The backseat of the 2011 Lexus IS 250C is a difficult place to install rear-facing child-safety seats, according to MotherProof.com’s latest Car Seat Check. The rear seats have significant bolstering, and the Latch anchors are set too close together. For more info, go to MotherProof.com. Also check out the latest news from our sister sites: PickupTrucks.com and Ask.cars.com.

• Ford F-150 SVT Raptor Outsold Honda Ridgeline in April 2011 (PickupTrucks.com) 
• 2011 Lexus IS 250C and IS 350C: Car Seat Check (PickupTrucks.com) 
• What’s New on the 2012 Honda Civic? (Ask.cars.com)

GM is recalling 100,308 2011 Chevrolet Cruze vehicles because they fail to comply with federal safety standards concerning the transmission and theft protection, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In the affected vehicles, the shift lever in automatic-transmission models may not accurately reflect the position of the transmission gear. As a result, the driver may move the shifter to Park and remove the ignition key when the transmission is actually in a different gear. If this happens, the driver may not be able to restart the vehicle and vehicle could roll away after the driver has left the vehicle.

The vehicles in the recall were built between Oct. 6, 2009 and April 27. You can check the build date on the vehicle’s driver-side doorjamb.

Dealers will inspect the transmission shift linkage and adjust the system if necessary at no charge. For more info, owners can call Chevrolet at 800-630-2438 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236.

Vehicles that work well in the suburbs aren’t necessarily the best in an urban environment. With little available parking and heavy pedestrian traffic in the city, a car’s visibility and ease of parallel parking are more important considerations. So, what cars are the most apt at maneuvering through the urban jungle? Check out our latest top 10 list to find out:

Top 10 Urban Cars (Cars.com Advice)

General Motors is recalling 7,593 2011 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana utility vans over an issue involving the rear brakes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Some vans may have been assembled improperly, allowing both the rear right brake hose and wheel speed sensor to come in contact with the tire or wheel rim during heavy suspension travel. If that condition exists, a hole could form in the brake hose, reducing the effectiveness of the rear brakes and in turn increasing braking distances.

Dealerships will inspect and secure the right rear brake hose, which is covered by GM’s new-car warranty. Owners can call NHTSA’s hotline at 888-327-4236 or visit its website for more information.

Volkswagen is recalling 5,992 Audi vehicles from the 2001-04 model years because the cars could suffer a fuel leak, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The recall affects 2001-04 Audi A6, 2003 Audi RS6 and 2002-03 Audi S6 vehicles equipped with 4.2-liter engines built between June 19, 2001 and June 8, 2004. In the affected vehicles, the plastic material in the fuel tank rollover valve, combined with the bending stress from the aluminum ventilation line to the rollover valve nipple, may cause the nipple to crack. This could lead to a fuel leak that may cause a fire if an ignition source is present. You can check to see when your car was built by checking a label on the driver's side doorjamb.

Volkswagen will notify owners next month. Dealers will repair the nipple on the rollover valve for free. For more info, call Audi at 800-822-2834 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236.

Gas prices are high and people are buying more fuel-efficient vehicles left and right. One of the most popular cars in the country, the Honda Civic, gets a complete redesign for the 2012 model year; it doesn’t look much different from the previous generation, but it gets terrific mileage and a new interior. Editors Kelsey Mays, Mike Hanley and Joe Wiesenfelder discuss how the new model holds up versus the 2011 and the competition.

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GM is recalling 128,911 Chevrolet Cruze sedans because a bolt attaching the intermediate steering shaft to the steering gear input shaft may not be properly installed, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In the affected vehicles, the shafts could separate and cause the driver to lose steering control, increasing the risk of a crash. The vehicles in the recall were built between Oct. 2, 2009 and April 21. You can check the build date on the vehicle’s driver-side doorjamb.

Dealers will inspect the intermediate steering shaft and steering gear assembly to make sure the bolt is fully fastened and the shaft is properly assembled. Any repairs will done free of charge. For more info, owners can call Chevrolet at 800-630-2438 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is expanding an ongoing investigation of the 1997-2001 Ford F-150 over an issue with the fuel tanks on some of those vehicles, according to PickupTrucks.com

There have been complaints that fuel tank straps on some models show signs of rust or have failed. At least six cases have involved fuel spilling when the tank dropped or detached. No fires have been reported; though NHTSA goes on to say that a fire can start if a dragged fuel tank ruptures.

An original investigation, starting in September, looked into 1.4 million F-150s; today, NHTSA is expanding that to 2.73 million pickups. For additional information, go to PickupTrucks.com.

NHTSA Expands Investigation into Ford F-150 Fuel Tank Straps (PickupTrucks.com)

The Scion xB’s boxy dimensions are ideal for child-safety seats, according to MotherProof.com. The Latch anchors are easy to use, and the flat seats make it easy to position car seats securely. Overall, the Scion can fit two seats just fine. To find out more about the xB and other models we tested, go to MotherProof.com:

2012 Fiat 500: Car Seat Check 
2012 Audi A7: Car Seat Check 
2011 Scion xB: Car Seat Check

The Chevrolet Cruze has so far fared much better than it’s sorry predecessor, the Cobalt, in the eyes of critics and consumers alike. The car was one of the bestselling vehicles in America last month. Part of that success is probably attributable to the well-executed interior and supple ride. Continue reading about the Cruze and our other top reviews of the week below:

1.   2012 Ford Focus 
2.   2011 Hyundai Elantra 
3.   2012 Honda Civic 
4.   2011 Ford Explorer 
5.   2011 Hyundai Sonata 
6.   2011 Chevrolet Cruze 
7.   2011 Kia Optima 
8.   2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee 
9.   2011 Subaru Outback 
10. 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid