Nikon has issued a recall of rechargeable batteries sold with two models of its digital SLR cameras, the Nikon D800 and Nikon D7000. More than 200,000 of the D-SLR batteries sold with the cameras worldwide may short-circuit and melt, posing a burn hazard to consumers.

According to American and Canadian safety agencies, Nikon has received about seven consumer complaints regarding the digital camera batteries overheating. Of the estimated 5,100 batteries that were sold in the U.S. and 1,100 sold in Canada, no incidents or injuries were reported, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, respectively.

The batteries were sold with the Nikon D7000—a Consumer Reports recommended D-SLR in its test of digital SLR cameras—and D800 cameras from February to April.

Recent Nikon digital SLR camera buyers should check if they are affected by this battery recall by visiting Nikon's website: www.NikonUSA.com. Affected owners should immediately discontinue use, remove the flawed batteries from their Nikon cameras, and contact Nikon (toll-free: 800-645-6687) for free replacement batteries.

The recalled Nikon DSLR rechargeable battieries have an "E" or "F" as the ninth character of the 14-digit lot number, located on the back of the battery pack.

Sources:
Nikon Recalls Rechargeable Battery Packs Sold with Digital SLR Cameras Due to Burn Hazard [CPSC]
Recall: Nikon Model EN-EL 15 Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery Pack [Health Canada]
Service Advisory: EN-EL15 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery Recall [Nikon]

Q. My wife and I are both 60 and looking to retire. We will be giving up our employee group plans and will need to buy insurance on our own. One of us has high blood pressure and the other had a stent put in three years ago. Which companies should we look at?

A. I have the proverbial good news and bad news for you.

The good news is that July 1, 2012 was what I like to call "freedom day" for people who would like to quit a job to retire or start a small business, but hesitate for fear they won't be able to find an individual plan that covers their pre-existing conditions.

That is because it is now, for the first time ever, possible for Americans in that situation (including you) to let go of their employee health plans without fear of being left without health insurance down the road. You can accomplish this by continuing your group coverage under COBRA (which you probably already know will probably cost an arm and a leg). The 18 months it lasts will be just long enough to see you through to Jan. 1, 2014, when the full provisions of the Affordable Care Act take effect.

On that date, you will no longer have to worry about being turned down or charged extra because of your pre-existing conditions. You will be able to go on your state's health insurance exchange, select good-quality coverage from a menu of plans, and even get a subsidy to help pay for it if your post-retirement household income is less than 400 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.

The bad news is that in the meantime, the probable answer to your question about which carriers to look at for non-COBRA coverage is: whichever one, if any, will take you. Unless you live in one of the handful of states that already ban insurers from discriminating against people with pre-existing conditions (Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Vermont) the one of you who has a stent is likely to be summarily rejected for coverage.

It is possible that an insurer might be willing to cover whichever one of you takes blood pressure pills, as long as the pills keep your blood pressure within normal limits and you are otherwise in absolutely perfect health, not overweight, and not a smoker, though likely with a premium surcharge and coverage nowhere near as good as what you are giving up when you leave your jobs. The best way to find out is to consult a reliable, knowledgeable independent insurance broker who can shop your business informally to various carriers in hopes that one will agree to take you on.

Learn more about the Affordable Care Act. And see our Health Insurance Buying Guide.

Got a question for me? Ask it here.

Replacing energy-wasting lightbulbs with new efficient ones will certainly save you money but proper maintenance is also key to lighting efficiency. Light levels decrease over time because of aging lightbulbs and dirt on fixtures, bulbs and room surfaces. Together, these factors can reduce total illumination by 50 percent or more, while lights continue drawing full power.

The Energy Savers website, run by the Department of Energy, recommends taking the following basic maintenance steps to help keep your lights operating at their optimum energy efficiency:

• Clean fixtures, lightbulbs and lenses every six months to two years, depending how dusty your house is, by wiping off the dirt. Of course, never clean an incandescent bulb while it is turned on. The water's cooling effect will shatter the hot bulb.
  
• Replace lenses if they appear yellow.
  
• Many lighting experts recommend replacing all the bulbs in a lighting system at once. Common bulbs, especially incandescent and fluorescent lamps, lose 20 to 30 percent of their light output over their service life. Replacing all the bulbs in your track lighting or ceiling fan saves labor, keeps illumination high, and avoids stressing any ballasts with dying bulbs.
  
• Clean or repaint small rooms every year and larger rooms every two to three years. Dirt collects on surfaces, which reduces the amount of light they reflect.
  

Vinyl isn't only the bestselling flooring at retailers; it also stood up to our battery of everyday abuse better than any other flooring. Our latest tests found a new top pick that blends the toughness of vinyl with the natural look and feel of slate for a fraction of the price.

Armstrong's Alterna Mesa Stone Canyon Sun, $5.50 per square foot, mimics the real stuff right down to its dappled colors and random textures. Yet it delivers the wear and damage resistance that makes vinyl our top-rated flooring overall. And like many vinyls, it comes in tiles that are easier to trim and install than traditional sheets.

Consumer Reports tested more than 40 flooring products and found 11 other winners, including an oak flooring that fended off the effects of foot traffic almost as well as the best vinyls and laminates. But after we subjected flooring to months of scuffs, scratches, stains, dropped weights, and intense UV light, we discovered that many woods, and even some vinyl and laminate floors, can wilt under life's daily grind. We also found that some bamboo and other "green" floors could have you seeing red.

For the full report, including Ratings of wood, engineered wood, plastic laminate, vinyl and linoleum flooring, see our Flooring buying guide.

Nearly one-third of adults reported sleepwalking at least once in their lifetime, and 4 percent said they did it in the past year, according to a recent survey of 15,929 adults published in the journal Neurology. The researchers said in the study that their findings underscore that sleepwalking is much more prevalent in adults than previously thought. And that it's likely that sleepwalking is underreported by some people, especially those living alone, because they might not remember in the morning.

Participants with a family history of sleepwalking were more likely to report the nighttime adventures. And alcohol abuse, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and use of antidepressants and over-the-counter sleeping pills raised the risk. Researchers also said sleeping less than seven hours was linked with a higher risk of sleepwalking at least once in the past year. That's yet another reason to get the recommended 7 to 9 hours of sleep and treat any sleep problems if you have them.

Ironically, one of the side effects of newer prescription sleep medicines like zolpidem (Ambien) and eszopiclone (Lunesta) is problematic sleep behaviors, which includes sleepwalking. In our new survey of 26,451 people, 6 percent of people taking one of the newer sleep drugs reported troublesome sleep behavior such as sleepwalking. Our survey also suggests what you can do to get a better night of sleep, including the secrets of good sleepers and the treatments that helped our readers the most.

Source
Prevalence and comorbidity of nocturnal wandering in the US adult general population
[Neurology]

Artsana USA, of Lancaster, Pa., has recalled 455,000 Chicco Polly high chairs in the U.S. and 30,690 in Canada, because children can fall on or against the pegs on the rear legs of the high chair, resulting in bruising or laceration.

Artsana is aware of 21 reports in which a child was injured after falling against the peg, including four laceration injuries requiring stitches, tape or glue, and one scratched cornea, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The Chicco Polly high chairs were sold January 2005 through July 2012 for $100 to $150 at Babies R Us, Burlington Coat Factory, Buy Buy Baby, Shopko and Toys R Us, and online at Albeebaby.com, Amazon.com, Babyage.com, Babysupermart.com, Diapers.com and Target.com.

The recall includes a range of Chicco Polly high chairs that all have pegs on the back legs meant for tray storage. The high chairs have a folding metal frame and reclining seat. The model number and date code are on a label on the underside of the seat, close to the footrest. The date code is in either DDMMYYYY format or YYYY-MM-DD format.

Model numbers include:
00063803430070, 05063803260070, 00063803480070, 05063803270070, 00063803490070, 05063803570070, 00063803580070, 05063803660070, 04063765000070, 05063803970070, 04063765540070, 06063765650070, 04063765760070, 06063765970070, 04063803630070, 06063803650070, 04063803860070, 06063803770070, 04063803900070, 06063803820070, 05063765020070, 06063803960070, 05063803020070, 06063803970070, 05063803220070, 07063803780070

High chairs included in the recall were manufactured prior to October 13, 2010.
If you own one of these recalled high chairs contact Chicco for a free peg cover kit. To prevent injuries before repair, you can store the tray on the pegs when the high chair is not in use. Call Chicco at 800-807-8817 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, or visit chiccousa.com/pollykit.

Chicco high chair models are included in our high chair Ratings, which will be coming soon to our babies and kids section. Also, see our high chair buying guide including shopping and safety advice.

Source:
Chicco Polly High Chairs Recalled Due to Laceration Hazard [CPSC]

Zero Motorcycles is recalling 254 of its 2012 all-electric motorcycles due to "insufficient weatherproofing" of the battery-powered bikes, according to a recall posted by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

If recalled models of Zero S, Zero DS, Zero X, Zero XU, and Zero XU-LSM electric motorcycles from Zero are subjected to "wet conditions," the batteries may short circuit, leaving riders unexpectedly powerless and possibly in danger of a collision.

Zero also issued a recall on 2011 and 2012 models to address an issue with the front brake light switch. The brake light may not activate with a light or moderate brake application, and therefore not alert traffic to the slowing motorcycle.

Zero is expected to alert owners of the flawed motorcycles this month, instructing them to bring the motorcycles to authorized dealers where repairs will be made free of charge.

To learn more, consumers can call Zero Motorcycles toll-free at: 888-786-9376.

For information on riding, visit Consumer Reports' motorcycles and scooters buying guide.

Source:
Recall: 2012 Zero DS / Zero S / Zero X / Zero XU / Zero XU-LSM electric motorcycles - Battery [NHTSA]
Recall: 2011 & 2012 Zero DS / Zero MXD / Zero S / Zero X / Zero XD / Zero XU - Brake switch [NHTSA]

Updated: 7/13/12

Earlier today, news broke that a file containing over 400,000 usernames and passwords, apparently stolen from a Yahoo service by a hacker collective, was posted online. The passwords appeared in "plaintext" (or "cleartext"), meaning they were unencrypted.

A security site that analyzed the posted data determined that the accounts were not just with Yahoo but also with other online services, including Gmail, AOL, Hotmail, and others, as well as a number of .GOV and .MIL addresses.

Yahoo has acknowledged the breach and released this statement to TechCrunch:

...We confirm that an older file from Yahoo! Contributor Network (previously Associated Content) containing approximately 400,000 Yahoo! and other company users names and passwords was stolen yesterday, July 11. Of these, less than 5% of the Yahoo! accounts had valid passwords. We are fixing the vulnerability that led to the disclosure of this data, changing the passwords of the affected Yahoo! users and notifying the companies whose users accounts may have been compromised...

For advice on creating strong passwords, read our story "How to create a strong password (and remember it)". And check the many tips in our Online Security Guide at ConsumerReports.org.

To find out whether any of your accounts' credentials may have been exposed, you can check here: http://labs.sucuri.net/?yahooleak.

Sources:
Analysis of Yahoo Voice Password Leak - 453,441 Passwords Exposed. [Sucuri Research Blog]
Yahoo Confirms, Apologizes For The Email Hack, Says Still Fixing. Plus, Check If You Were Impacted (Non-Yahoo Accounts Apply) [TechCrunch]

At least 180,000 people a year die in the hospital each year in part because of medical harm, and another 1.4 million are seriously injured by it, according to government projections. Our new safety Ratings might help you avoid the same fate, by allowing you to compare the hospitals in your area.

But you need to take steps to protect yourself wherever you go, since our Ratings show that bad things can happen even in the best hospitals. "The best advice I can give is to be your own advocate," says Peter Pronovost, M.D., senior vice president for patient safety and quality at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore. "Question, question, question until things are explained in a way you understand. A health-care system that doesn't address your concerns is a risky one."

Our Hospital Survival Guide provides advice for a safe hospital stay, from check-in to discharge. Here are six of the most important tips:

1. Bring a friend or family member. He or she can help monitor your care and assert your needs and preferences, ask questions, record the answers, hold onto copies of key documents, and advocate for you if problems arise. Ideally, your companion should help you during check-in and discharge, and visit daily, especially in the evening and on weekends and holidays. Make sure someone in authority has the name of your companion and his or her phone number and e-mail address.

2. Guard against infection. Insist that anyone who touches you washes his or her hands first. In addition, ask every day if catheters and ventilators are still necessary, as the risk of infection increases whey they are left in place for more than two to three days.

3. Watch your drugs. Make a list of all of the prescription and over-the-counter drugs you take, as well as the vitamins, minerals, herbs, and other dietary supplements. Bring multiple copies of the list with you so doctors and pharmacists in the hospital there can check for interactions or duplicates with medication you start taking while there.

4. Get moving. That can help prevent bedsores and blood clots that can form in leg veins, and also helps get your bowels moving. OK BY MML. So when you're up to it, ask your nurse, or a friend or relative, to help you out of bed. If you have to spend a lot of time in bed, ask for special pads that help prevent bedsores, and "pneumatic" stockings that can help prevent blood clots.

5. Get ready to go home. Usually, the sooner you get home the better. So start planning for your discharge as soon as possible, and make sure you understand what you need to do once you get home. But you shouldn't go home if you feel disoriented, faint, or unsteady; have pain that's not controlled by oral medication; can't go to the bathroom unassisted; can't urinate or move your bowels; or can't keep food or drink down.

6. Check our hospital Ratings. Our updated hospital Ratings include safety scores for 1,159 hospitals nationwide, based on six key categories: avoiding infections, unnecessary readmissions, and unnecessary radiation from CT scans; communication about new drugs and discharge plans; and rates for serious complications and mortality from certain diseases. The Ratings also include some information on more than 3,000 other hospitals.

See our story How Safe Is Your Hospital?. And watch our video on surviving a hospital stay.

Mercedes-Benz added a 302-hp, direct injection, 3.5-liter V6 for 2012 to one of our favorite cars, the midsized E-Class sedan. Oh, darn... time for retest.

For years, we've enjoyed the E-Class's near-brilliant combination of comfort, agility, quietness, and performance. Even base six-cylinder models were quick and satisfying, and the recent diesel version delighted with its impressive frugality and long cruising range.

So, when Mercedes announces an update, we have high expectations. The new E350 gives us an opportunity to test an example without the "Sport" suspension, as our recent car had been equipped, to see how it affects handling, ride, and noise.

We bought a 2012 E350 in "Luxury" trim, equipped with the $4,000 Premium 1 Package, which includes navigation, upgraded audio system, and heated front seats (among other features). And since we wanted to try the company's latest active safety features, such as the blind-spot assist and lane-departure warning systems, we opted for them, too. Grand total: $57,965.

One other option we got was the split fold-down rear seat ($440), which we discovered had a most unusual quirk.

To meet a buddy recently for a weekend bike ride, I lowered the folding rear seats and loaded my bike in the back, as I've done with dozens of other test cars.

But when my friend jumped into the front passenger seat, he complained that the seatback was bolt upright and that he couldn't recline. It turns out that if you fold down the passenger-side rear seat, the front passenger seat automatically moves forward and the seatback moves to a full upright position. Once there, it can't be reclined at all, even if doing so doesn't interfere with the cargo. To get the front seat habitable again, you have to fold the rear seat back up, which meant in this case removing my bike first. There is a work-around. You can fold down the driver's side passenger seat without paralyzing the driver's seatback, but it's only a partial solution since the left rear seatback is the small part of the 60/40 configuration.

A Mercedes-Benz representative told us that the seats were operating as designed since the backseats need enough room to fold down.. Still, we can't think of any other car that makes one of the front seats essentially unusable if you need to throw some bulky cargo in the back.

She also alerted us to another trick that the owner's manual leaves out. If you leave the front door open while folding the back seats down, you can use the front seat adjustment to stop the passenger seat from moving too far forward.

But we found a catch: It takes two people, one to flip the fold-down lever in the trunk and one to stand outside the front passenger door pushing the seat adjuster at the same instant.

Is this a case of a car being over-engineered and under-thought? Why in the world would any car designer make you choose between hauling cargo or accommodating a front passenger?

As we rack up the miles we'll keep an eye out for any other surprises.

For Consumer Reports' latest laundry detergent tests, we tested more single-use packs than ever before. But even though the pods make proper dosage easier for normal loads, only Tide Pods cleaned impressively in our tests. But at 22 cents per load, you may want to opt for a less expensive powder or liquid. Our top-scoring detergents did best at removing a variety of tough stains, especially grass, blood, and ring around the collar, in our warm-water tests. Here are four ways to save and still get a clean load of laundry.

Choose the right one. You can use a conventional or dual-use detergent in a regular top-loading washer. But using a conventional detergent in a high-efficiency machine could compromise cleaning if it produces too many suds.

Check the dose before using. Many dual-use detergents use the same dose for high-efficiency and conventional washers. Fuller Brush Plus Concentrated calls for twice the amount in traditional machines, boosting its cost per load to 40 cents.

Spend at least 10 cents per load. None of the detergents that cost less than that scored better than mediocre.

Don't overdo it. Using too much detergent costs you more per load. Overdosing could also waste energy and water if it leads to added rinse cycles in your washer. Read the instructions carefully and measure the proper amount of detergent for your load size.

Find more on laundry detergent, including full Ratings, in our laundry detergent buying guide.

Q. Who gets a rebate from insurance companies and what companies give it? I haven't been able to find out.

A. Good news: As of this morning, there's a new tool from the Department of Health and Human Services to help you look up the answer. And if you're just catching up on this new benefit from the Affordable Care Act, here's some background.

On Aug. 1, nearly 13 million Americans are in line to collect a grand total of more than $1.1 billion in rebates from insurance companies who collected more premiums than they needed to pay for their members' health care and health improvement activities.

In the new tool, just scroll down to the state you live in, start typing the name of your insurance company, and select from the choices you see.

For instance, Connecticut residents with Aetna insurance will learn that the average subscriber to an individual plan will get a $151 rebate later this summer, because the company only spent 75.6 percent of its premium dollars on health care and health improvement, instead of the required 80 percent. However, people in large or small group Aetna plans in Connecticut won't see rebates, because those plans actually spent more than the minimum on health care.

"We're very excited about this tool," says Teresa Miller, acting director of oversight at the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight, the federal agency running health reform. "It's important for consumers to know it's just an average, and they might see the rebate in a number of different ways, such as a check in the mail, a lump sum reimbursement to your credit card, or a direct reduction in your future premiums."

In general, Miller says, your rebate will be in proportion to the size of your premium, and if you split the premium with your employer, you'll share the rebate in the same proportion.

Another caveat: If you work for a larger employer that self-insures, meaning the company pays its employees' health expenses out of its own funds, the rebates don't apply to you. You can't tell from your insurance card whether your employer self-insures; the only way to know for sure is to ask your human resources department.

DeAnn Friedholm, health reform campaign director for Consumers Union, Consumer Reports' advocacy arm, said the new lookup tool "is an important step toward empowering consumers with useful information to get the best value for their health-care dollar."

For more details, see our Health Insurance Buying Guide.

Got a question for me? Ask it here.

Shopping online is great, but it's nice when you can kick the proverbial tires before you buy. With that idea in mind, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)—the organization that puts on the Consumer Electronics Show each year—is presenting its third annual series of CEA Demo Days at hundreds of local retailers across the country.

The program will kick off July 20 to 22 with an event called "Experience the Summer Games Like Never Before": Electronics retailers will show customers the best way to watch the Olympics on Internet-connected TVs.

Football is the focus of the next event, scheduled for August 17 to 19, entitled "Make Your Football Fantasies Real." Participating stores will demonstrate the best ways to experience football and other sports. That program will be followed by "Unlock the Power of Digital Audio," demos of connected devices and ways to upgrade your audio experience with better headphones and speakers. That one runs from September 14 to 16.

For more information and to see which local retailers are participating in the Demo Days events, visit the CEA Demo Days website.

Related:
DirecTV's n3D channel goes part time, but will air Summer Olympics

Can't find the curry? Lost your lid? That's what happens when the inside of your cabinets are a jumble. But Julie Morgenstern, author of Organizing from the Inside Out, says a few simple upgrades to standard cabinets can make a big difference. She recommends a few organizational tools, widely available at home centers, to master the mess.

Spin it. Purchase turntables to store a variety of items, including mugs and glasses, she says. "Spin the turntable, and whatever you have in the back comes to the front," she says.

Bin it. Store collections of similar items—spices, teas, and baking supplies, for example—in plastic or mesh containers inside the cabinets. "Just pull the whole container out, get what you need, and then put it back," she says, noting that small containers also simplify the chore of cleaning shelves.

Eyeball it. Load shelves by height. "Low items like spices and cans can get lost when they're four rows back," Morgenstern says, "so you want to bring them to the front of the shelf. That way, you're not reaching over things and knocking them over to get to the back."

Track it. Install trays on guides or tracks in cabinets. "It's like installing a pull-out drawer behind the door." Or, install tracks inside the cabinet that holds the trash can, and the can will then pull out for easy access.

Shelve it. Mount narrow wire shelves on the insides of cabinet doors to hold sponges, cleaners, gloves, and towels, she says. Or, place one inside the door of the cabinet where plastic storage containers are kept to contain the jumble of lids. "These fixes are not expensive, and the installation is easy," she says. "You'll get more storage and make it all more accessible."

For more information on upgrading your kitchen, including the results of our tests of flooring, countertops and appliances, see Get the luxury look for less.

Adapted from Consumer Reports Kitchen Planning & Buying Guide.

The rates of babies being born too early and dying soon after birth has gone down in the U.S., according to a new government report. But the rates of those events are still higher here than in many other industrialized countries.

The new report, from the National Institutes of Health, shows that the proportion of infants born preterm (that is, before the 37th week of pregnancy), dropped from 12.2 percent in 2009 to 12.0 percent in 2010. That's a step in the right direction, but still puts the U.S. about 130th in the world, on par with Somalia, Thailand, and Turkey, according to information from the March of Dimes.

The number of children who die before their first birthday dropped from 6.4 per 1,000 births in 2009 to 6.1 in 2010, the new report shows. Again, that's better, but still means that the U.S. lags behind about 30 other countries, including South Korea, Slovenia, and the Czech Republic.

Some research suggests that one reason the U.S. trails other industrialized countries in those and other measures is the overuse of a number of common medical interventions. Those procedures, including C-sections and induced labor, can be lifesaving in some situations but might also increase risk when used inappropriately.

For details, see our report What to Reject When You Are Expecting.

Sources
America's children: Key national indicators of well being [National Institutes of Health]
Born too soon [March of Dimes]

The Federal Trade Commission has taken action against a company, DR Phone, for selling prepaid phone cards after the agency found that the cards delivered only 40 percent of the calling minutes advertised.

The agency says that DR Phone targeted the immigrant community with prepaid cards with names such as "Beautiful Asia" and "Pearls of Africa," agreed to stop making the claims, which the FTC called misleading, pending a trial in federal court in San Francisco. A spokesman reached at the company's offices in New York City said it had no comment at this time.

A Consumer Reports investigation in May, found problems with a range of prepaid phone card companies in which special fees, maintenance charges, and other costs quickly ate up the value of the cards, diminishing available minutes. Our shoppers went into convenience stores, gas stations and bodegas to buy more than 130 cards. They found that about three-quarters of the phone cards they bought didn't disclose calling rates. And, given the multitude of murky fees and surcharges imposed by many of the cards, being an informed buyer is nearly impossible.

We also published a prepaid phone card buying guide in eight languages, with advice on how you can protect yourself while making international calls.

The FTC says that it tested 169 cards from DR Phone and found that all of them failed to deliver the promised minutes. The worst card delivered only 1 percent of the promised calling time. The agency says it is part of a crackdown on the prepaid phone card industry for such practices.

More from the FTC news release:

"Marketing material - typically point-of-sale posters - displayed brightly colored text bubbles touting calling minutes to a particular destination with a card of specified amount—for example, "Philippines 70 min-per $5." Large letters at the top of the posters claimed, 'No Fees,' 'No Connection Fee,' and 'No Maintenance Fee.' Small print at the bottom of the posters made vague reference to fees without adequately disclosing what those fees would be. One disclosure simply stated 'International calls made to cellular phones and calls via toll free numbers are billed at higher rate,' without adequately disclosing what those higher rates would be."

You can file a complaint about prepaid calling cards with the FTC.

Source:
FTC Halts Deceptive Prepaid Calling Card Scheme Targeting Immigrants [FTC]

Q. I can't find Excedrin on any pharmacy shelves, and it's about the only drug that helps with my migraines. I've seen it for sale on eBay. Is it a good idea to buy it from there?

A. No. There has been a shortage of Excedrin since January, when its maker recalled the drug because of concerns that oxycodone and certain other prescription opioid-type painkillers had accidentally been included in some pill bottles. As a result, some people have turned to buying Excedrin on eBay for $100 a bottle and more, according to reports. But that's not a good idea, for several reasons.

It's hard to know for certain that the bottle you are buying from an individual on eBay contains the real thing, or isn't one of the recalled bottles. And, anyway, why bother? Generic versions of Excedrin, which is just a combination product containing acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine, is still widely available, and for a whole lot less than on eBay (or with some sellers on Amazon.com, too). A spot check of pharmacies near our Yonkers, N.Y. office, for example, shows that CVS sells a 100-count bottle of its store brand, generic Excedrin for $19.49. Walgreens offers their store brand with that same pill count for about $9. And Walmart had it for less than $3, sold under their Equate store brand. Look for bottles labeled "Headache Relief" or "Migraine Relief," along with "Compared to Excedrin" marked on the bottle.

Although many people worry that generic drugs aren't as safe or effective as brand-name drugs, it's not true. The active ingredients in a generic drug, including over-the-counter drugs, must be identical to its brand-name counterpart. And a generic drug manufacturer must show that its product is released into the bloodstream and maintained at the same level in the body as the brand-name drug. Finally, the Food and Drug Administration regulates generic and brand-name drugs the same way.

Excedrin isn't the only drug affected by the possible contamination problem. Its manufacturer, Novartis, also recalled Bufferin, Gas-X, and NoDoz products because their bottles might also have been tainted with prescription drugs, including oxycodone and acetaminophen (Endocet, Percocet and generics), oxymorphone (Opana), and hydrocodone and acetaminophen (Zydone and generics).

A Novartis spokesperson told us that they still expect to get Excedrin and their other recalled products back on the shelves by the second half of this year, but wouldn't give us an answer about why it has taken so long.

If you do want to buy drugs online, stick with legitimate retailers, says Carmen Catizone, R.Ph., executive director of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, which works with each state's regulatory board. "The best advice is to only purchase medications, even over-the-counter products, from sources that you are thoroughly familiar with and have some accountability to a state or federal agency in the U.S.," says Catizone. "Individual sellers on e-Bay would not fit that description."

[ Additional links ]

At these prices, Excedrin can be a headache [ Pharmalot ]

Agony of Excedrin recall [ New York Post ]

Best Buy Drugs report on drugs to treat migraines [ Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs ]

Earlier this week, the Swedish consumer magazine Teknikens Värld revealed that the Jeep Grand Cherokee nearly rolled over in their "moose test." While the magazine and automaker debate the testing particulars, with the latter involved in some damage control public relations, our engineers explore what this means for U.S. consumers.

The European moose test is a double lane change maneuver that simulates an emergency situation, requiring a quick steer to avoid an obstacle and then turning back into the travel lane to avoid an oncoming vehicle. According to Teknikens Värld, in every run performed with the Grand Cherokee, the vehicle either went up onto two wheels or debeaded tires (separating the rubber from the wheels) thereby posing the risk of a tripped rollover.

Chrysler's corporate press release states that the test is "invalid" because the vehicle was overloaded beyond its stated load capacity. A separate blog on a Chrysler website says it was overloaded by 110 pounds.

After the results were revealed, Chrysler engineers met with the magazine, providing three Grand Cherokees for a re-test. For subsequent tests, the Chrysler engineers witnessed that vehicle was properly loaded. While no other instances of two-wheel lift occurred, the magazine states that the tires were also debeaded in these runs. (Read: "Jeep Grand Cherokee's moose test failure—truth and facts.")

Consumer Reports tests the emergency handling of all vehicles in our own double lane change maneuver, which is similar in concept. Our test is less severe than the "moose test" with more distance between the entry cones and the gate cones, typically resulting in less steering input. Plus, we test the vehicle loaded with only a driver and a full fuel tank.

We have tested two 2011 Grand Cherokees, a Laredo with the V6 and a Limited with the V8. Both had 18-inch wheels and tires. During our initial tests, the Laredo V6 hopped and skipped sideways. While it did not debead tires or go up on two wheels, this behavior did impair driver confidence and affected the speed at which we could negotiate the course. The Limited V8 did not exhibit this behavior.

After that test, Chrysler recalibrated the stability control and issued a software update in January 2011. The software changes eliminated the problems we encountered and increased the speed and confidence through the course. This update was flashed into existing vehicles and incorporated into later-production Grand Cherokees.

Our experience with the Jeep, as well as the hundreds of other SUVs we've tested, shows that the way the vehicle is equipped can have a considerable effect on its performance in this test. Tire specifications, suspension calibrations, and weight balance all play a role here. The Grand Cherokee tested by Teknikens Värld was a top-level Overland 3.0 CRD V6 (diesel) model with 20-inch tires that comes with adjustable suspension. (The diesel is not currently sold in the U.S. market; engine selection will affect weight balance.)

Loading is a point of contention in this moose test since it was run with five occupants on board and sandbags in the cargo area. While Chrysler states that the Jeep was overloaded by 110 pounds—about 7-10 percent of the payload rating—Teknikens Värld states the vehicle was weighted appropriately according to the Swedish registration certificate. Individual vehicles can have different payload ratings because of variances in optional equipment, which may be different from weights listed in compliance paperwork. Regardless, it could be argued that overloading it by 110 pounds falls within the realm of foreseeable misuse by a consumer and such a variance should be accounted for in vehicle development.

So what should a consumer here in North America take away from this test?

• As a class, SUVs are more top-heavy than cars and are more prone to rollovers. As good as modern stability control and chassis design often is, there is no way to change the laws of physics. But it is worrisome that other SUVs tested by the Swedish magazine, including the Volvo XC90 and Volkswagen Touareg, did not have any problems in this test.


• Despite the war of the words that is ongoing, we wouldn't be surprised if Jeep would change the electronic stability control (ESC) calibrations on the Grand Cherokee going forward to improve their performance in this test and possibly adjust the recommended weight limits. Teknikens Värld states that there was almost no engagement of the ESC in their tests. That's a surprise, since the moose test has been around for over 40 years. You would expect passing that test to be part of vehicle development criteria, just as passing CR's avoidance maneuver test is an engineering priority for many automakers.


• The Jeep tested in Sweden differs in equipment from models that have been tested by CR and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in their dynamic stability testing.


• While no vehicle should be operated while overloaded, staying within the limits is crucial for SUVs. Be especially cautious about loading heavy items on the roof.

We hope that Chrysler and Teknikens Värld get to the bottom of why the Grand Cherokee failed the moose test, because no modern vehicle should perform as shown in the magazine's video.

Related:
Consumer Reports: Jeep Grand Cherokee road test
Update: Chrysler fixes 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee handling problem

With Comic-Con transforming the San Diego Convention Center into a fan boy's fantasy land this week, there are numerous movie, book, and video game announcements pouring out, teasing near-future projects. Mixed within are abundant marketing tie-ins. Before getting caught up with the latest super-hero film trailer, it is important to make sure the flashy sponsorship doesn't sway your zombie apocalypse preparedness.

Automakers have long found television programming to be an effective, uh, vehicle for promoting their wares. The infectious AMC series "The Walking Dead" has been treated to sponsorship from Hyundai, leading to a Tucson being prominent in the survivors' caravan. (What the show really needed was RV sponsorship...)

As a horror/sci-fi/comic fan, I appreciate any corporate support that can see creative programming reach the masses without compromising good story telling. But the latest Hyundai tie-in strikes me as a bit much, the just-unveiled Elantra Coupe (pictured above).

Here at Consumer Reports, we rate the Elantra highly. It's well appointed, fuel efficient, and not a bad drive. But when it comes to facing a zombie apocalypse, I would seek mightier iron.

To me, and yes I have given this too much thought, the ultimate survival machine must be an SUV with serious off-road abilities. A pickup truck is tempting, but the bed makes it too easy for flesh eaters to scramble aboard. And a fully Mad-Maxed compact coupe, even with a zombie-catcher plow, just doesn't cut it. True survival demands go-anywhere ability, easy egress with a machete, and ample storage for supplies.

Further, the vehicle must be reliable, with minimum complexity and decent range. Looking through our ratings, a Chevrolet Traverse or Toyota RAV4 each make wise choices based on our tests, surveys, etc. Seriously.

But for me, the must-have escape machine would have to be a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, complete with 10.1-inches of ground clearance. Admittedly, it scores poorly in our tests. The Wrangler just isn't as civilized as, well, every other vehicle offered in America. But when the undead horde is on the hunt, I am willing to compromise on civility. I think George A. Romero would agree.

Make mine factory stock, with minimal customization. Although it would be tempting to outfit a Wrangler with a lift kit and monstrous tires, it is key that the escape vehicle be easy to maintain and repair. A winch and push bar are essential concessions to this rule. Clearly, a hard top is a must. In fact, the removable Freedom Top roof panels can come in handy for double-tapping through zombie crowds. I could be tempted to put an exterior roof frame on for securing additional spare tires, though that would risk zombie cling ons. Another mod worth considering would be a snorkel for deep water fording.

For interior options, built-in navigation is critical. Likewise, an automatic transmission is a must; I don't want to tie up a hand unnecessarily with shifting. The standard 120-volt outlets would no doubt prove useful. Otherwise, the simpler the better.

In addition to a traditional roadside emergency kit, be sure to stock the vehicle with the prerequisite boomstick, chainsaw, first-aid kit, and bottled water.

In total, the Wrangler Rubicon would be able to go up, over, or around obstacles as needed. Additional gas cans would compensate for the poor fuel economy. As this prospective threat is slow moving, acceleration and handling are much less a concern than with other equally improbable fantasy scenarios, like surviving a Cuba invasion "Red Dawn" style.

Should the viral doomsday scenario occur, I wouldn't mind a fast lap around Manhattan in a Shelby Mustang (as in "I am legend"), but the Wrangler would be my first choice to live to fight another day.

What would yours be? My hunch is that your pick won't be an Elantra coupe.

Related:
CDC: Preparedness 101: Zombie Apocalypse
My torrid love affair with the lowest-rated vehicle, the Jeep Wrangler