June 19, 2026

Dear Car Pro Family,

We start today with a Happy Father’s Day message to all the Dads that are part of the Car Pro family. I hope you have a great day, guys. There is a message from me to the Dads below, along with a poem and video just for you. Along those same lines, my closing message today is centered around my late Son, B.J. Besides it being Father’s Day, his birthday is next week and I got a shocking email from a listener. My closing message is titled: The Email That Stopped Me Cold.

If you are a Consumer Reports fan, and I know some of you are, you’ll likely hate a new commentary today titled: Consumer Reports: Selling Car Fears For Over 70 Years. In a very surprising development, even surprising to me, Texas is just about to overtake California for the most cars sold in America. I tell you why that matters. In another article, I tell you what Americans are doing to be able to afford new cars. Ford owners, the car company is opening up and talking about the big number of recalls they’ve announced lately and discuss the reasons for it and why it won’t be an issue in the future.

SACRAMENTO PROGRAMMING NOTE: Due to the FIFA World Cup, we will not be on KSTE as usual. They are moving us over to KFBK 93.1 FM & 1530 AM at 11 AM tomorrow, Pacific time. We will be there tomorrow, July 4^th, and July 11^th. We will return to our 10 AM time on KSTE on July 18^th. Remember too, you can always click LISTEN LIVE at CarPro.com from 9-Noon Pacific, and our podcast is up there also by 12:30 Pacific.

True Story #18 is at the bottom of this publication, and it is called Lemons. You’ll meet Steve Symonds in this article, a nice guy who owns a huge flag company in DFW. He bought a real lemon from another dealership, but I got involved in it and tried to help him when I owned dealerships. I wasn’t able to completely solve the issue, but I did make a friend.

For this week’s car reviews, I have a review of the beautiful 2027 Kia Telluride SX-Prestige All-wheel drive, a completely new version of an already outstanding SUV. This is one many of you requested and I am happy to bring it to you. Amy Plemons brings you a review of the all-new 2026 Mazda CX-5 with a major tech upgrade.

We had a huge reaction to Kim Komando’s special report last week about insurance companies using AI to deny claims. I hope you didn’t miss it. Today, we are back to Kim’s quiz and a bunch of other items you can use. In advice this week, I tell you what advice I give my friends and relatives. Is it different than what I give on the air? I’ve also got some great stories for this week’s Quick Shifts, and Suits & Settlements.

If you haven’t perused my FAQ page, please do. There are likely multiple articles you can use, every one of them written by me, so don’t miss out, look at all the stories all the way to the bottom.

Check the recall section to see if you may need to take action on your vehicle. Miss a radio show? Below we tell you how to get the podcast, and if you missed a newsletter, we tell you how to find the archive page where you can see the last 10 editions. The incentives have gone up lately, but our Incentive Guide is always 100% up to date.

All of our other regular features are below including the Classic Car Contest, the radio stations we are on, how to call the show to talk directly to me, and much, much, more.

We very much appreciate you being part of the newsletter family. Without you, there is no Car Pro Show. Let us know how we can help you, and if you haven’t been to our website lately, check it out at CarPro.com. It changes daily.

Have a terrific week. See you on the radio!

YOU’LL FIND THE FOLLOWING STORIES AND A LOT MORE INFORMATION AS YOU SCROLL DOWN THE NEWSLETTER:

HAPPY Father’s Day to all the Dads
Commentary: Consumer Reports-Selling car fears for 70 years
Texas is about to pass California for the most cars sold
How Americans are affording new vehicles
The new 2027 Audi Q7 is a beauty
Auto insurance shoppers are turning to AI
Stellantis new ‘America Made Us’ artwork on U.S. Headquarters
Say Happy Birthday to the Honda Accord turning 50!
A new player in the midsized truck segment
Ford addresses recall issues of late
This week’s Quick Shifts
Kim Komando’s Quiz & Tech Tips!
Car Pro Advice: Car advice I give my friends and neighbors
Car Pro Car Review: All-New 2027 Kia Telluride SX-Prestige
Car Pro Review by Amy Plemons: 2026 Mazda CX-5 Premium Plus
Videos of the week
True Stories from a former car dealer #18: Lemons
Closing message: The Email That Stopped Me Cold
Plus, all your normal, weekly information!

I've spent most of my life around fathers.

Not because I set out to, but because the automobile business has a way of introducing you to them every day.

Over the years, I've watched fathers buy their teenager's first car. I've seen dads spend weeks researching the safest vehicle they could afford because they knew their son or daughter would soon be driving alone. I've watched fathers walk into a dealership determined to negotiate every penny, not because they enjoyed haggling, but because they were trying to stretch the family budget a little further.

I've also spent 25 years taking calls on the radio from fathers who wanted to make the right automotive decision for their families. Sometimes they were shopping for a vehicle. Sometimes they were worried about a repair bill. Sometimes they were helping a son or daughter buy a car for the first time.

What I've learned is that being a dad has very little to do with cars and everything to do with responsibility.

Good fathers spend a lot of their lives worrying about people they love.

They worry when their children are young.

They worry when their children become teenagers.

They worry when their children become adults.

And if we're being honest, they never really stop worrying.

The older I get, the more I appreciate the sacrifices fathers make that often go unnoticed. They work long hours. They put their own wants on hold. They quietly carry burdens they rarely talk about because they believe it's their job to provide stability for the people who depend on them.

Most don't expect recognition.

Most don't ask for thanks.

They just keep showing up.

Father's Day is a wonderful opportunity to recognize the dads who are doing exactly that.

It's also a good reminder that fatherhood isn't defined by biology. Some of the best fathers I've known were stepfathers, grandfathers, uncles, coaches, mentors, and family friends who stepped into a role when someone needed them most.

Being a father may be something you're called.

Being a dad is something you do.

I only had 30 years with my son B.J. (pictured with me) and I wish with all my heart there had been more. But Father's Day reminds me that I am still his father. That title didn't leave with him. It remains one of the greatest honors of my life.

So, this Father's Day, if you're fortunate enough to still have your dad, give him a call. If you're a father yourself, take a moment to appreciate the privilege that comes with that title. And if you're remembering a father who is no longer here, spend a few moments reflecting on the lessons he taught you and the example he set.

To all the dads who work hard, sacrifice quietly, worry constantly, and love unconditionally, thank you.

Here is a poem, just for you Dads:

What Makes a Dad

God took the strength of a mountain,

The majesty of a tree,

The warmth of a summer sun,

The calm of a quiet sea,

The generous soul of nature,

The comforting arm of night,

The wisdom of the ages,

The power of the eagle's flight,

The joy of a morning in spring,

The faith of a mustard seed,

The patience of eternity,

The depth of a family need,

Then God combined these qualities,

When there was nothing more to add,

He knew His masterpiece was complete,

And so, He called it ... Dad

Take a moment and watch this short video about how Dads answer the calls of their children. This brought good memories for me:

Happy Father's Day.
-Jerry Reynolds, The Car Pro

suits and settlements chat gpt plus jerry reynolds

ChatGPT Plus/CarPro.

Suits & Settlements is a weekly feature highlighting recent automotive-related legal matters. Whether they impact customers and drivers, a specific automaker or have wider implications for the industry, they are important lawsuits and settlements I think you'll find as interesting as I do.

In this week’s Suits & Settlements, you’ll find the following reports:

New York Targets Nissan Lease Buyout Overcharges
GM Hit With $15 Million Dealer Allocation Lawsuit
Judge Blocks Alleged Auto Warranty Impersonation Scheme
Honda Sued Over Alleged Camera Defect Affecting Safety Systems

Besides the Car Pro Show and our weekly newsletter, my other favorite radio show and newsletter is Kim Komando’s. We are on many of the same radio stations across America. She does for her listeners and newsletter subscribers exactly what I endeavor to do: Give you useful information to keep you up to date on the latest in cars, only she does it with technology and there is nobody who does it better. Not sure how she puts out a top-notch newsletter seven days a week, but she does.

I recommend you subscribe to Kim’s daily newsletter. I learn something new every single day, and it’s free! Subscribe here →

I hear from a lot of people who end up with an extra car for some reason. Sometimes it is due to a death in the family, or someone gets transferred overseas. I’ve seen many occasions where this happens. Well, now, we have two ways to dispose of a vehicle.

ThisCar has been with us for quite some time. They are terrific buyers and make the transactions very easy. They have helped many of our listeners and I’ve had terrific feedback. They are great, too, if you need a good idea what your car is truly worth and as I always say, a car is only worth what someone is willing to write a check for it. ThisCar writes checks, and lots of them.

Now, if you have more time, RetailMyRide.com is now an official partner of the Car Pro Show and they take cars on consignment. You’ve heard me recommend them in the past most likely, and they have helped many of our listeners. They market the car at all the right places, they get top dollar for it, take a little off the top, and you get the rest. It’s that simple. No people coming to your house, calling or texting, no worrying about how to complete the paperwork, they do all that for you.

So, the question is: Do you want quick cash or the most cash? We’ve got you covered either way with CarPro AppraisalPro OR CarPro ConsignPro.

It all starts at CarPro.com, click SELL A CAR at the top, or click here →

Credit: Barrett-Jackson.

We have had a lot of fun with our classic car contest on the Car Pro Show Facebook page. We post the photo of a classic vehicle every Saturday morning and invite people to guess the year, make, and model. The prize is an AutoHeatShield. Official contest rules →

Last weekend's Classic Car, posted on our Facebook page, was a 1955 Ford Crown Victoria Skyliner that will cross the block at Barrett-Jackson Columbus coming up later this month.

Our Facebook winner this week and winner of an AutoHeatShield, is:

Visit AutoHeatShield →

If you are searching for a particular new or used vehicle, we can help you! The best news is, if you use CarPro to search, when you find the car of your dreams it will be at a CarPro approved dealership.

Our search feature is simple to use. Choose new, used, or certified. You can select the make and model, or find a price range you are looking at. Choose the number of miles you are willing to travel and enter your zip code. From there, you can look through all your matches, knowing you are shopping at a dealership I have handpicked that adheres to the high standards I require.

Start your search on the front page of CarPro.com. If you don't find the car of your dreams, check back regularly.

have 5 hours to call the show! From 9AM- 2PM Central, 7AM-Noon Pacific, and 10 AM to 3 PM Eastern, the phone numbers are:

DFW Show: 9 AM to 11 AM Central,
- 1 (800) 288-9227
National Show: 11 AM to 2 PM Central,
- 1 (800) 926-7777

Add the numbers to your cell phone; you never know when you are going to need straight talk and honest answers about everything automotive.

So, what is the CarPro Radio Show?

Confused about the car buying process? Worried you won’t get a fair deal? Wondering about which vehicle is best for you? Then tune in to the CarPro Radio Show every week where Jerry Reynolds and Todd Chambless will guide you through the car-buying process with confidence.

No matter where you listen to the show or which station you listen to, you have five hours to call in and ask your questions. We take calls every Saturday from 9 AM-2 PM Central time, 7 AM to Noon Pacific. The phone number is different the first two hours, then changes, so keep that in mind.

We would love to help you in any way possible! Keep in mind, we don’t take mechanical questions, but everything else is great!

The Car Pro Radio Show is heard every weekend all over the United States, and every weekend we deliver straight talk and honest answers about everything automotive. We would greatly appreciate it if you would take a moment and tell a friend about the show.

In LA, we invite our long-time listeners to tune in to the Car Pro Show on its new SoCal home, KABC!

Plus, as of Saturday, May 30th, we welcomed listeners in the following markets!

Anchorage and Fairbanks, AK; Little Rock-Pine Bluff, AR; Phoenix (Prescott), AZ; Reno, NV; Mobile-Pensacola (Ft. Walton Beach), AL-FL; Albany, GA; St. Louis and Springfield, MO; Terre Haute and Indianapolis, IN; Lincoln and Hastings-Kearney, NE; Lexington, KY; Washington (Hagerstown), DC-MD; Traverse City-Cadillac, Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, and Lansing, MI; Paducah-Cape Girardeau-Harrisburg, MO-IL; Jackson, MS; Great Falls, MT; Charlotte, NC; Amarillo, Odessa-Midland, Lubbock, and Abilene-Sweetwater, TX; Albuquerque-Santa Fe, NM; Salt Lake City, UT; Syracuse and Buffalo, NY; Knoxville, Jackson, and Tri Cities, TN-VA; Shreveport, LA; Burlington-Plattsburgh, VT-NY; Denver, CO; and Casper-Riverton, WY.

Most of our listeners tell us that they never thought they would look forward to a show about cars. You may have friends or relatives who feel the same way in the cities below, please make them aware.

Here are the DFW markets the show airs in, times, and stations, and don't forget you can now listen to WBAP on the FM dial at 93.3 FM!

Dallas, TX: WBAP 820 AM/93.3 FM/99.5 HD 2, Saturday 9am to 11am Central
Dallas, TX: KRLD 1080 AM, Saturday 1pm to 2pm Central Dallas Show Airs LIVE and Saturday 2pm to 4pm Central - Pre-recorded National Show
Granbury, TX: KPIR 1420 AM, Saturday 11am to 2pm Central
Listen to the WBAP Podcast (up every Tuesday)→

This is #18 in a series of 40 stories written by me about occurrences from my days in the car business. Each story had a lasting impression on me for some reason or another. Some because they were funny, some because they were sad, and some were just strange. But whatever the case, over the next 21 weeks, we’ll feature one of them, in order for you to enjoy.

Today, I tell you a story about Mr. Symonds, who had a problem Ford when I owned my largest Ford dealership in Dallas. I didn’t sell it to him but after a magazine article showed his truck with lemons pasted all over it, I got involved. I solved the problem for him and got him out of the troublesome diesel truck. Many years later, I find out the problem wasn’t solved at all sadly. But we remained friends and I still do business with Symond’s Flags to this day.

You can read #18 here: Lemons→

Click here for the True Stories library →

The Email That Stopped Me Cold

Four days from now would have been my son BJ's birthday.

As every parent who has lost a child knows, birthdays never completely disappear. The calendar keeps moving, life keeps moving, but certain dates still have a way of finding you. Sometimes you see them coming weeks in advance. Other times they seem to sneak up on you when you're busy doing something else.

Not long ago, I received an email from a listener named Rusty that stopped me in my tracks.

I've never met Rusty in person. Like so many listeners over the years, we've exchanged emails and messages, and I've come to know him through our conversations. But what he told me in that email was one of the most thoughtful and meaningful things anyone has ever done for my family.

Rusty and his family, along with the wonderful people at Spark Worldwide, funded a water well in India in memory of BJ.

Think about that for a second.

Not flowers.

Not a plaque.

Not a donation card.

A water well.

Rusty explained that the project wasn't easy. The first attempt came up dry. So did the second. There was concern that the village might not receive a well at all. Then, after prayers from the families involved, the people at Spark Worldwide, and members of Open Door Church, they drilled again.

This time they found water.

(Click here for video.)

As I watched the video Rusty sent, I found myself thinking less about the well and more about the people involved.

The villagers who now have access to clean water for the first time.

The volunteers who made it happen.

The folks at Spark Worldwide who have devoted themselves to helping others.

And especially Rusty.

Because here's the part I can't get past.

Rusty never met BJ.

He never worked with him. Never sold cars with him. Never shared a meal with him. He knows BJ only through stories I've told over the years and through the memories I've shared with listeners.

Yet somehow, he cared enough to honor BJ's memory in a way that will literally improve lives on the other side of the world.

In a time when so much attention is focused on what's wrong with society, it's easy to forget how much goodness still exists around us. Most of it never makes the news. It doesn't generate headlines or social media arguments. It happens quietly, one person helping another because they simply believe it's the right thing to do.

I've often said that one of the greatest blessings of my radio career has been the people I've met along the way. Over the years, listeners have become friends. They've shared their stories, their struggles, their victories, and sometimes their heartbreak. Many of them I've never met face-to-face, yet they have become an important part of my life.

Rusty's gift reminded me of something I've come to believe more strongly as I've gotten older. The true measure of a life isn't found in a bank account, a title, a business card, or even the length of time we're here. It's found in the lives we touch and the impact we have on others, often in ways we'll never fully understand.

BJ understood that.

That's why he was successful.

He cared about people.

Customers felt it. Coworkers felt it. Friends felt it. Family certainly felt it.

What neither of us could have imagined is that years later, his memory would help provide clean water to people he never met and never knew existed.

That's a remarkable thought.

Rusty included something in his email that his pastor said years ago. The pastor suggested that perhaps time works differently in heaven than it does here on Earth. He imagined BJ walking through heaven, looking back over his shoulder, and seeing the rest of us not far behind.

I don't pretend to know how any of that works.

What I do know is this: a listener's act of kindness touched my heart at exactly the right time. I know a village now has clean water. I know people I'll never meet will benefit from the generosity of someone who simply wanted to do something good.

And I know that four days from now, when BJ's birthday arrives, I'll be thinking not only about the son I miss every day, but also about the incredible kindness of a listener who reminded me that there is still a tremendous amount of good in this world.

Maybe that's what remains after we're gone.

Not the things we owned or the positions we held, but the kindness we showed, the lives we touched, and the good we leave behind for others.

That's a lesson worth remembering.

Straight Talk and Honest Answers — always.

Happy Father's Day To All The Dads!

What Makes a Dad

Must-Read New Commentary!

Straight Talk and Honest Answers

CarPro Advice: Car Advice I Give My Friends & Family

U.S. Auto Market

How Americans Are Affording New Vehicles

Auto Insurance Shoppers Are Turning To AI

Ford Addresses Recalls Of Late

Texas Is About To Pass California For Most Cars Sold

FAQ: This Week's Q&A Spotlight!

Q: Is Now a Good Time To Refinance My Car Loan?

Q: How Do I Buy A Used Car From A Private Seller?

Legal Matters

ChatGPT Plus/CarPro.

On The Road: Test Drives

All-New 2027 Kia Telluride X-Pro SX-Prestige

Kia took one of the best three-row SUVs on the market and somehow made it even better!

All-New 2026 Mazda CX-5 S Premium Plus

A new infotainment system, new giant touchscreen and the lineup's first-ever panoramic sunroof!

Quick Shifts

Bumper to Bumper: Industry News

Say Happy 50th Birthday to The Honda Accord!

The New 2027 Audi Q7 Is A Beauty

Stellantis' New "America Made Us" Artwork On U.S. HQ

Reports: A New Player In The Midsized Truck Segment Is Coming Read more→

Weekly Recalls

Incentives Guide

Kim Komando Quiz and Tech Tips

Kim's Tech Tips & Interesting Info

Sell Or Consign Your Car For Top Dollar!

Check Out Our Newsletter Archive Page!

Classic Car Contest: Win An AutoHeatShield!

Exclusive Approved Products & Services

Get Your Car Pro Show T-Shirts, Hats and Mugs

Subscribe to the free DFW Newsletter

Miss the Show? Catch Our Podcast!

Searching For A New Or Used Vehicle?

You Have 5 Hours To Call The Show!

Now Airing On KABC +78 New Markets!

Jerry's Must-Watch Video of the Week!

Todd's Video of the Week!

True Stories From A Former Car Dealer

Closing Message From Jerry

The Email That Stopped Me Cold

CarPro Advice:
Car Advice I Give My Friends & Family

Q: Is Now a Good Time
To Refinance My Car Loan?

Q: How Do I Buy A
Used Car From A
Private Seller?

Stellantis' New
"America Made Us" Artwork On U.S. HQ

Reports: A New Player In The Midsized Truck Segment Is Coming
Read more→