Jeff Plungis
Consumer Reports
Washington, DC, United States
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Past articles by Jeff:
Fiat Chrysler EcoDiesel Emissions Repairs Damaged Trucks, Some Consumers Say
Emissions repairs to Fiat Chrysler pickups with EcoDiesel engines damaged the trucks. Learn more in this Consumer Reports investigation of what happened after a government-negotiated recall to lower tailpipe pollution. → Read More
Fuel Economy Rollback Plan Would Cost Consumers, Analysis Says
Consumer Reports says a fuel economy rollback under review by the Trump administration would result in hundreds of dollars in added costs for consumers. → Read More
The Hidden Risks of Used Cars
A Consumer Reports investigation into the hidden risks of used cars found that dealers are selling used cars with open recalls to unsuspecting consumers. Here’s how to protect yourself. → Read More
Making the World Safer for Pedestrians
What automakers and cities need to do to make streets safer for pedestrians, and how Consumer Reports' ratings have changed to help reform the marketplace. → Read More
Companies Target the Next Car Hack Attack
As cars get more connected, the industry is trying to stay ahead of multiplying threats, Consumer Reports says in this special report on car hacks. → Read More
NHTSA Launches Probe Into Faulty GM Windshield Wipers
Consumer Reports shares details of the GM windshield wiper recall, saying that federal regulators question whether an earlier recall of popular SUVs went far enough → Read More
Honda CR-V Affected by Engine Troubles
Honda CR-V engine troubles have been signaled by owners who have complained of gas mixing with oil in 2017 and 2018 Honda CR-V turbo engines. → Read More
Why Safety Has Become a Key Issue in Battle Over Fuel Economy
Consumer Reports examines a key issue in the impending court battle over fuel economy rules. The Trump administration is using a decades-old safety argument to help justify rolling back Obama-era fuel-economy standards. → Read More
Back-Up Driver for Uber Test Car Streamed Hulu at Time of Fatal Crash, Police say
Human back-up drivers can’t be relied upon to react quickly in emergencies, safety experts say. Consumer Reports examines the self-driving car risks involved with testing autonomous vehicles. → Read More
What We've Learned From Tesla Autopilot and Self-Driving System Crashes
In this review of a study on self-driving system crashes, Consumer Reports says enough details are emerging to draw important lessons about the limits of the current technology. → Read More
Who Owns the Data Your Car Collects?
Who owns the data your car collects, and how should it be used? Consumer Reports says today’s high-tech vehicles are wireless data collectors on wheels. → Read More
The Race to Improve Fuel Economy
Thanks to consumer demand, government pressure, and manufacturer innovations, carmakers continue to improve fuel economy. But is a revived debate over efficiency requirements going to slow progress? → Read More
Waymo Rolls Out Driverless Vans in Arizona
Waymo rolls out driverless vans for the first time without anyone behind the wheel, the company’s next step in its quest to bring automated vehicles to consumers. Consumer Reports has the details. → Read More
Faster Rollout of Self-Driving Cars Would Save Lives, Study Says
Introducing self-driving cars sooner could save hundreds of thousands of lives, according to a new RAND Corporation study. Consumer Reports examines the issue. → Read More
Inside Waymo's Self-Driving Car Castle
Consumer Reports gets a rare look inside Waymo self-driving car Castle and the track where the company trains its software to drive like humans. → Read More
Volvo's High-Performance Luxury Polestar Brand Aims to Invade Tesla's Space
Volvo unveiled a vision of its future Polestar brand, introducing a high-performance hybrid sedan aimed at the increasingly crowded segment of the electrified-car market. → Read More
Ford Offers Fix to Prevent Possible Explorer Carbon Monoxide Leaks
Consumer Reports details the free repair Ford is offering, which is supposed to prevent possible Ford Explorer carbon monoxide leaks by sealing the SUV’s interior from exhaust fumes. → Read More
U.S. Traffic Deaths Top 37,000; Pedestrian and Bicycle Deaths Hit Highs
Highway fatalities increased but distracted driving decreased slightly by 2.2 percent. Pedestrian and bicycle deaths hit 25-year highs, Consumer Reports says. → Read More
Safety Exemption for Self-Driving Cars Advances in Congress
Congress is moving ahead with plans to let self-driving cars be tested on U.S. roads without having to comply with the same safety rules as regular vehicles. Consumer Reports has the details. → Read More
NTSB Puts Partial Blame on Tesla and Autopilot in Fatal Model S Crash
NTSB Puts Some Blame on Automaker and Software in Tesla Crash → Read More