Lemon Law Blog

If you are looking to celebrate Summer with a hot set of wheels, check out two stories we recently worked on at KDKA TV in Pittsburgh….one on the car complaint index and the other featured the Center For Auto Safety’s Best Bets.

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Eagle eyed blog readers may notice that one vehicle, the Volkswagen Jetta, is mentioned both on the 2007 Car Complaint Index (in the number 3 position) and among the compact cars in this year’s Best Bets. How can that be?

“Best Bets” are based on expected performance in ten categories (crash tests, safety features, fuel economy, rollover, overall, maintenance and repair costs, warranties, insurance costs, and complaints), with the greatest emphasis placed on crash test performance and complaints.

The Car Complaint Index compares the number of complaints submitted to the National Traffic Safety Administration to the number of sales. The Jetta has been one of VW’s top selling cars for many years, and with higher sales sometimes comes a higher number of complaints from drivers. As we discussed in a previous blog entry, these comments can be subjective. However, it is important to note that we saw consumers complaining about the same components, namely electrical, so we feel their observations may carry some merit and perhaps this is an issue the manufacturer may want to look into.

On the other side of the coin, the CCI does not take any of the other factors into consideration, most notably VW’s 4 year/50,000 mile warranty, safety features, and fuel economy, all of which are ideal for a consumer looking for a compact vehicle.

Hope this clears up the confusion! Safe driving!

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Each year, prospective car buyers call us with one constant inquiry: “Which cars receive the most complaints?” Thank goodness for Consumer Advocate Jack Gillis, author of the Ultimate Car Book. Each year, Mr. Gillis puts together a projected car complaint index, comparing the number of complaints submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to the number of cars sold. This year’s index is a little surprising….

Tops on the list this year is the Volkswagen Passat, followed by
Pontiac Solstice
Volkswagen Jetta
Mercedes Benz M Class
Nissan Quest
Dodge Charger
Mazda 5
Hyundai Tiburon
Mazda MX5 Miata
and the Subaru B9 Tribeca

You can view the complete list by clicking here .

And if you are looking for a great read on auto-related issues, you can purchase Jack’s book by clicking here.

Now, just because your car may be on this list does NOT mean it is a lemon. These are the cars that are receiving the highest number of complaints per sales, however it is important to note that these complaints are subjective and may not always hold merit. Case in point: a constant on the list is the Toyota Prius, the granddaddy of all hybrids. Why is the Prius always on the list? Because consumers are uncomfortable with the sudden surge once the car comes out of a stop. What they fail to realize however is that this is a characteristic of a hybrid vehicle, and not a defect. The bottom line is this list should serve as one research tool when buying a car, and not the end-all, be-all.

That being said, there are still many legitimate complaints we are seeing among these cars (visit the NHTSA consumer complaint database by clicking here.) Consumers are complaining the most about airbag lights coming on (and in the case of the VW Jetta, airbags unintentionally deploying), check engine lights coming on for no reason, and engine hesitation and stalling. These are also among the top automobile defects we see coming through our office every day. it is amazing that with such amazing, innovative technology coming out of the automotive industry, we are still seeing the same defects again and again.

If you are experiencing these problems, it is important that you visit your service manager, and keep all repair invoices. Make sure the invoices outline the problems you complain about and what the service manager has done to fix the problem. Also, if the problem recoccurs, you should keep a log, and if necessary contact a lemon law firm, be it us or someone else. Make sure you are not being charged any cost, retainer or contingency. And, as we have said before–DO NOT DO THIS ON YOUR OWN! You have access to legal help. If you need it, take advantage of it.

Do manufacturers pay attention to this list? You bet your axle they do. The first year we issued this list in 2001, the Mazda MPV was tops on the index. Immediately after we publishied the index, we received a letter from Mazda outlining the ways they had addressed the problems consumers complained about. As a result, Mr. Gillis took them off the list. Furthermore, while Ford was a constant presence for years on the list, this year’s index does not contain one Ford vehicle. We are happy to see they are listening to their consumers.

Thanks again to Mr. Gillis, Ms. Curran, and their staff for allowing us to share this information with consumers.

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Fall is an ideal time to consider buying a new car. Between the 2006 leftovers and the shiny new 2007 models, the selection is at its finest. But before you take that leap, remember five easy steps to prevent being taken for a ride:

1) KNOW YOUR NEEDS–Sure a fire-engine red convertible may be the ideal cure for a mid-life crisis, but not for the doting dad of three. Before you head out to the dealership for a test drive, figure out exactly what you need from your new car and create a list of the features that are most important to you. Are you frequently on the road for business? Perhaps, you need more trunk space. Will you go crazy without a sunroof? How much leg room do you need? Are you looking for a coupe? a sedan? a stationwagon? a minivan? Do you take long road trips? You may want to check out the cars which receive the best mileage per gallon. If you live in an area known for its white winters, check out the vehicles with four-wheel drive. Once you can narrow your sights on the vehicles which best fit your lifestyle, you can zoom ahead to the next important step…..

2) RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH! It’s so important we have to say it three times. An educated consumer is an effective consumer. The internet offers some wonderful websites such as Edmunds and Vehix, where you can compare vehicles side by side. Our award-winning lemon law website (self promotion alert!) offers some very useful data from the Center for Auto Safety: The 2006 Car Complaint Index, which lists the cars that receive the most complaints per sales, and this year’s Best Buys, which take into account everything from mileage to warranty to customer satisfaction. Plus, make sure you find out the MSRP (manufacturers suggested retail price)–in most situations, you should always pay below the MSRP. Soak up as much information as you can before setting your sites on that shiny new car. The knowledge you possess may be worth its weight in gold.

3) TRY IT BEFORE YOU BUY IT! As you enter the sun-soaked lot of shiny new vehicles, you see it–your dream car…there in the distance…you must have it…you talk with the dealer, you look over the car, you agree on the price…everything is moving along so smoothly…you are about the sign the paperwork and drive your dream car off into the sunset…STOP!!! Before you sign on any dotted line, it is important to try out the car. Put the pedal to the metal and take that baby out on a decent test drive. Try to sample the car both in city and highway settings and also make sure you examine every feature. Turn the AC to full-blast and open the sunroof–even if you are in the middle of March. Turn on the radio, press the horn, lock the doors, move the seats back–make sure everything is working perfectly and do not purchase the car if you find something wrong. This is your one chance to demand perfection. Do not settle for any IOUs.

4) UNDERSTAND YOUR WARRANTY. Every new car comes with a manufacturers warranty. Before you purchase your car, make sure you understand the terms of your warranty–how long does it last? what is covered? Most manufacturers also offer an extended warranty on the powertrain components. Some even offer free maintenance, including oil changes and service. Know what is offered and take advantage of it. If your car is giving you problems and you are under a warranty, you will void that warranty if you go to the neighborhood mechanic or if you don’t change your oil. Plus, keep all of your records, because you will never know when you need to…..

5) FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHTS! Here’s the bottom line–When you purchase a new car, it comes with a manufacturers warranty which is supposed to insure that problems are fixed efficiently and effectively. But what happens when they are not? That’s why every state has a Lemon Law and in most states, these laws have fee-shifting provisions, providing consumers with completely free legal representation. If you are having a problem, do yourself a favor and look into hiring a consumer attorney. Just make sure that they do not charge a retainer or take a percentage of your winnings. Why would you represent yourself when you can someone experienced working with you to help you achieve your desired result? Lemon Law America provides a wonderful on-line resource to learn about your State’s Lemon Law and to connect with a consumer attorney in your state. If you do find yourself in a jam, this website will help you get back on the road to recovery. LemonLaw.Com also offers a list of lemon law attorneys throughout the Nation.

Well, there you have it….five easy steps to help you when you are looking for a new ride. Here’s wishing you safe driving in your new car!

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