Consumer Reports – December 2018

THE VITAL STATISTIC

Percentage reduction in

crashes because of the use of

rearview cameras. They are

now required on all cars built

after April 2018, in part due to

CR’s advocacy efforts.

Source: Insurance Institute for

Highway Safety.

ASK OUR EXPERTS

I’m tired of drivers taking to

roadways with snow all over their

cars. Aren’t there any rules?

RECALLS

GM TRUCKS

& SUVS

General Motors is recalling

more than 1 million trucks

and SUVs because the

power steering can briefly

fail. Vehicles include the 2015

Chevrolet Silverado 1500

and GMC Sierra 1500 trucks,

and the Cadillac Escalade,

Chevrolet Suburban and

Tahoe, and GMC Yukon SUVs.

What to do: Dealers

will update software

to fix the problem. Call

Cadillac (800-458-8006),

Chevrolet (800-222-1020),

or GMC (800-462-8782) for

further information.

TIPS FROM OUR TEST TRACK

WHAT’S THIS

BUTTON DO?

See that button

on your dash with

what looks like a

swerving car on it? Many

drivers press it thinking that

it activates the electronic

stability control (ESC) safety

system. But pressing it will

actually turn that function off.

The ESC safety system

is automatically engaged

every time you start your

car. (When ESC is active,

the button will not be

illuminated, which might

be why drivers find it

counterintuitive.) When

active, ESC applies braking

to individual wheels to help

keep a car under control

on, say, a slippery road.

It has been required on all

cars sold in the U.S. since

model year 2012.

When to turn off ESC: In

limited circumstances,

such as when stuck in snow

or when driving with snow

chains, ESC should be

disabled. Check your owner’s

manual for details. In most

cases, though, just leave

that button alone.

STAY

AHEAD

OF THE

CURVE

WITH

CR AUTO

RATINGS,

NEWS

& ADVICE™

In some states, including
Connecticut and New Jersey,
you can be fined for not
removing snow and ice from
your car. Snow can dislodge
and obscure your view or the
view of another driver, and
ice that flies off can shatter
another driver’s windshield.
For everyone’s safety, be
sure to also clear the ice and
snow from your car’s rearview
camera and sensors on the
grille, bumpers, and rear-body
quarter panels to ensure that
ILLUSTRATION: SODAVEKTthey’re working properly.

DECEMBER 2018 CR.ORG 49