New Ford Bronco Models Join The List Of Car Recalls

Uh oh, Ford Bronco owners. Your vehicle has made the news. Not because the most famous Bronco owner ever just recently died. He did, but that 1993 Bronco is a sweet classic. No, it's the 2022 and 2023 models that are making headlines. They are being recalled due to a fire hazard. Ford is recalling the Escapes too, but those cars aren't as sexy for the headline.

According to usatoday.com, Ford is recalling nearly 43,000 cars due to cracked fuel injectors. A cracked fuel injector is dangerous because it can cause gas leaks and ignite a fire in the engine. That gives " your new car is fire!" a whole new meaning. You check here to see if your car is included in the recall.

What is the deal with all the cars being recalled these days? Because it is not just Ford. In September 2023, Hyundai and Kia had to recall over three million cars because of a brake leak that can also cause a fire, nhtsa.gov reported.

The risk was so bad that the NHTSA told owners of the cars to park outside. Their statement explained that “until these recalled vehicles have been repaired, the manufacturers say the safest place to park them is outside and away from homes and other structures.” Apparently, the cars could have ignited even if they were turned off. 

Wowza. The innocent looking Kia could have blown your garage to kingdom come. Ok, that's a bit dramatic, but it could have lit your old beer-stained party couch on fire.

But why are so many cars being recalled? Because according to the NHTSA report, recalls have gone up over 46% from 2012-2022. And that number could be even higher in 2024.

The answer seems to be because cars are getting more complicated. Think about it. About 30 years ago, airbags were the hot new item. Today, the car basically can drive itself. That means more cars need high-end electronics, bigger batteries, and better drivers for crying out loud. 

In my humble opinion, Classic Cars, of course. I mean, good old-fashioned gas and oil rides with headers that rattle your neighbors. And most importantly, a very close relationship with your mechanic. Name it. 1969 Caddy. 1977 Pontiac Trans Am. 1985 Chevy C10 truck. 

A 1993 Ford Bronco. It may not be sexy, fast or keep you out trouble. But at least it won't burn down your beer couch. 

For the first time in nearly two years, the new car average sale prices fell below the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP). The average transaction price paid for a new vehicle in the United States declined in March 2023 to $48,008, according to Kelley Blue Book data. That’s a month-over-month decrease of 1.1%. This means that consumers paid less than the sticker price displayed on the window.

"Right now, in-market consumers are finding more inventory, more choice and dealers more willing to deal, at least with some brands," said Rebecca Rydzewski, auto-industry researcher at Kelley Blue Book's parent firm Cox Automotive.

According to their data, non-luxury buyers paid an average of $44,182. Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, and Volkswagen all saw their average price decline in March. Honda and Kia dealers still charged an average of 3% to 6% over sticker price. Their research also found that luxury buyers saw less of an improvement. They paid an average of $65,202.

New cars now average over $48,000 before taxes and fees. There are still new cars available for less than the average cost. As of May 2023, there are only three new vehicles that would cost $20,000 or less.

However, all three of these cars are small sedans with minimal cargo space and efficient gas mileage.

Take a look at the only 3 new cars under $20,000 or less.

The Kia Rio subcompact sedan starts at $17,875 and the Rio5 hatchback at $18,515. Both front-wheel-drive models come standard with a 120 hp four-cylinder engine, automatic transmission, air conditioning, and a highway fuel economy rating of 41 mpg.

The Mitsubishi Mirage hatchback starts at $17,340 and the Mirage G4 sedan is just $1,000 more. its three-cylinder engine rated at just 76 horsepower -- and the most-efficient non-hybrid vehicle, with the hatchback getting an EPA combined rating of 39 mpg.

The Nissan Versa sedan is priced at $16,925. It is roomy for the price and has a 122 hp four-cylinder under the hood, a standard 5-speed manual transmission, automatic emergency brakes, and a five-star NHTSA crash test rating. Models equipped with an automatic transmission start at $18,595 and have a 40 mpg highway fuel economy rating. A fully loaded version with adaptive cruise control, heated seats, and a wireless charging pad tops out at $20,215.

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