When the news of several post crash test engine fires in Chevrolet Volts came to light late last year, there was much speculation over whether it signaled a fundamental flaw in the car's design. However, an exhaustive investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that Chevrolet is not to blame for the fires, USA Today reports.

The report comes nearly two months after the NHTSA opened the investigation in November and also found that General Motors' response to the issue will prevent it from happening again. Among the changes GM made was an extra steel casing around the battery to ensure that coolant doesn't leak in the event of the crash. Leaking coolant was deemed responsible for the fires.

"The agency's investigation has concluded that no discernible defect trend exists and that the vehicle modifications recently developed by General Motors reduce the potential for battery intrusion resulting from side impacts," a statement from NHTSA read.

The study also determined that electric cars are at no greater risk for engine fires than gasoline-powered vehicles. The announcement is certainly good news for the Volt, which has suffered somewhat of a damaged image as a result of the fires. It had already suffered a bit in terms of sales, with Chevrolet only delivering 7,671 vehicles in 2011 – falling short of the goal of 10,000 units, Bloomberg reports.

The Volt may be cleared, but regardless of what car you have, it could be at risk for many mechanical errors without proper maintenance. New Jersey State Auto Auction's Total Car Care center provides drivers with everything from basic upkeep to repairs to make sure their vehicle is kept running smoothly.

The Chevrolet Volt hit a bit of a snag in its quest to become a popular electric vehicle a few months ago when several of the cars' batteries caught fire after a crash test. Though General Motors is confident the issue is an aberration, the Volt is going to get some safety enhancements to ensure it never happens again.

The changes come after it was revealed that three Volts caught fire three to seven days after a government crash test mandated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration last year. After lengthy testing, GM officials determined that the fires started because the crash caused a crack in the battery, which resulted in the leakage of some coolant. The so-called enhancements will be there to make sure there is no chance of coolant leaking.

The enhancements being made to the Volt include a strengthening of an existing structure in the vehicle to protect the battery, as well as the addition of a sensor in the reservoir to monitor the levels of coolant in the battery. Despite the updates, officials will not call it a recall.

"These enhancements and modifications will address the concerns raised by the severe crash tests," GM senior vice president of Global Product Development Mary Barra said. "There are no changes to the Volt battery pack or cell chemistry as a result of these actions. We have tested the Volt’s battery system for more than 285,000 hours, or 25 years, of operation."

While very few people today drive Volts, its issues underscore the importance of keeping a car properly maintained, whether it be through having proper fluid levels or regular upkeep. New Jersey State Auto Auction's Total Car Car Center provides drivers the chance to make sure their vehicle is running smoothly – all at an affordable price.

Despite being the second-best selling car for General Motors this year, production of the Chevrolet Cruze was halted on Monday due to a supplier issue. The company has not specified what the exact nature of the problem is, the Youngstown Vindicator reports, but it could mean consumers will have to opt for used cars.

Some have speculated that the suspension arose from a quality control issue that Tom Mock, the spokesperson for the Lordstown, Ohio, plant where the Cruze is made, said might impact customer satisfaction. He added that there is no word as to when production will resume but that the situation will be assessed on a day-to-day basis, the newspaper reports.

The delay could be a significant bump in the road for Chevrolet since the Cruze was threatening to dethrone the Toyota Corolla as the number-one selling small car by the end of the year. As it stands, the Cruze still outsold a longtime favorite in the Honda Civic as well as the Ford Focus, which landed in fourth, according to USA Today.

With no new Cruzes being produced, anybody who may have been considering purchasing a new one may now have to turn to New Jersey State Auto Auction to buy a similar used car instead. However, pre-owned vehicles are often just as reliable as new ones and experts say that the end of the year is the best time to make a purchase.

In addition to a wide variety of affordable makes and models, New Jersey Auto is also a good bet because it has aligned itself with AutoTrader.com to provide consumers an easy to way to trade-in their current car.  

It may be one of the most famous American-made cars brands, but analysts were skeptical about how well its newest car, the Chevrolet Cruze, would sell upon its release. The early returns are in and it looks like the doubts were unfounded. The Cruze compact ranked 10th among sales of all cars in its first 12 months, USA Today reports.

Although some were skeptical about whether or not the tiny Cruze would be a hit with American consumers, General Motors North America President Mark Reuss was not among them. The car had been a hit in other places across the globe so it seemed like a good fit in the United States as well.

"Everywhere in the world where we launched the car, it just took off. So we knew the hardware was really good," Chevrolet sales chief Alan Batey, who worked with Reuss in Australia, told the publication. "Mark passionately felt that if ever there was a chance to establish ourselves in the small-car market, this was it."

The reason for its success can be tied largely to the fact that it is among the most fuel-efficient cars on the road. Specifically, the Environmental Protection Agency has said that it can enjoy up to 42 miles per gallon on the highway all while remaining affordable at under $17,500, and in an uncertain economy both factors cannot be understated.

While you may not be looking to get behind the wheel of a new car, there are plenty of excellent used choices that are fuel-efficient as well. The Ford Fiesta, for instance, has proven to be especially wallet-friendly when it comes to the pump and gets 40 miles per gallon on the highway. New Jersey Auto Auction offers consumers with a wide variety of choices of used cars all for affordable prices.

Chevrolet is inching closer to unveiling the latest version of the popular Chevrolet Colorado. The pick-up, which includes a slew of new features, will first be offered in Thailand before going for sale in Asia Pacific, Africa and South America.

The world has already gotten a glimpse of the new model, with Chevy unveiling the vehicle in concept form at auto shows in places such as Argentina, Germany and Australia. The company has gone to great lengths to make the Colorado especially durable and reliable to help cement its place in the highly-competitive Thai truck market.

"We know customers of this type of vehicle want a workhorse and a daily-use vehicle all in one, so our product has to deliver. We have benchmarked the toughest, most flexible vehicles around the world," said the truck's chief engineer Roberto Rempel. "When you combine that approach with our detailed consideration of global expectations, we are confident the new Colorado will be a winner."

Drivers looking to get behind the wheel of a used pick up truck may want to check out New Jersey Auto Auction, which offers plenty of makes and models at affordable prices.