QUESTION: My husband drives a 1997 Saturn SL2. We have the oil changed on a regular basis, but the past few times when they do the oil change, the oil level is so low they can't read it on the dipstick. What could be wrong with it?

ANSWER: Without being too harsh, the problem isn't the car, it's the owners. It would appear that no one checks the oil level between oil changes. The vehicle is 13 years old and likely has relatively high mileage. Consuming a quart or two of oil in 3,000 to 5,000 miles of driving is absolutely normal for a vehicle of this age and mileage. So the answer is quite simple. Check the oil level every two to four weeks and add oil as necessary to keep it topped up between oil changes.

Q: I have a '98 Jeep Wrangler that, when turned to go around a corner, likes to continue to turn. The steering wheel must be manually turned back to center in order to go straight again. I have stock-size tires, and the vehicle has been aligned. Also, tire pressure is 32 psi and the power steering fluid is up to the proper level. All front end parts were deemed fine by the shop that did the alignment. The Jeep did have this issue before the steering was aligned.

A: Have the alignment double-checked. The self-centering characteristic in modern steering systems is generated by the caster angle in the steering geometry. Viewed from the side of the vehicle, caster is the rearward tilt of the vertical axis through the centerline of the upper and lower ball joints. The most recent alignment specs for your Jeep call for seven degrees of caster. If the caster angle is too small, the steering won't generate as much self-centering characteristic as it should.

If the alignment is correct, the problem may be in the power steering or the recirculating ball steering box.

Q: I have a 2005 Kia Sportage with 85,000 miles. The airbag light is on. Would this be covered by warranty? Is it expensive to get fixed?

A: The manufacturer's basic warranty on your vehicle provided coverage for five years or 60,000 miles. As long as the airbag warning light is on, the airbags may not deploy properly in a crash. Regardless of warranty coverage, have the dealer plug in a scan tool to identify why the airbag light remains on. Because your vehicle is just into its fifth year, I would hope the dealer and manufacturer would cover any repairs to the airbag system with a "customer goodwill" adjustment. No guarantee, but it's always worth asking.

Q: On the dashboard display of my 2007 Avalon, a symbol lights up that resembles a cross-section of a tire when the engine is running. The display diagram indicates that this is a tire pressure warning. In the owner's manual there is no information about this, and a visual check of the wheels shows only the normal valve caps. I regularly check my tire pressures and keep them at the recommended figure. Is it all right to ignore this light until the next service or until the car is recalled?

A: Believe it or not, check the pressure in the spare tire — it may also have a tire pressure sensor. You can also reset the tire pressure warning light by turning the key on and holding the reset button — found at the bottom of the dash near your knees — until the warning light goes out.

As long as the four tires on the vehicle are properly inflated, your Avalon is safe to drive.