Lemon Law Blog

Happy new year!  The winter months are upon us and so is the wacky wetter weather (try saying that ten times fast.) The phones at 1-800 LEMON LAW are ringing with many distressed drivers who are dealing with water leaks. On this blog, we have discussed why it is so important to continue to bring these leaks to your service manager’s attention, especially since leaks can lead to mold and mildew.

Many vehicles are suffering with clogged sunroof drains and other component failures which are causing water to leak onto drivers side and passenger side floors, and in some cases, even contaminate electrical components.  We are also seeing a great deal of water leaks in trunks and spare wheel wells.

If you have a GMC Acadia, Saturn Outlook, Jeep Commander and Jeep Grand Cherokee, please be advised we are currently handing/have handled hundreds of water leak claims involving these types of vehicles.But, you are not alone.  This past month alone, we have opened water leaks claims against six other manufacturers as well. A leak can occur in any vehicle. Remember that in this tough economy, we are continuously seeing manufacturers cutting warranty repair costs.  Be as specific as possible with regard to when you noticed the leak and what areas of your vehicle appear to be affected.  Furthermore, it is essential that if you smell or see mold or mildew, you immediately bring it to you dealer’s attention and if necessary, you request that carpeting and seats be replaced. Your family’s health and the value of your vehicle both could be at risk.

In most circumstances, if you report a water leak or a leak-related problem (mold) to a dealer three times under original or extended manufacturers warranty, you very well may be entitled to a full or partial refund, or a new vehicle under State and/or Federal Law (even if the leak is fixed).  If this applies to you, and you are interested in 100% cost-free legal assistance, please contact us to discuss your rights.

Popularity: 37% [?]

Unfortunately, as the economy continues to spiral downward, so does production of several General Motors sport utility vehicles. The manufacturer has announced that come December 23, they will close their plant in Moraine, Ohio and cease production of the Chevrolet Trailblazer, the GMC Envoy, and the Saab 9-7x.  Thankfully, it’s not all coal and humbug this Christmas for the company. The Chevrolet Traverse, Saturn Outlook, GMC Acadia, and Buick Enclave have all remained popular and will continue to be produced.

Popularity: 7% [?]

As the rain has been pouring down this past week, the calls have been pouring into 1-800 LEMON LAW . We have been successfully resolving a large number of water leak claims recently, especially in General Motors SUVs.  But, GM drivers are not alone; I just took a call from a gentleman who has been in 7 times for a water leak in his trunk…and he drives a 2007 Honda Accord! There is no doubt that as the weather continues to get wetter, many distressed drivers will locate a leak. So what do you do if you find a drip?

We have repeatedly provided tips on what to do if your car leaves you all wet. Provided you are under manufacturers warranty, make sure you take your car to an authorized manufacturers dealer as promptly as possible. And, when you pick up the car, make sure you also pick up a repair invoice that outlines the problem and what they have done to resolve it.  Keep these invoices in a safe place. If you are facing this problem repeatedly, and the service manager is leaving you out to dry, you need to take action.  If you are in the shop three times under warranty for a leak, you have the right to file a lemon law or breach of warranty claim EVEN IF THEY EVENTUALLY FIX THE PROBLEM.  Why?  Because your vehicle has suffered a non-conformity which significantly affected its use, value and safety.  A decent claim could result in significant monetary compensation…we are talking a partial or full refund…possibly even a new car. And as you know, under your lemon laws and federal laws we work with, the legal help is completely FREE.

And let’s say they fix the leak?  How sure are you that the leak will not return? Or worse yet, you may discover mold and/or mildew. Unfortunately, one thing we see time and time again are folks who do not open a claim because their problem is fixed…and then it pops up again 15,000 or 20,000 miles “down the road.”  The case is weaker. The remedy is usually weaker.

If you are find yourself ready to flip after discovering your drip, contact us via e-mail or phone at 1-800 LEMON LAW (1-800-536-6652) and we will be glad to discuss the situation with you and how we can help.

Popularity: 15% [?]

Throughout the year, we receive countless calls from folks looking for car buying advice.  Many figure that by calling 1-800 LEMON LAW prior to buying a car, they may be able to prevent problems “down the road” so to speak. For that reason, since 2001, we have teamed up consumer advocate Jack Gillis and the wonderful team at the Center for Auto Safety to provide the Car Complaint Index to consumers.  We feel that an educated consumer is an effective consumer. 

Yesterday, JD Power & Associates came out with their dependability rankings and it appears that Land Rover is lowest on the Power totem pole.  While the Car Complaint Index looks at specific models, JD Power looks at brand quality.  They rank their cars based on an average of car problems; how many problems are reported per 100 cars, as experienced by original owners of these cars after three years.  The industry average is 206 problems per 100 cars, roughly averaging 2 problems per car.

Here are the brands that fall below the industry average:  Audi 207, Mercedes Benz 215, Nissan 224, Pontiac 225, GMC 226, Mazda 228, Subaru 228, Chrysler 229, Dodge 230, Mini 233, Chevrolet 239, Hummer 241, Scion 243, Volvo 244, Saturn 250, Jeep 253, Volkswagen 253, Saab 254, Isuzu 274, Kia 278, Suzuki 302, and lastly Land Rover with 344 problems reported per 100 cars.  This is not good news for the SUV manufacturer, which was recently sold by Ford to an Indian company.

So, who’s on top?  Number one with a bullet for the 14th consecutive year is Lexus, followed by Mercury and Cadillac.

Popularity: 31% [?]

General Motors, not wanting to face the fate of bankruptcy, is scaling back with an overall $15 billion cost-cutting program, as reported by Mike Harris of The Associated Press. Speedway Motorsports Inc., which owns eight tracks that hold NASCAR events, already has been told GM will not renew contracts at two tracks — New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Bristol Motor Speedway. In addition, the company has suspended its stock dividend, another huge blow to investors who have seen their shares dip to the lowest prices in fifty years. And finally, to reward those employees who have stood by the company through its trials and tribulations, The Street is reporting that they will no longer offer health care to retirees, effective January 1, 2009.

However, depsite the gloom and doom that has been haunting the automaker, the company is remaining optimistic with their plans for the upcoming year. A story in the Baltimore Sun reports that GM’s sales fell 16 percent in the first half of the year, with trucks off 21 percent and cars down nearly 9 percent. GM Prez Fritz Henderson says that for the company to succeed, they must repair their car brand image and “steer” away from trucks (pun intended.) The Chevrolet Malibu has seen its sales increase a whopping 46 percent in the first half of the year, even though the new and improved quality and style resulted in an MSRP increase of $4000. Eighteen of the 19 vehicles GM will unveil between now and 2010 will be cars or crossovers, including a smaller Cadillac.

The manufacturer is also kicking the clunky Cobalt to the curb, replacing it with the sleek Cruze, a little powerhouse with a 1.4 liter turbo-charged four-cylinder engine that will allow it to get a fantastic 45 miles per gallon.  The Cruze is coming to a GM dealer near you in 2010.

Popularity: 6% [?]

As you can expect, we have successfully handled thousands upon thousands of GM lemon law cases through the years….Cadillacs, Buicks, Chevrolets, Corvettes, Pontiacs, Hummers, etc.  Founding Partner and Lemon Law Attorney Bob Silverman has taken charge of many of these cases, and he has always felt that, despite the fact the glitches occur, GM has constantly exhibited a strong commitment to quality and customer service.  We have also seen that many of our GM clients have illustrated tremendous brand loyalty, buying a brand new GM vehicle following their lemon law experience.  Thus, it is quite disheartening to hear that this once invinceable auto giant is suffering a tremendous amount of troubles and tribulations.

Bloomberg reports that the company has suffered a 16 percent decline in 2008 U.S. auto sales and the price of GM stocks is now at a 54-year low (Shares have tumbled 62% this year, the most among the 30 companies in the Dow Jones Indsutrial Average). However, despite continuous speculation that GM could file for bankruptcy in the next year, Chief Executive Officer Rick Wagoner says that the company has “no thoughts whatsoever” of bankruptcy.  Wagoner also says that Hummer is the only one of GM’s U.S. brands being studied for possible sale or shutdown. As gas prices continue to soar, the manufacturer will review the truck’s future and sales potential. He adds that the bankruptcy rumors have not resulted in any drop in sales, with GM sales falling less than 1 percent in the first three months of the year.

As a company, GM has not posted an annual increase since 2004, with no U.S. sales gain since 1999. Last year, they suffered an astounding $38.7 billion loss. Outside analysts say that in a worst case secnario, with sales continuing to decline and an inability to acquire much needed captial, GM might have to declare bankruptcy by the end of 2009 or beginning of 2010, but they put the odds of that happening at 25 percent.

Popularity: 10% [?]