Lemon Law Blog

This Pennsylvania Lemon Law Ford recall alert comes courtesy of our good friend Jim Donovan, consumer crusader at Philadelphia’s CBS-3.

Ford is recalling almost 500,000 SUVs and minivans due to mechanic defects. First up on the list is more than 205,000 Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey minivans, model years 2004 and 2005, due to faulty torque converters. The converters’ output shaft may fail, resulting in loss of power.

Next up is more than 244,000 Ford Escapes, model years 2001 and 2002, due to a possible brake fluid leak problem. The vehicles’ brake master cylinder reservoir cap could leak fluid, causing corrosion of the brakes’ electrical components. This corrosion could lead to a fire in the braking system.

Ford will begin contacting customers the week of January 23rd. Being that the cars are being recalled, the parts and labor will be free even though these cars are no longer under manufacturers warranty.

And of course, if you have a newer Ford vehicle that has been in three times under Ford warranty for a brake fluid leak or loss of power, you may want to look into your rights under Pennsylvania Lemon Law and federal warranty laws.

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Chrysler will recall nearly a quarter of a million Dodge Ram pick-up trucks due to a poor tie rod assembly issue in the front steering system. The Dodge Ram recall according to Dodge representatives is the defective assembly may cause the part to fracture, and often occurs while maneuvering at low speeds, such as driving in parking lots. If the rod does fracture, drivers may notice a loss in directional stability, increasing the risk of an accident or crash.

Affected models include:

2008 Dodge Ram 1500 Mega Cab 4×4 built between Feb. 14, 2008, through Aug. 15, 2008

2008-2011 Dodge Ram 2500/3500 4×4 built between Feb. 14, 2008, through Aug. 15, 2008

2008-2011 Dodge Ram 3500 Cab Chassis 4×2 built between Feb. 14, 2008, through Aug. 15, 2008

2003-2008 Dodge Ram 2500/3500 may have received part during routine service

Dealers will inspect the affected vehicles and replace the left tie rod as needed for free. Owners can call Chrysler at 800-853-1403 or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at 800-327-4236.  If your Dodge trucks continues to exhibit this problem after three or more attempts to fix this problem, contact us and we will be glad to discuss the situation and see if/how we can help.

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How did the spiders get into the Mazda 6?  It’s a mystery even Peter Parker might not be able to solve.

The manufacturer has recalled 65,000 Mazda 6 models after identifying a spider infestation problem at either an auto parts supplier or the manufacturer’s Flat Rock, MI plant where they assemble Mazda 6 cars.

There are yellow sac spiders which are nesting in tiny rubber hoses linked to the car’s fuel tank system.  This could cause fuel leaks and possibly fires.

While we applaud Mazda for trying to untangle this web, we have heard from several customers that they have been without their cars for weeks due to parts being on back order.

If your Mazda has been at the shop for a considerable amount of time to address this problem, give us a call at 1-800 LEMON LAW or drop us an e-mail and we will be happy to discuss the situation with you.

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A couple months ago, we were contacted by Chris Cuomo’s producers at ABC’s  Nightline regarding a story on the high pressure fuel pump problem occurring in many BMW Turbo vehicles, including the 135i, 335 i, 535 i, and x6 models.  Together with an amazing consumer advocate, Allison Mangot, who had two BMWs with high pressure fuel pump problems– both bought back by the manufacturer, we helped the producers put together a segment which would shed significant national light on a problem which has been plaguing many BMW drivers for years.  Of course, readers to the lemon law blog know that we have been promoting this issue for quite a while. In fact, Kimmel and Silverman has successfully resolved numerous claims regarding with this problem, throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Maryland and New England, with our clients receiving anywhere from significant monetary compensation in the thousands, to complete repurchases.  We were proud to not only see 1-800-LEMON-LAW Founding Partner Bob Silverman featured in the story, but also our very own blog and the many comments left behind by its readers.

The story has resulted in a major national recall, affecting hundreds of thousands of BMW vehicles.  All those affected should be receiving notification soon. But one would wonder why it has to take a national news story to force the manufacturer’s hand?  And also, we are questioning whether this recall will actually be the end-all, be-all to what could be a dangerous problem. We can’t even count the number of clients who have been left stranded on the road not just once, but sometimes three, four, or  five times.

The fact also remains that even with this recall, BMW drivers do have rights under State Lemon Laws and Federal Warranty Laws.  We encourage those who have been in repeatedly for the high pressure fuel pump to consider legal actions against the manufacturer. You paid a very high premium for this vehicle and you certainly did not get what you paid for.  As you know, legal representation under the Lemon Law and Federal Magnuson Moss Warranty Act is completely cost-free with BMW paying all attorneys fees and legal costs on top of what you receive if you prevail. With our firm,there is no cost or risk to filing a claim, win or lose.  For more information, please e-mail us or give us a call at 1 800 LEMON LAW (1-800-536-6652) or contact another consumer attorney to determine if your situation applies and if you are entitled to remedy. Additional information regarding this problem can also be found at bmwproblems.com.

We would like to hear your thoughts regarding the story which follows.  And for those who do have the recall performed, we are interested to hear if you are still having problems after.  Our sincere thanks to Lauren Pearle, Chris Cuomo and  the talented production team at ABC News, and to Allison Mangot for ensuring that we were part of this effort.

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In the midst of all the Toyota trouble comes another possible recall.  The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration is looking into repeated complaints about steering in Toyota Corollas.

Over 150 complaints have been filed with NHTSA regarding the Corolla’s electric assisted steering system.  This system uses an electric motor to reduce the amount of torque the driver needs to exert on the steering wheel to turn the car.  Many drivers have said they have tried to turn their car only to have the system give out on them.

Toyota officials have said IF there is a problem, it most likely connected to the tires or brakes and they will issue a recall if necessary.

More than 300,000 Corollas were sold last year, the second largest Toyota model sold in 2009 behind the Camry.  A potential recall could affect more than a half million Corollas currently on the road.  This problem comes on the heels of the 3.8 million vehicle floor mat recall and the 2.3 million vehicle gas pedal recall.

We  are currently receiving numerous calls every day from Toyota drivers inquiring whether the lemon law applies to those affected in these numerous recalls.  Obviously, many drivers do not feel safe driving their vehicle with all the news headlines.

If you previously reported the accelerator problem prior to the recall or if the problem is existing after the recall repair is performed, you may be entitled to remedy under State Lemon Laws or Federal Warranty laws.  For more information, you can contact us at 1- 800 LEMON LAW (1-800-536-6652) or visit us on-line at www.lemonlaw.com and we will be happy to discuss the situation with you.

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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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