Recall Alert: 2 Problems Leave Airstream RVs at Risk for Fire and Crashes

by Gabrielle DeSantis

RVs have become wildly popular ways for Americans to head outdoors without dealing with tents and sleeping on the ground. And the RV industry offers many options for people who want to vacation this way. One common camper brand is Airstream, famous for its iconic “silver bullet” travel trailers. However, 368 Airstream models with serious safety issues have prompted two recent recalls. Which models are affected, and what’s the problem?

The Airstream Interstate 19 is a small luxury RV

The 2021 Airstream Interstate 19 is an interesting RV because it doesn’t exactly look like an RV. That’s because this camper is built into the chassis of a Mercedes Benz Sprinter, with a small footprint that blends in on the highway. It’s a rear-wheel-drive vehicle with a diesel engine, and the interior includes a bathroom with a shower, seats that fold into beds, an awning, and a small kitchen area that even has its own microwave.

The design can also be customized, and it features the driving technology for which Mercedes-Benz is known. You can even add four-wheel drive if you choose, and you can convert the cockpit into an extra sleeping space. The Interstate 19 represents many remarkable technological developments between when Airstream began making campers and now.

These new models have serious safety issues

Unfortunately, the efforts to make a technologically advanced RV did not prevent some models from being released with defects that can endanger drivers and others on the road. Last month, the Detroit Free Press reported car recalls, including the 2020 and 2021 Airstream Interstate 19.

The first recall involves the radio system and affects 180 Interstate 19 units. Some of the wires are too small, greatly increasing the risk of a fire.

The second safety recall concerns 188 2020 and 2021 Airstream Interstate models. The weight limit label on these models might be incorrect, potentially leading users to overload the vehicle. This increases the risk of a crash.

Airstream is offering repairs free of charge

The recall officially began on June 20, so owners should have received or will soon receive notices from Airstream. If not, owners of 2020 or 2021 Airstream Interstate 19 models may contact the company at one of two phone numbers: 877-596-6505 (ext. 7401) or 937-596-6111 (ext. 7411). If an owner has an Interstate 19 with an incorrect weight limit label, the company will replace the label free of charge. And if the vehicle has the radio wire defect, the dealership will replace the vehicle’s circuit breaker, also free of charge.

It’s scary to think that any vehicle, especially one you use for leisure, could have a dangerous defect. Fortunately, however, dealerships can easily fix these errors for free. Anybody with a 2020 or 2021 Interstate 19 should check with the company to see if their vehicle needs one of these fixes. After all, road safety involves more than the driver and passengers — it’s about everyone else on the road.

RELATED: Never Do This While Driving Your RV

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5 Best Car Detailing Kits in 2021

by Gabrielle DeSantis

A car detailing kit is the perfect way to clean your vehicle at home and save money on professional detailing. In addition to exterior paint cleaners and waxes, some detailing kits also include products for wheels, glass, plastics, and the interior. The best even include applicators and towels. Including detailing as part of your regular maintenance will help extend your car’s life, protect its value, and make it look great.

Here are five of the best car detailing kits you can buy, three for under $45 and two for over $100.

Armor All Premier Car Care Kit

The Armor All Premier Car Care Kit comes from a highly trusted automotive brand. This kit includes eight products for cleaning and detailing the exterior and the interior of your vehicle. It provides a wash and wax, multipurpose cleaning spray, wheel and tire cleaner, tire shine, protectant spray, glass cleaner, an air freshener pump spray, and a wash pad. But you don’t get microfiber towels with this set. It costs $34.97.

Turtle Wax Quick & Easy Complete Car Kit

The Turtle Wax Quick & Easy Complete Car Kit helps you clean your car inside and out. This basic set includes four sprays and two microfiber towels. The four sprays are an exterior detailer, a wash and wax, a spray wax, and an interior detailer for the dashboard and glass. The kit costs $37.20.

Duragloss Car Care Kit

The Duragloss Car Care Kit includes just what’s needed for detailing your car. It has a car wash, a surface polish, a detailing spray, a vinyl and leather cleaner, and a wheel cleaner. It also includes an applicator and a bucket, although you’ll need to purchase microfiber towels separately. This kit sells for $42.11.

Stoner Complete Car Care and Detailing Kit

The Stoner Complete Car Care and Detailing Kit offers 12 cleaning products that work together to create a comprehensive detailing package, AutoWise reports. The kit includes upholstery and carpet cleaner, an air duster, trim cleaner, vinyl and plastic cleaner, citrus cleaner and remover, glass cleaner, tar and sap remover, a trim shine, tire coating, rain repellent wax, and a quick wax. It also comes with towels and sponges. This kit retails for $150.

Adam’s Essentials Car Detailing Kit

The Adam’s Essentials Car Detailing Kit provides the tools for a five-step detailing process. First, wash and dry the car. Second, clean the car’s exterior finishes. Third, polish the paint and exterior surfaces. Fourth, wax the paint, exterior, and clear-coat. And last, clean the tires, wheels, and rims. Cleaners include a detail spray, an interior detailer, car shampoo, an all-purpose cleaner, wheel cleaner, and clay bars. You’ll also get multiple applicators, brushes, towels, and a bucket with a grit guard. This all-in-one kit costs $179.98.

Even the more expensive car detailing kits will save you money over going to a professional detailer. After using a little elbow grease, you can enjoy a showroom-clean vehicle.

RELATED: Do You Need to Warm Up Your Car Before Driving It?

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The 2021 Ford Escape Just Challenged the Jeep Cherokee

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Wow, the competition among SUVs is getting wild. The 2021 Ford Escape just challenged the 2021 Jeep Cherokee with a head-to-head comparison. Ford Motor Company recommends shopping for a Ford Escape if you’re interested in the Cherokee, so let’s see how they compare. 

The 2021 Ford Escape vs. the 2021 Jeep Cherokee 

Ford released a video on YouTube that compares the 2021 Ford Escape and 2021 Jeep Cherokee in a head-to-head competition. They must feel pretty confident about the Escape if they’re using it to challenge the Cherokee. 

The video promotes the Ford Escape for having the highest brand loyalty, more legroom in the second row, more cargo space, impressive horsepower, towing capabilities, parallel parking assist, a motion-activated liftgate, intelligent all-wheel drive with five modes, pre-collision assist, and automatic braking. 

But let’s see how they really compare. The Ford Escape begins at about $25,555, and the Jeep Cherokee starts at around $27,210. The Escape gets an EPA-estimated 28 mpg in the city and up to 34 mpg on the highway. The Cherokee gets an EPA-estimated 23 mpg in the city and up to 31 mpg on the highway. So the Escape has a lower price and better fuel economy. 

Does the Escape or Cherokee have more power? 

2021 Ford Escape Hybrid | Ford

The base engine in the 2021 Jeep Cherokee is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder option with 180 hp and 173 lb-ft of torque. The 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine provides 270 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. You can also upgrade to the 3.2-liter V6 for 271 hp and 239 lb-ft of torque. When properly equipped, the Cherokee can tow up to 4,500 lbs. 

The base engine in the 2021 Ford Escape is a 1.5-liter three-cylinder option with 180 hp and 190 lb-ft of torque. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine pumps out 198 hp and 153 lb-ft of torque. It’s the hybrid option with an even better fuel economy. You can upgrade to the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine for 250 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque. When properly equipped, the Escape can tow up to 3,500 lbs. 

Off-roading is where the Jeep Cherokee shines with a high ground clearance, intelligent 4×4, skid plates, high air in intakes for water fording, a traction management system, tow hooks, and more. But the Escape is still well equipped to get you to your campsite and can traverse inclement weather situations. 

The Escape easily zooms through traffic on the road, but the transmission can be jerky, and the handling is a little loose. The Cherokee has responsive steering and a sporty nature with smooth braking. 

Does the Cherokee or Escape have better features? 

A dark 2021 Jeep Cherokee parked in a grassy field
2021 Jeep Cherokee | Jeep

The 2021 Ford Escape provides a smooth and quiet ride. The 2021 Jeep Cherokee might be a little bumpier and has an average amount of wind and road noise. Also, the Cherokee’s climate control system is a little stronger. 

There are 34.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats of the Escape with up to 65.4 cubes. The Cherokee provides 25.8 cubic feet behind the second row with up to 54.7 cubic feet of cargo space. 

The base model of the Escape comes with a 4.2-inch radio, but you can upgrade to a larger 8.0-inch touchscreen. The Cherokee has a standard 7-inch screen that can be upgraded to an 8.4-inch screen. Both SUVs come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 

Both options come with standard forward-collision warning, automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. But the Escape received higher safety ratings. 

The Escape serves as an affordable daily driver, but the Cherokee has a little more muscle and a taller ride height. The Escape also provides more space while the Cherokee has better tech reviews. You may want to test drive them both!

RELATED: Never Buy A Used Mazda Tribute Instead of a Ford Escape

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Mercedes-Benz Recalls 342,000 SUVs and Cars for Backup Camera Failure

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Mercedes-Benz is known for high-performance luxury cars and SUVs. Its A-Class ranks as one of the best cars, and the GLE-Class boasts praise as one of the safest luxury SUVs. But that doesn’t mean Mercedes-Benz vehicles are immune to problems. In fact, the German automaker recalled over 12,000 models earlier this year due to an issue with the front seat.

However, that’s a small recall compared to the latest one, involving 342,000 SUVs and cars due to problems with their backup cameras.

What’s wrong with Mercedes-Benz backup cameras?

The problem stems from a software glitch that prevents the backup camera‘s feed from displaying on the infotainment screen or causes the system to reboot. It leaves drivers with a blank screen while reversing, The Car Connection reports. This is a fairly significant problem because it not only increases the risk of crash or injury but also means these vehicles aren’t in compliance with federal safety standards.

Mercedes-Benz is not the only automaker that has issued recalls for problems with backup cameras. BMW, Ford, and Honda have all announced recalls for similar issues. In fact, since 2019, automakers have recalled over 3 million vehicles due to backup camera problems.

Which Mercedes-Benz models are affected, and how will the automaker fix the glitch?

The recall affects multiple 2019 to 2021 Mercedes-Benz models. According to Consumer Reports, they’re the A-Class, AMG GT 4-Door Coupe, CLA Class, CLS Class, GLA Class, GLB Class, GLC Class, GLE Class, GLS Class, and E-Class sedan, coupe, and convertible.

However, the good news is that the software glitch can be fixed relatively easily. If you have a Mercedes and Me subscription, you don’t even have to go to a dealership. Instead, you can get the software update through an over-the-air update. Owners without a subscription must take their affected vehicles to a Mercedes-Benz dealership for the update.

When will the recall begin, and should you contact the automaker and/or the NHTSA?

Mercedes-Benz will begin officially notifying owners on July 13. This doesn’t mean you have to wait until then to get your vehicle fixed. You can call Mercedes-Benz customer service toll-free at 800-367-6373 if your vehicle is one of the affected models. You can also go to the NHTSA‘s website and enter your VIN to see if your vehicle has any active recalls.

Backup cameras have become standard safety features on even the most basic new cars. They have drastically improved safety when backing up, lowering crashes, injuries, and deaths. In fact, cars made since May 1, 2018, are mandated by the U.S. government to have a working backup camera. And don’t worry if your car was made before then and doesn’t have a backup camera — you can add one, and the cost is fairly cheap. 

If you own one of the affected Mercedes-Benz models — and chances are you do because the recall encompasses over 70 percent of the brand’s lineup since 2019 — you should get the software update right away. Though a non-working backup camera isn’t ideal and can actually be quite dangerous, the fix is relatively easy.

RELATED: Can I Use a Backup Camera During a Driving Test?

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