modify a vehicle to include a wheelchair ramp. This can weaken the structure of existing vehicles which can be detrimental in the event of an accident. This is the first vehicle to be built specifically for wheelchair drivers. The car has the look of an extended Honda Element, safety and accessibility, the option to run on natural gas, and is made in America…what more could you ask for? I commend the Vehicle Production Group for taking on a challenge that automakers have ignored for so many years. While a lot of us might not think about wheelchair accessibility when shopping for a new car, take a moment to imagine if that was your top priority. Now imagine that there are no automakers that make the vehicle you are looking for. This is a situation that many of your fellow Americans have faced over the years. Take a moment to read the article listed above, it is an interesting read and will hopefully inspire you just as it did me.

Every year we look forward to the Detroit Auto Show to see the new, extravagant, and interesting vehicles the automakers have come up with this year. Each year Autoweek magazine awards the Best in Show award to one lucky vehicle. This year the award went to a surprising winner, the Ford Fusion. This vehicle was chosen because of its attainability, functionality, and design.

Do you think the 2013 Ford Fusion was worthy of the award? Check it out here: www.motortrend.com/photo_gallery/sedans/1201_2013_ford_fusion_photo_gallery/photo_01.html#photo

Do you use the CD player in your car? According to a recent survey of potential Sonic and Spark customers, consumers would rather have a lower price tag than a CD player in their vehicle. Do you find this statement to be true as well? With the development of smartphones in recent years, there has been an increase in the number of consumers that strictly use their phones for entertainment. As technology progresses it will continue to become cheaper and cheaper to enable the linking of phones and vehicles. Are you sad to see the CD player go? Check out this article for more information: http://bottomline.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/10/10096404-automakers-shedding-cd-players

We recently blogged about the hazards of winter driving and the unfortunate possibility of becoming stranded in the snow. Since that blog post I have stumbled across an app that could possibly mean the difference between life and death in these situations. Being marketed under the name Winter Survival Kit, the app serves to provide information about how motorists can prepare for a winter emergency as well as act as a beacon if the motorist becomes stuck in the snow. When a driver is stranded in a snowstorm they can simply press the “I’m Stranded” button, the app will call 911 and notify them of the motorist’s location. It will also keep track of how long the gas should last in the car and provide safety tips. Winter Survival Kit is available for iPhone and Android smartphones. Whether you drive for personal or commercial reasons, this app is definitely something that I would suggest looking into.  You can find more information about the app at: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/winter-survival-kit/id482127435?mt=8

Did you know that the Cadillac Escalade is the most stolen vehicle in the United States? This is most likely because of the car’s value and status associated with the Escalade symbol. 10 out of every 1,000 Escalades on the road today according to data recently released from the Highway Loss Data Institute. Disheartened by this news? Don’t worry if you are planning to buy an Escalade in 2012, Cadillac is substantially increasing the security measures this year. These increases include a shock sensor to alarm if the vehicle’s glass is broken, a more robust steering column, and a new wheel lock system.

To see a more detailed list about these improvements check out the following site: http://www.freep.com/article/20111230/BUSINESS01/112300326/1205/business01/Escalade-security-features-beefed-up