Lemon Recalls Make Car Buying a Risky Business
Twenty years ago, nearly everyone bought their new cars directly from a dealership and only those that were driving a car for business purposes were leasing their vehicles. And now that the credit crunch appears to be easing a little, leasing of vehicles is picking up again. With so many vehicles to choose from, options......
Read MoreLemon Law Judgment Against Mercedes-Benz
Buying a “lemon,” a car with a defect that cannot be repaired, is often thought to be a problem with used cars. The recent judgment against Mercedes-Benz USA LLC for $482,000 in damages and legal fees to a Wisconsin customer, tells a different story. This is believed to be the largest judgment involving a single......
Read MoreDespite Publicity, California Lemon Law Still Needed for Toyota Owners
Despite massive publicity about an obvious—and potentially life-threatening—vehicle defect, it seems that some dealers will still try to wrangle out of taking care of it for consumers. Such occurrences highlight the continuing need for California Lemon Law. According to a recent news story published on the web site of television station CBS 5 in San......
Read MoreCalifornia Lemon Law: Should It Apply to Toyota?
A Sacramento, California-based consumer advocacy group called CARS (Consumers for Automobile Reliability and Safety) is arguing that Toyota Motor Corporation should buy back models with the highly-publicized unexpected acceleration problem as lemon law buy-backs. So far, Toyota has not taken this measure with their customers, instead urging them to bring the affected cars to dealerships......
Read MoreCalifornia Lemon Law: Never Give Up
On the heels of their largest ever recall involving two different problems regarding unexpected acceleration, Toyota Motor Company has just acknowledged that its next-generation Prius, which only went on sale in May of last year, has braking problems. The company is still deciding whether or not to issue a recall on the vehicle, which would......
Read MoreDriving a Lemon? Get Help Immediately
Toyota Motor Corporation sure has had its share of headlines lately. First it was for an apparent problem with floor mat configuration causing unexpected acceleration. Then a suit was filed targeting vehicle computer systems for unexpected acceleration. In the last week was a story on yet another part causing the same problem, and just on......
Read MoreThe ‘Wall of Problems’ in Pursuing a California Lemon Law Case
Melinda and Roger Deberry of Charleston, West Virginia have just filed suit against Ford Motor Company for multiple defects in their 2008 Ford Focus, including problems with the engine, steering, suspension and drivability. The vehicle was purchased in February of 2008, and the couple claim they sustained lost wages and vehicle use while submitting it......
Read MoreThe Crucial Need for California Lemon Law Enforcement
Some 40 years after the enactment of the original California lemon law, the need for this law is still being aptly demonstrated today. New information has recently surfaced on the largest recall Toyota Motor Corporation has ever issued, addressing unexpected acceleration in vehicles which could be potentially deadly to drivers. Initially Toyota claimed that the......
Read MoreCalifornia Lemon Law: Actually Fixing the Problem
Recent news has been carrying the story of Toyota’s largest-ever recall, after widespread complaints of unintended acceleration in various models. According to the manufacturer, the way the floor mat was designed could cause the vehicle to unexpectedly accelerate out of control, and the recall was for the replacement for floor mats as well as accelerator......
Read MoreKnow Your Emissions Warranties
With new vehicles, it is common to find that an emissions warranty lasts longer than the manufacturer’s basic warranty. Some emissions warranties last as long as 8 years or 80,000 miles, covering parts such as the catalytic converter and the power train control module. It’s important to check a vehicle’s warranty manual, as it will......
Read MoreDon’t Wait for the Recall
General Motors has recently issued a recall for Chevrolet Corvettes from the 2005 through 2007 model years, because the roof panel may blow off. The problem stems from a defect with the adhesive bonding and removable roof panel to the frame; if the bond breaks, the roof panel could go flying off while driving. The......
Read MoreDon’t Back Off if You’re Driving a Lemon
A recent story in the Los Angeles Times Business Section reports that Toyota Motor Corporation—who recently issued the biggest vehicle recall in history—has now disclosed a number of dealings with safety issues that show efforts to keep such issues from consumers at large. For example, the company discovered during a routine test on its Sienna......
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