Honda Recalls Off-Road Motorcycles With Broken Drive Chain for Crash Risk

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Honda builds some inspiring motorcycles, ranging from smooth-driving machines to thrilling off-roaders. These cycles can reach breathtakingly fast speeds. However, one Honda model has a serious problem. The automaker recently issued a recall of certain off-road motorcycles. Which ones are affected, and what is the problem?

Which Honda motorcycles are affected? 

The recall, which Honda issued on April 29, affects approximately 536 units. The affected motorcycles are red and have the model number CRF450R, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports. Honda asks that owners check their bikes to see if they meet the requirements of the repair. 

If you have a Honda CRF450R, you’ll find the model number printed on a label on both sides of the bike. Then check the vehicle identification number. To find the VIN, locate the head tube frame, which is behind the suspension fork. You’ll find the number on a label there.  

According to Nasdaq, if the first six digits of your VIN fall between 400223 and 401056, your cycle is at risk for a serious issue that could harm you or someone else nearby. Honda Powersports dealerships nationwide sold these cycles from August 2020 to March 2021 for about $9,600 each. 

What’s the problem with these models?

It appears that while a rider is operating one of the affected motorcycles, the drive chain could break without warning. If that happens, the bike would immediately lose the driving force that propels it. 

The drive chain connects the rear wheel to the transmission. Therefore, if the chain breaks, you could lose control and crash. It increases not only your risk of serious injury but also others around you if the problem occurs at higher speeds. 

Honda learned of the problem through two owner reports. The owners said the drive chain broke while they were riding their motorcycles. However, no one sustained injured in those incidents. 

What you should do if your Honda motorcycle is under this recall

Honda will contact registered owners to let them know of the repair. If you think you own one of the affected models and haven’t heard anything from the automaker, you can check with the dealership that sold you the bike. 

Honda Manufacturing requests that you contact an authorized Powersports dealer to set up an appointment to fix your motorcycle as soon as possible. Honda also recommends you don’t ride it until the repair is complete. 

To find out more information about the recall or check if your model is under recall, call American Honda toll-free at 866-784-1870 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time Monday through Friday. 

The dealership will make the drive chain repair free of charge if your motorcycle is part of the recall. Though you could repair your own chain, it’s best to have a professional handle this one, especially because it won’t cost you anything. 

RELATED: 7 Most Common Motorcycle Problems (And What to Do About Them)

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9 2021 Luxury Cars With Advanced Safety Systems

by Gabrielle DeSantis

If you’re shopping for a new luxury car, chances are you don’t want to sacrifice safety for style. Which safety features matter? All of them. Consumer Reports named nine luxury cars with advanced safety systems.

2021 Toyota Motor Corp. Mirai | Noriko Hayashi/Bloomberg via Getty Images

What are the advanced safety systems I should care about?

A beige 2021 Volvo S60 and a white Volvo S60 on a showroom floor.
Two Volvo S60 sedans | Liu Jianhua/VCG via Getty Images

Consumer Reports does a nice job of collecting their own test data and combining it with that of the IIHS and NHTSA. They recommend forward collision warning, which detects a potential collision and alerts the driver. Automatic emergency braking, city automatic braking and high-speed automatic emergency braking advanced safety systems that will keep you and your passengers safer. All of the luxury sedans listed come with pedestrian detection, which warns drivers about pedestrians in the path of the car. 

Adaptive cruise control helps drivers maintain a safe distance between their vehicle and the one in front of them. Lane departure warning, lane keeping assistance and lane centering assistance all do what their names suggest: keep drivers from ending up in other lanes (or off the road entirely).  

Another advanced safety system that is nice to have is blind spot warning, which alerts a driver when there’s a car in their blind spot.  Although rear cameras are required on new vehicles, rear cross traffic warning and rear automatic emergency braking can make your car even safer by decreasing the chances that a vehicle will reverse into a pedestrian. 

So what are the 9 luxury 2021 cars with advanced safety features?

Plenty of luxury sedans have great safety features, and have many of the above listed advanced safety systems optional. Still, these nine luxury 2021 cars make all of the advanced safety systems standard.

2021 Jaguar XF 

The 2021 Jaguar XF is a sleek, spacious sedan with plenty of trunk space. While there used to be 3-liter V6 available, it’s been discontinued. Now the Jaguar XF only comes with a 2-liter four cylinder.

2021 Lexus IS

RELATED: Consumer Reports 5 Best Cars of 2021 under $35k

The 2021 Lexus IS is a luxury sporty sedan. Consumer Reports found that the Lexus IS didn’t handle as well as the name might suggest. You can get a rear wheel drive Lexus IS with 241 hp and four cylinders or a V6 with 260 hp. Either way, you get all the advanced safety systems.

2021 Lexus LS 

The 2021 Lexus LS can come as a rear wheel or all wheel drive. The standard engine in the Lexus LS is a 3.5-liter V6 with 416 hp. There’s also an available hybrid option. Although it comes with all of the advanced safety systems Consumer Reports recommends, it doesn’t get a great owner satisfaction score. 

2021 Lucid Air 

The 2021 Lucid Air is a brand new electric sedan. The base Lucid Air has 480 hp with a range of 418 miles. It can charge enough for 300 miles in just 20 minutes, and comes with all of the standard safety systems. 

2021 Maserati Quattroporte 

Is the 2021 Maserati Quattroporte expensive? Of course it is. It has a 3-liter twin-turbo V6 with 424 hp. It’s a luxurious large sedan that handles well but isn’t quite as nice as its Mercedes or Lexus counterparts.

2021 Mercedes-Benz S-class

What does the Mercedes-Benz S-class have to offer besides an advanced safety system? Well, it has an updated “Hey, Mercedes” system and a second-generation MBUX infotainment system for starters. The Mercedes S-class also has high-quality wood interior finishes and seat massagers. 

2021 Toyota Mirai luxury sedan

The 2021 Toyota Mirai is a redesigned electric sedan with a range of 402 miles. It also comes with a host of advanced safety features. It’s based on the rear wheel drive Lexus platform. Sounds great, right? Currently the 2021 Toyota Mirai is only for sale in California. 

2021 Volvo S60 and 2021 Volvo S90

Both the Volvo S60 and Volvo S90s are luxury sedans that live up to the Volvo safety reputation, coming with all of the standard safety systems. Both come only with four cylinders and there are hybrid versions of each. The S60 scored better in Consumer Reports testing, getting a 75 to the S90’s 50.

All of these cars make safety a priority

When safety is your primary concern, you can’t go wrong with any of these luxury sedans that combine a touch of lavishness and safety.

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Top 3 Brand-New Truck Deals for Memorial Day 2021

by Gabrielle DeSantis

If you’ve been waiting to pull the trigger on a brand-new truck, you won’t find any screaming deals this Memorial Day weekend. This is largely due to the current ongoing microchip shortage that has severely affected the supply of new trucks. Regardless, some carmakers have decided to participate in the holiday, offering some fairly compelling deals.

To help you navigate this, we’ll be covering a new report by CarsDirect, looking at the best deals available for brand-new trucks. As always, please make sure to check with your local dealerships as they might be running even deeper discounts.

2021 Jeep Gladiator: 0 percent APR + $2,000 cash

2021 Jeep® Gladiator Rubicon | Jeep

Starting off this list of Memorial Day deals is the 2021 Jeep Gladiator. According to CarSalesBase, Gladiator sales have remained fairly strong despite the microchip shortage and global pandemic. As a result, there’s no reason to expect massive discounts for the model. However, buyers in California can benefit from an ongoing 0 percent APR deal for 36 months. If you opt for the Mojave or Rubicon trim levels, you can get an additional Memorial Day bonus of $2,000.

If you don’t live in California, there is still a national $750 rebate on offer. Additionally, Edmunds reports that you can get an additional $500 off if you’re in the military or $500 if you’re a first responder. The best part of these discounts is that they are not area or trim-level specific.

As mentioned in the intro, you’ll want to check with your local Jeep dealership to see if there are any better Memorial Day deals. However, if you’re able to stack some of these discounts, you can save big time.

2021 Ford Ranger: $5,000 trade-in credit

A blue 2020 Ford Ranger parked on a sun-dappled road in a forest
2020 Ford Ranger | Ford Motor Company

RELATED: The 2021 Ford F-150 Super Crew Cuts Cost by Giving You Less

Next up in this list of best Memorial Day deals for new trucks is the 2021 Ford Ranger. Just like with the Gladiator, you’ll find a wide variety of deals across various states. However, CarsDirect reports that the best exists for buyers in Denver, where the carmaker offers up to $5,000 off MSRP. However, as you might expect, there’s a slight catch. To get this massive discount, you’ll have to trade in a vehicle toward your new truck.

Additionally, this offer only applies to trucks that have been in stock for more than 60 days. If we had to guess, this is likely a move to sell some of the cheaper entry-level models that don’t move quite as quickly as ones with all of the bells and whistles. Regardless, if you’re relatively close to Denver, now is the time to buy.

2021 GMC Sierra 1500: 0 percent APR for 72 months

An image of a 2021 GMC Sierra parked outside.
2021 GMC Sierra | GMC

Rounding up this list of trucks with the best Memorial Day sales is the 2021 GMC Sierra 1500. According to CarsDirect, you won’t get any massive cash rebates for this truck. However, you can get an interest-free financing deal for 72 months. The best part of this specific deal is that you don’t have to live in a particular place to take advantage of it. Instead, this deal is available on a national level, says CarsDirect. Since other full-size trucks can’t match this deal, the Sierra seems like the full-size truck to buy.

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Avoid Chip Shortage Anxiety and Get a Used Toyota Highlander for Under $20,000

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The chip shortage has caused some major issues within the automobile industry, but fortunately, many cars aren’t affected. So, rather than buying a brand-new car that may be suffering from the chip shortage, customers would be wise to consider buying used. Here’s a look at some great Toyota Highlander models which will cost under $20,000.

Toyota dominates the affordable used car market

The 2020 Toyota Highlander | Xinhua/Wang Ying via Getty Images

For folks who may want a new car but have been scared off by the chip shortage, Toyota is probably the best bet as far as used cars go. Toyota models have a reputation for being safe, reliable, and overall great workhorses that won’t break the bank. It’s no surprise that when Consumer Reports listed the best used cars that are under $20,000, Toyota dominated the list. 

Not only did many of Toyota’s sedans make the list, but so did Toyota’s SUVs, including the Highlander. Consumer Reports recommended two model years of the Toyota Highlander, and they were recommended for the same reasons that the other Toyotas were recommended. Not only do they cost less than the $20,000 limit, but they’s just great cars in general. 

Since they are used cars though, they’re generally not going to come with all the gadgets and gizmos that a brand-new Highlander may come with. That being said, ironically, all those features and accessories are how automakers got into this chip shortage mess, to begin with.

Regardless, here’s a look at the 2013 and 2014 Highlanders, both of which are affordable used options for anyone who wants a great SUV right now. 

The 2013 Toyota Highlander

While the 2013 and 2014 Highlanders were a year apart, there are actually significant differences between them. That’s because, like Consumer Reports said, the 2014 Toyota Highlander was the first model year of a new generation of the Highlander, which makes the 2013 Highlander the last model year of the prior generation.

In any case, the 2013 Highlander is still a very good used SUV, as it costs between $14,000 and $18,000. The standard engine, which is a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine that gets about 185 hp, is decent enough; however, the V6 models are going to be more fun to drive. Regardless, Consumer Reports said that the 2013 Highlander should also have a pretty quiet and comfortable ride. 

However, while the second-row seats are comfortable, the third-row seats are less comfortable, according to Consumer Reports. And of course, since it’s a car from 2013, it’s not going to have many smart features. Regardless, it’s still a safe and reliable car, just like any other Toyota ought to be.

The 2014 Toyota Highlander

A used 2014 Toyota Highlander will start at about $17,000, though certain trims may cost up to $23,000. Regardless, the 2014 Highlander makes a lot of improvements on the 2013 Highlander, and despite having very similar engine options, the 2014 Highlander is slightly more fuel-efficient. Overall, the 2014 Highlander gets about 20 MPG combined, which is a 2 MPG improvement over the 2013 Highlander.

On top of that, Consumer Reports said that the 2014 Highlander handles better than before, and its third-row seats are also more spacious now. That said, while Toyota did improve the electronics on the 2014 Highlander, it still doesn’t come with that many smart features which are standard today. They were offered as options, but the standard 2014 Highlander came with not much high-tech equipment. 

This redesign wasn’t perfect however, and the 2014 Highlander did get worse in a few areas. For example, Consumer Reports said that the 2014 Highlander didn’t have as quiet or as comfortable of a ride as the prior model years did. 

Either of these used Toyota Highlander options is a great choice for you to still get a good vehicle despite all that’s going on with the chip shortage.

RELATED: Toyota Has 5 of the 10 Best-Selling Models of 2021 so Far

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