1990 Jeep Cherokee Limited Sport Utility 4-door 4.0l on 2040-cars

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GMC boss wants a Jeep Wrangler rival

Challengers come and challengers go, but the Jeep Wrangler continues to push forward even after vehicles like the Toyota FJ Cruiser and the entire Hummer brand have been shut down. Now GMC reportedly wants to take a stab at the quintessential Jeep, as well.
The news comes directly from Buick-GMC vice president Duncan Aldred, speaking with our compatriots over at Edmunds. Although Aldred said there are no plans currently on the table to expand GMC's lineup beyond the current range, "there is plenty of room everywhere in the hierarchy."
That could include a rival to the Wrangler, as well as a flagship luxury SUV positioned above the current Yukon Denali (pictured above). Just when (or for that matter, if) such models might come into fruition remains a big question mark, but it's certainly interesting to see what GM's dedicated truck brand has on the drawing board.

164K Jeep Cherokees recalled to protect liftgate from moisture

FCA is recalling 164,003 examples of the 2014 and 2015 Jeep Cherokee because moisture can damage the power liftgate controls on models that are equipped with that feature. Regionally, this includes 99,436 of them in the US, 13,195 in Canada, 2,406 in Mexico, and 48,966 outside of NAFTA. The problem came to light after the automaker started investigating a fire in one of the SUVs. There were no injuries, though. According to FCA US' research, the power hatch's control module potentially can be exposed to water. This can cause a short circuit and possibly a fire, as in this case. Until the issue is repaired, the company is advising owners to keep the cargo area dry on Cherokees equipped with this feature. To fix things, dealers will install a shield around the controls to protect them from moisture and will replace any modules showing exposure to water. Statement: Water-Shield Installation June 24, 2015 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - FCA US LLC is voluntarily recalling an estimated 99,436 SUVs in the U.S. to install shields that protect their power liftgate control modules, and related components, from moisture. FCA US LLC began an investigation after learning of a reported vehicle fire. The probe revealed power liftgate control modules in certain SUVs may be inadvertently exposed to water. This may cause a short-circuit, creating a fire hazard. However, the Company is unaware of any related injuries or accidents. The campaign affects model year 2014 and 2015 Jeep Cherokee SUVs, but is limited to vehicles equipped with power liftgates. An estimated 13,195 customers are affected in Canada, along with an estimated 2,406 customers in Mexico and 48,966 outside the NAFTA region. The estimated total recall population is 164,003. All affected customers will be advised when they may schedule service. If the modules show signs of water exposure, they will be replaced. All recall-related work will be performed free of charge. In the interim, the cargo areas of 2014-15 Cherokees equipped with power liftgates should be monitored and kept dry. Customers with questions may call the FCA US Customer Information Center at 1-800-853-1403.

BMW tops Consumer Reports 2023 Brand Report Card

Feels like we wrote about Consumer Reports' 2022 Brand Report Car and 10 Top Picks a few weeks ago, but it was last April. So the mag is back with a ranked roster of 32 brands and 10 vehicles in four categories for your debating pleasure. Starting with the brands, last year's top three were Subaru, Mazda and BMW. This year, the Munich crew climbed two spots to win the prize thanks to "Superb road test scores and solid results in CR’s reliability and owner satisfaction surveys." Subaru narrowly fell to second, maintaining its four-year run in the top three. Mini, eighth last year, jumped five spots to get the last step on the podium. The rest of the top 10 were Lexus (up one spot from last year), Honda (down one spot from last year), Toyota (up three), Genesis (up 12), Mazda (down six), Audi (down three) and Kia (up eight). The magazine and testing outfit says its Brand Report Card "[reveals] which automakers are producing the most well-performing, safe, and reliable vehicles based on CRÂ’s independent testing and member surveys," and that "Brands that rise to the top tend to have the most consistent performance across their model lineups." Last year's top 10 had six automakers from Japan, three from Germany (giving Mini credit for England), none from the U.S. or South Korea, and five luxury brands. This year's list counts five makes from Japan, two from Germany because Porsche fell out of the top ten, two from South Korea, still none from the U.S., and four luxury brands. Buick again ranked as the best domestic, dropping to 12th after being 11th last year. The big mover was Lincoln, its 10-place jump up to 16th attributed to better reliability from the Corsair and Nautilus. Tesla's improved overall reliability saw it climb six spots to 17th. Dodge climbed one spot to 15th. Jeep got out of the penalty box in last to come second-to-last. Land Rover fell three places into the penalty spot.  CR's top 10 vehicle models The 10 Top Picks list is practically a new list. Only two holdovers made it to 2023, those being the Subaru Forester and Kia Telluride.