AUTOS

FTC to Investigate ‘Lemon’ Car Accusations: A coalition of consumer groups at a news conference in Washington released a petition to the Federal Trade Commission asking for either new federal consumer disclosure rules or a civil investigation of auto makers’ practices for disposing of defective cars. The group said auto makers take steps to evade states’ “lemon laws” and that those result in thousands of unsafe, defective used cars being foisted on unsuspecting buyers every year. “It’s something we’ll look at,” FTC spokeswoman Bonnie Jansen said. “The staff certainly takes these kinds of petitions seriously.” Officials at the American Automobile Manufacturers Assn. did not immediately return calls seeking comment.