Lemon Law Blog

Back in late November, we reported that Toyota was recalling 4 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles due to faulty accelerator pedals after NHTSA reported more than 2,000 instances of sudden acceleration.

This past Thursday, the manufacturer announced it is recalling an additional 600,000 vehicles.  The new recall affects 2009- 2010 Toyota RAV4 models, 2009-2010 Toyota Corolla models, 2009-2010 Toyota Matrix models,2010 Toyota Highlander models,  and 2008-2010 Toyota Sequoia models.  In addition, three models from the previous gas pedal recall, 2005-2010 Toyota Avalon models, 2007-2010 Toyota Camry models, and 2007-2010 Toyota Tundra models,  are included in both recalls.

Toyota says the recall is due to potential problems with the gas pedal mechanism that can cause the accelerator to become stuck regardless of whether the vehicle contains a floor mat. The manufacturer said that in certain situations, the mechanism wears down, causing the accelerator to become harder to press, slower to return, and in some cases stuck.

Toyota said drivers in the recalled cars whose gas pedals become stuck should firmly apply their brakes, drive the car to a safe location, shut off the engine, and contact the nearest Toyota dealer.  The manufacturer advises drivers NOT to pump their brakes.

The manufacturer will be contacting consumers shortly regarding the recall, however if you have been back to a Toyota dealer in the past complaining of sudden acceleration, you may be entitled to a repurchase, replacement or partial refund under State Lemon Laws and Federal Warranty Laws.  So far, we have taken a number of  Toyota sudden acceleration cases under the Pennsylvania Lemon Law, New Jersey Lemon Law, Ohio Lemon Law, Massachusetts Lemon Law, Maryland Lemon Law and New York Lemon Law.   We are also working on a television report outlining the reason for the recall.  If you find that you are dealing with this defect, please contact us for further information about your rights.

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It’s time again for us to provide a roundup of recent refunds, repurchases and replacements.  Under the State Lemon Laws and the Federal Magnuson Moss Warranty Act, all of our clients receive completely cost-free legal help, with the manufacturers covering the legal fees ON TOP OF what our client receives.  We are very proud of our efforts and encourage you to reach out to us at 1-800 LEMON LAW (1-800-536-6652) or via e-mail  if you think your vehicle may qualify for remedy.   Here we go….

2008 Dodge Dakota, Replacement Vehicle  — Newark, DE

2008 Audi A5, $6,500 cash plus client keeps their car — Jenkintown, PA

2009 Chevrolet Impreza, Replacement Vehicle — Telford, PA

2007 Hyundai Santa Fe, $5,000 plus client keeps their car — Cranbury, NJ

2008 Volkswagen Rabbit, Complete Refund — Greenwich, CT

2008 Buell Blast Motorcycle, Replacement Bike — Aberdeen, MD

2009 Infiniti G37, Complete Refund — Randolph, NJ

2007 Cadillac Escalade (70,000 miles), $5,500 cash plus client keeps their car — Bloomfield, NJ

2008 BMW 5-series, Replacement Vehicle — Perrysburg, OH

2008 Chrysler Sebring, Complete Refund –Somerville, MA

2008 Ford Ranger, $8,000 cash plus client keeps their car — Spring Grove, PA

2008 BMW 335i, $18,500 cash plus client keeps car and receives 7 yr/100k extended warranty- West New York, NJ

2008 Ford F250, $5,000 cash plus client keeps their truck — Rome, NY

2009 Honda Accord, Replacement Vehicle — York, PA

2009 Chevrolet Silverado, Replacement Vehicle — New Galihee, PA

2007 Audi Q7, Replacement Vehicle — Middletown, DE

2007 Pontiac G6, Complete Refund — Oceanside, NY

2008 Jeep Patriot, Complete Refund — Uniontown, PA

2005 Land Rover Range Rover, $6,500 cash plus client keeps car — Richboro, PA

2009 Dodge Challenger, Complete Refund — Brick, NJ

2008 Jeep Liberty, Complete Refund — Clarksville, PA

2008 Smart Car Cabriolet, Replacement Vehicle — Findlay, OH

2007 Hyundai Entourage, Complete Refund — Holbrook, NY

2006 Suzuki Forenza, Complete Refund — Elkins Park, PA

2009 Volvo S80, $7,500 cash plus client keeps their car — Frederick, MD

2008 GMC Arcadia, $5,000 cash plus client keeps their car — Boston, MA

2007 Toyota Camry, Complete Refund — Pikesville, MD

2008 BMW 335i, Replacement Vehicle — Old Bridge, NJ

2007 Mercedes Benz ML320, Complete Refund — River Vale, NJ

2009 Mazda 6, $6,500 cash plus client keeps their car — Elizabeth, NJ

2009 Audi A5, Replacement Vehicle — Hamilton, NJ

2008 Jeep Wrangler, Complete Refund  — Pisacataway, NJ

2009 Audi S5,  Replacement Vehicle –Boston, MA

2008 Mazda CX7, $5,000 cash plus client keeps their car — Monroeville, PA

2008 Dodge Ram, Complete Refund –Rural Valley, PA

2007 Moto Guzzi Motorcycle, Complete Refund — Flemington, NJ

2007 Chevrolet Silverado, $6,850 cash plus client keeps their car –Brooklyn, NY

2007 Jeep Compass, Complete Refund — Lancaster, PA

2008 Chevrolet Avalanche, $8,000 cash plus client keeps their SUV — Oliver, PA

2007 Hyundai Veracruz, Replacement Vehicle — Glassboro, NJ

Driving a lemon?  Join the more than 60,000 distressed drivers who have made the call to 1-800 LEMON LAW!

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One of the roles we treasure most at Kimmel and Silverman is serving as automotive consumer advocates, working with reporters and producers throughout the Nation to educate consumers on their lemon law and car buying rights.  Our efforts and our clients have been featured in hundreds of consumer stories, each designed to empower consumers to fight for their rights.

One of our favorite consumer reporters, beloved Pittsburgh reporter Yvonne Zanos, succumbed to ovarian cancer today, two days following her sixtieth birthday.  Over the years, we shared so many wonderful times with Yvonne; checking out the hot new rides at the Pittsburgh Auto Show, scouring through mall parking lots looking for cars that appear on NHTSA’s annual car complaint index, and just setting up cameras in the middle of car dealerships (and no one ever turned her away.)  Her smile was contagious, her anecdotes hilarious, and her love for the people of Pittsburgh unwavering.

Together, we worked to solve many consumer dilemmas, and the stories we collaborated on always generated a large amount of response.  She had her pulse on her viewer and she always knew the best way to tell the story.  She was at the forefront when Pennsylvania expanded the Lemon Law, and again with the first-ever computer lemon law bill.  If you called her with useful, up-to-the minute information, you could be assured she’d share it with her viewers at 5:00.

Our last correspondence with Yvonne was right before Thanksgiving, and she was front and center in the newsroom despite receiving treatments.  As she always did with her reporting, Yvonne fought a good fight, with an incredible combination of wit, grace and tenacity.

Our love and condolences go out to her family in Bethel Park, PA, her family in the Pittsburgh broadcasting community, and her many viewers, fans and friends throughout Western Pennsylvania.

To Yvonne’s fans, you can show your love by contributing to a cause close to her heart, the KDKA TV Turkey Fund.  More information about Yvonne and the fund can be found by clicking here.

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