Volvo Achieves Highest 5-Star Safety Ratings While Stellantis Leads NHTSA Complaints in the Past Decade
Jeep owners have reported more than 1,487 complaints for each vehicle, significantly surpassing all other brands by a remarkable difference. Several automakers haven’t launched a single new model in ten years without 5-star ratings. Genesis, Polestar, Buick, and Acura also performed strongly with consistently high safety scores. Volvo and Genesis reported the fewest customer complaints among all major automotive brands. A recent study highlights the car brands that have excelled in safety ratings in the U.S. over the past ten years, providing insights into which manufacturers place a strong emphasis on ensuring their vehicles meet high safety standards—or at the very least, are capable of passing standardized evaluations. Although the outcomes appear promising, it's important to consider: how much credence should we place on these 5-star ratings regarding their performance in real-life situations? Remember, these ratings stem from controlled evaluations in optimal circumstances, not from actual crash data from real-world incidents. The study, put together by Confused, analyzed data from the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), which rates a vehicle’s safety based on crash test performance, rollover resistance, and the effectiveness of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). It identifies Volvo, Subaru, Tesla, Genesis, and Polestar as the (percentage) champions of safety tests. Every single new model released by these brands in the past decade has received a 5-star rating. That’s undeniably impressive on paper, but the reality is more complicated. To begin with, these assessments focus on particular crash situations, so achieving a top rating doesn't always ensure equivalent safety during a chaotic highway accident or on a dimly lit country road. Moreover, the quantity of models assessed is crucial—there's a notable distinction between testing three vehicles and evaluating more than 100 from one manufacturer. Volvo and Subaru: Pioneers in Automotive Innovation Leading the pack is Volvo, with 76 models achieving 5-star NCAP ratings in the past decade. Subaru comes in close behind with 72, followed by Tesla with 45. Positioned alongside these brands are Genesis and Polestar. Both of these companies are newer entrants to the market and, therefore, haven’t released as many cars. Nevertheless, each of them to be launched has received top safety marks. Other top performers in the study (especially if you take into account the number of cars versus Polestar and Genesis), include Buick, with 98.31% of its cars getting 5-star ratings, followed by Acura with 98.18%, Honda with 94.59%, Mazda at 92.73%, and BMW at 91.30%. On the other hand, four brands, namely Mini, Fiat, Smart and Suzuki, failed to deliver a single 5-star-rated vehicle during the same period. Top Car Brands with the Highest Number of 5-Star Ratings The study also reveals several intriguing trends within the industry. Notably, vehicles manufactured in 2024 boast the highest percentage of 5-star safety ratings ever recorded. This improvement follows a minor decline in average safety ratings observed in 2022, which is believed to have resulted from automakers resorting to inferior components and microchips due to widespread shortages in the sector. How Should We Handle Customer Complaints? Nonetheless, safety ratings provide just a portion of the overall picture. Complaints submitted by customers to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) give a more realistic view of how these vehicles operate in real-world situations. Volvo and Genesis excel here too, with the fewest complaints per car with an average of 47.20 complaints made to the NHTSA per car launched. Other top performers included Polestar, Lexus, Audi, Mitsubishi, Smart, Lincoln, Cadillac, and Acura. At the other end of the spectrum, Jeep owners filed an astronomical 1,487.83 complaints per car, making it the worst brand in this metric by a significant margin. Dodge, Chrysler, and Ram also fared poorly, with hundreds of complaints per car. Customer complaint data adds nuance to the conversation about safety. While a high safety rating is important, a car with persistent technical issues, build quality problems, or ineffective ADAS systems can still create dangerous situations on the road. Tesla, for instance, boasts a perfect 5-star NCAP record but racks up 391.11 complaints per car.
"Always reliable": Mechanics share their top tire brand choice. Is it Goodyear, Falken, or Yokohama?
"Honestly, the most disappointing major brand." View pictures in App save up to 80% data. Which tire brand is the top choice? With the New Year upon us, it might be the perfect time to swap out your old tires. But which brand should you opt for when making the replacement? The social media manager of Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Evans Toyota (@evanstoyota) decided to ask the dealership’s mechanics what their preferred brand was. And they had opinions. The video, posted by Evan back in August of 2024, currently has over 70,700 views and counting. What did the technicians mention? “The interviewer in the video poses the question, ‘Which tire brand do you prefer the most?’” The first mechanic picks the American-made Goodyear. “I like their Duratracs,” he explains. The second mechanic selects the Japanese brand Falken. The next mechanic opts for Goodyear once more, while the subsequent one goes with another Japanese brand, Yokohama. The fifth Evans employee opts for a dark horse choice: B.F Goodrich. Originally an American tire company, it was sold in 1990 to French tire giant Michelin. "He shares that his grandfather spent five decades working at B.F. Goodrich." In the end, the final mechanic interviewed chose Goodyear, significantly surpassing Evans' top choice for the best tire brand. However, do the specialists concur with their selection? The top brands Consumer Reports had a differing opinion from the Evans team, as none of the brands listed were included in their recommendations. According to Consumer Reports’ YouTube channel, Michelin and Continental were recognized as the top tire brands for the year 2025. Michelin's Defender 2 has been recognized as the top tire for cars and mid-sized SUVs, whereas the Terrain Contact H/T from German manufacturer Continental was awarded the title of best all-season tire for trucks. Tire Easy.com also gave first place to Michelin. However, it put Goodyear in second place. "Goodyear has established itself as a top tire brand, renowned for its exceptional grip and remarkably responsive handling," it states. Unfortunately, Cartalk was not as impressed. Like Consumer Reports, its calculated ratings found that Michelin and Continental were the first and second best, respectively. Yokohama secured the fourth position, closely followed by Goodyear, which ranked fifth. Torii Jackson, the social media creator at Evans Toyota, shared with the Daily Dot, “As a Toyota dealership, we enjoy sharing our insights and viewpoints with the public. We might stir the pot a bit, but that adds to the excitement. This video, along with several others, was created to showcase our unique personalities to our customers!” @evanstoyota What about yours? . . . . . #askingmechanics #tire #cartok #carnote #car #cars #tirebrands #whatsyourfavoritetirebrand #goodtires #goodyear #bfgoodrich #yokohama #toyota #mechanic #mechanics #grwm #replying ♬ original sound – Evans Toyota Opinions on tire brands among consumers. As expected, the audience watching the video had plenty of thoughts to share, and they voiced their opinions in the comments section. In my view, Cooper and Goodyear offer great value for the cost; I haven't experienced any issues with them so far," expressed Khaoscats (@khaoscats). A viewer commented succinctly, “The only correct answer is Yokohama.” Another person commented, "Goodyear tires are honestly the worst among the major brands; if you're not on a tight budget, stick with Michelin or Bridgestone." "Someone quipped, 'Goodyears are only good for one year!'" One viewer wholeheartedly supported the experts by saying, “I believe Michelin is the top tire brand in the automotive industry since Michelin tires provide a smooth ride on the road.” The Daily Dot also contacted Goodyear through its website to request a statement.
Hollister approves the return of the biker rally.
City council decides to bring back July 4 celebration tradition View pictures in App save up to 80% data. Motorcyclists gather in Hollister during a previous motorcycle rally. The Hollister Independence Rally is scheduled to make its comeback during the Fourth of July weekend, marking its first appearance in town since 2017. At the meeting on January 7, the city council reached a unanimous decision to approve and sanction the motorcycle rally scheduled for 2025 in downtown Hollister. City Manager David Mirrione is in talks with the promoter, Roadshows, Inc., to finalize a contract for organizing the event. Mayor Roxanne Stephens expressed her enthusiasm following the council's decision, stating, “We’re thrilled to be moving closer to reviving our beloved Independence Rally tradition. Hollister is recognized globally for this event, and it’s clear that the majority of our residents are in favor of it. We’re optimistic about making this a reality for the community.” City officials estimate that hosting this year's Independence Rally will cost the municipality as much as $300,000. This expenditure is anticipated to deplete the city's budget, leaving insufficient funds to organize the traditional Fourth of July fireworks display. Nevertheless, Stephens mentioned that the city is continuing to "look into alternative options to support the July 4 fireworks display" alongside the motorcycle rally. City officials will keep the council informed in the upcoming months regarding contract discussions and various operational factors—such as safety—pertaining to the Independence Rally. Since the city began officially sponsoring it in 1997, Hollister's annual Independence Day motorcycle rally in downtown has attracted significant numbers of bikers and onlookers during the summer holiday. The origins of the rally can be traced back over 70 years, beginning as a casual meet-up organized by the local biker community in Hollister. Once a yearly tradition, the most recent official rally event occurred in 2017. Since then, a combination of financial issues and the Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted efforts to organize another rally. In 2022, the residents of Hollister decisively supported Measure T, an advisory proposition that inquired whether they wished to see the Independence Rally return to the downtown area during the Fourth of July weekend. The measure received a strong endorsement, with 63% of voters in favor. A large number of residents gathered at the council meeting on January 7 to voice their enthusiasm for the upcoming 2025 Independence Rally. Those from the community who addressed the council were unanimously in favor of the city endorsing the event. Rally enthusiasts highlighted the event's clear economic benefits for local enterprises and emphasized the perks of maintaining a well-established tradition that attracts attendees from beyond Hollister. Mike Corbin, the founder of Corbin Motorcycle Saddles located in Hollister, expressed his gratitude to the council for their consideration of hosting a rally in 2025. Corbin remarked, "The previous motorcycle rallies in Hollister were all organized with a strong sense of cooperation." Corbin and other analysts remarked that the city should not anticipate significant turnout for this year's rally, primarily due to the limited time available for organizing and advertising the event ahead of July 4.
Shawnee County renews lease agreement with Harley Davidson.
View pictures in App save up to 80% data. Officials in Shawnee County have renewed the lease agreement for Harley Davidson located in Topeka, Kansas. TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - Officials in Shawnee County have renewed the lease agreement for Harley Davidson located in Topeka, Kansas. The historic Harley Davidson dealership, at 2047 SW Topeka Blvd., announced plans to move to a different location in the capital city in Dec. 2023. Since then the dealership has been searching for a new facility. At the Shawnee County Commission meeting held on Thursday, January 9, County Counselor Rich Eckert announced that Harley Davidson is considering a new location, although details have yet to be confirmed. He noted that the dealership will need to change ownership before finalizing and renovating the new site. As a precautionary measure, the lease has been extended until 2030. This new lease recognizes a change in ownership, and as a result, the monthly rent has been raised due to the extension. It has also been established that in the event Harley Davidson falls behind on payments, the County is prohibited from confiscating the dealership's inventory. The commissioners unanimously approved the agreement and the lease modification with a vote of 3 to 0. It was announced over the weekend that the dealership was sold to new owner Steven Towers, who currently owns Harley Davidson dealerships in North Carolina and Nebraska.
Harley-Davidson Homecoming features headliners Chris Stapleton and Hank Williams Jr.
View pictures in App save up to 80% data. Harley-Davidson Bikes MILWAUKEE - Chris Stapleton and Hank Williams Jr. will headline the 2025 Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival. The festival lasts for four days and offers a variety of entertainment, activities, and live shows. This year's event is scheduled to run from Thursday, July 10, to Sunday, July 13. Pre-sale ticket information can be found here. Davidson Park During the 2024 Homecoming Festival, one of the various locations explored in Milwaukee was the newly established community park situated at Harley-Davidson's headquarters on Juneau Avenue. The Harley-Davidson Foundation contributed to the funding of Davidson Park, which is located just south of the motorcycle manufacturer's main building. The park was developed through a partnership that involved the Forest County Potawatomi tribe.
Pedestrian stunned by drivers' bold actions in bike lane: 'As a cyclist, this infuriates me so much...'
View pictures in App save up to 80% data. Image Source: iStock One Reddit post showed what may have been a typical winter day in Montréal, Canada — one filled with snow and ice. However, it was also the day after Christmas, also known as Boxing Day, and the cars in the photo didn't seem to care about how they were violating bike lane rules. Like Black Friday in the United States, Boxing Day on Dec. 26 in Canada is the time for people to go downtown for huge shopping discounts. Unless they plan to watch one of the major hockey events that day or chill with family, many decide to fight traffic to reach stores before dawn. View pictures in App save up to 80% data. Image Source: Reddit In Toronto, the traffic related to the holiday in 2024 was so bad the Ontario Provincial Police had to close a portion of Highway 401, as Global News reported. The Boxing Day traffic in Vancouver was so equally brutal that the Vancouver Sun reported it took 90 minutes to cross Arthur Laing Bridge. Regrettably, the congested traffic observed also reveals that drivers are utilizing the bike lane. A typical bike lane or path is narrow enough for safe bike travel. Therefore, when cars are present, they block the area for those it was meant for. Montréal drivers can correctly use some shared designated lanes marked by a bicycle pictogram or a road sign with a car and bike sharing the road. When people reconsider their role in car dominance, they can save money by biking for free or paying less for gas by leaving the car at home when possible. Taking public transport has saved Americans an average of $1,102 monthly or $13,218 annually, according to the American Public Transportation Association. Fewer cars on the road means reduced carbon pollution from dirty fuels. Like most major cities, Montréal has an extensive public transport system to consider — with a 24-hour bus system and metro connecting 68 stations. According to Our World In Data, using the train over a car for medium-length distances can reduce pollution by 80%. One comment written in French translates to "that's absolutely pathetic." "As a cyclist, this makes me so f****** angry," wrote another. 🗣️ Are you concerned about the air quality in your community? 🗳️ Make your selection to view the outcomes and share your thoughts! Someone in insurance wanted reckless drivers to know that "their rates are high because they're piss poor drivers, and the technology to track them via their phone or car is only getting better." View pictures in App save up to 80% data. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Awesome Selections