Lemon Law for California

Build Dates : July 19, 2006 - March 12, 2007

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 08V040000

Date Owner’s Notified: 20080202
Date Received by ODI: 20080128
Date Added to Databse: 20080129

Manufacturer’s Involved: DOUBLETREE RV
Manufacturer’s Responsible for the Recall: DOUBLETREE RV
Manufacturer Campaign Number:

Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 359

Summary: 

On certain fifth wheel travel trailers equipped with a disc brake system produced by active technology. Actibrake actuators installed on these vehicles, over time, may overheat, damaging the braking system.

Consequence: 

This could create a fire or loss of braking power increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 

Doubletree is working with active technology to repair these vehicles. The recall began on February 3, 2008. 

People with specialization in Lemon law cases are called Lemon law attorneys. A lemon law attorney will handle your case against the dealer and will help you to receive proper compensation.It is wise to ascertain with the help of your lemon law attorney, whether your vehicle can be regarded as a “lemon” or not. In spite of varying versions of lemon laws in varied states, it is possible to form a general definition. A vehicle with a severe manufacturing defect that has required repairing on more than four occasions or any vehicle that is not in working condition for 30 days or more within the first year of purchase, can be termed as a “lemon” and is covered by the lemon law.

You are eligible to file a lawsuit against your car manufacturer, if you own such a vehicle. The manufacturer may try to pull the stunt by saying that in your purchase / lease contract you have wavered the rights by agreeing on a certain clause or may try to persuade you for mediation or even may deny any liability. After receiving the notice of denial of your lemon law claims, let your attorney handle the case.

Your lemon law attorney will then write a letter to the car manufacturer and on receiving the reply (mostly a denial) he will file the summons and lodge a lawsuit. A competent lawyer with lemon law background and experience will help you to obtain a replacement or a refund for the disputed vehicle. He will make the manufacturer pay the cost incurred by you on repair and legal fees, too.

Though any attorney can fight a lemon lawsuit, it’s wise to go for a specialized one, with say, 20 years of experience in this field. The prior experience of handling the trials or hearing the similar cases enable the lemon law attorney to know the law thoroughly and to understand the concealed motives of the car company. You can find the reference of such lemon law attorneys in the Attorney Directory from the Resources for Attorneys, who also maintain a website. You can find a lawyer from the recommendation of a relative / friend or can contact the bar association for a lawyer referral service. The attorney should not charge for an initial consultation but you are required to keep your chequebook ready for the following phase. 

Therefore before taking a legal action regarding a defective automobile do not forget to consult a lemon law attorney.

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 07V306000

Date Owner’s Notified: 20071221
Date Received by ODI: 20070718
Date Added to Databse: 20070718

Manufacturer’s Involved: FREIGHTLINER LLC
Manufacturer’s Responsible for the Recall: DOUBLE K INC.
Manufacturer Campaign Number: FL-501

Component: STEERING

Potential Number Of Units Affected : 18000

Summary: 

Freightliner is recalling certain school bus chassis, heavy trucks, van chassis, RV motorhome chassis manufactured from January 5 to May 17, 2007, equipped with axle alliance company (AAC) front axles. During the front axle assembly, the fasteners that attach the steering arm or tie rod arms to the spindle may be over or under tightened.

Consequence: 

Incorrectly tightened steering arm fasteners may fatigue and fracture which could cause a crash without warning.

Remedy: 

Thomas built will notify owners, inspect the fasteners, and replace the steering arm if necessary. The recall began on December 21, 2007. 

“Lemon laws“ allowed owners of defective automobiles to seek compensation or replacement with the help of their respective states. Now all 50 states have some form of the lemon law.

“Lemon” is defined as a vehicle that:

Has a “nonconformity” that affects the use, safety or value of the vehicle, and

The nonconformity has not been successfully repaired after a “reasonable” number of attempts, and/or

The vehicle has been out of service for a total of a certain number of days for repair of the nonconformity.

Coverage typically runs anywhere from one year or 12,000 miles to two years or 24,000 miles. The specifics vary from state to state. Repairs that affect the brakes or other safety equipment need only one repair attempt to qualify as “reasonable.” Some states leave the option of replacement or refund to the manufacturer, but most give the option to the consumer.

In case you have a lemon make sure that you document everything relating to repairs of the vehicle, including when and where it was repaired, who signed the work order and what work was done.

Contact the manufacturer in writing, alerting them to the nature of the problem.

Consult with your state’s Attorney General’s office to learn how your state’s law affects you directly.

You may have to go through an arbitration process which involves both you and a representative of the manufacturer explaining your respective situations to a panel that will then provide a ruling. The arbitration ruling is usually binding on the manufacturer; they will have no recourse should the panel rule in your favor. If you don’t agree with the panel’s ruling, you still have the option of filing a lawsuit in court.

You may wish to hire an attorney to represent you; there are plenty of lawyers who specialize in lemon law cases, and they can probably bring the case to a solution more quickly than if you handle the case yourself. Be sure to contact your state’s Attorney General’s office regarding the specifics of your own state’s lemon law. You don’t want to miss a deadline, or you could be stuck with your lemon for a long time.

Build Dates : January 01,  2004 - December 31, 2006

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 08V552000

Date Owner’s Notified: 20081212
Date Received by ODI: 20081022
Date Added to Databse: 20081022

Manufacturer’s Involved: DOUBLE B TRAILERS LLC
Manufacturer’s Responsible for the Recall: DOUBLE B TRAILERS LLC
Manufacturer Campaign Number:

Component: EQUIPMENT
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 29

Summary: 

Double B trailers is recalling 29 MY 2004-2006 C&C, Platinum, 4-star, MY 2006 Cargo, MY 2003-2006 Elite, MY 2004 Cherokee, and MY 2004 bloomer horse trailers equipped with a two-door refrigerator manufactured by the dometic corporation. The refrigerator may have a defect in the boiler tube. Pressurized coolant solution could be released into an area where an ignition source (gas flame) is present.

Consequence: 

Release of coolant under certain conditions could ignite and result in a fire.

Remedy: 

Double B trailers will be working with dometic in order to repair these refrigerators. Domestic will repair these refrigerators by installing a secondary burn housing, a thermal fuse, and a melt fuse free of charge. Dometic has retained stericycle inc. To manage this campaign. Stericycle will assist the owner in locating dealerships or service centers and will provide assistance with scheduling of appointments. 

Many of potential clients express intrest to the attorney over whether to proceed with a Lemon Law claim because they have relationships with the selling dealership. The client often says that he has bought five cars, and that he is always given a great price. Clients also say that, the service department has been so nice to them, and refuse to sue them. We tell each of these potential clients that their concerns are commendable, but that they are all for naught.

Think about what happened when you purchased the vehicle from the dealership. For the most part, you looked at a vehicle and then, after some negotiation, signed on the dotted line. May be you have purchased a new vehicle, but you also purchased a manufacturer’s warranty on that vehicle as well. We do not mean an  extended service contract or an extended warranty, but merely the written warranty that came with the vehicle at the time of purchase. (Most vehicles standard warranty is 3 years, 36,000 miles, but various manufacturers and/or models have other terms and durations). The price of the vehicle includes warranty cost. The key, though, is that it is a manufacturer’s warranty. It is the responsibility of the manufacturer to make sure that the vehicle works correctly, free of defects and non-conformities, while the vehicle is still within the given warranty period.

Lemon Law claims implement only against the manufacturer of the vehicle. The manufacturer is the person responsible for the defects with the vehicle because they are the entity that provided the warranty on the vehicle. The dealership is merely the agent of the manufacturer, and the agent will not bear responsibility in a lemon law claim. 

Build Dates : November 01, 2002 - March 31, 2006

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 06V141000

Date Owner’s Notified:
Date Received by ODI: 20060428
Date Added to Databse: 20060428

Manufacturer’s Involved: DEMERS AMBULANCES
Manufacturer’s Responsible for the Recall: DEMERS AMBULANCES
Manufacturer Campaign Number:

Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 14

Summary: 

On certain ambulances, some electronic modules used in the multiplexing system could experience an electrical short circuit.

Consequence: 

A short circuit could result in a fire.

Remedy: 

Dealers will install a 2 amp. Fuse on the ground wire of the module to eliminate the possibility of overheating. The recall is expected to begin during April 2006. 

Many times an automobile purchaser cannot obtain a refund or replacement for a defective vehicle bought under warranty from manufacturer. The manufacturer will make several unsuccessful attempts for repairing the vehicle and do little else. A case can be filed against the manufacturer, because CA Lemon Law states that the purchaser is entitled to a refund or replacement under such circumstances

The CA Lemon Law enforcing legal process obviously requires an attorney who is experienced in this legal field. The attorney should be filled in on the various details pertaining to the vehicle, once the purchaser decides to file a case against the manufacturer. The following details will be called for:

• The make and model of the vehicle

• The year of manufacture

• Current mileage 

• Name, address and contact details of the dealer

• The purchase or lease date

• The details of the warranty

• Detailed problems list encountered by the purchaser

• The number of attempts made to repair the vehicle

• The number of days for which the vehicle was under repair

A good Lemon Law attorney will acquire either a replacement or a refund for the disputed vehicle and have the manufacturer cover the costs incurred by the consumer during the use and repair of the vehicle, as well as legal fees. The attorney must not charge for an initial consultation and evaluation of your case.

CA Lemon Law cases specializing attorneys are in great demand, and many of them offer toll-free telephone numbers for evaluations.

Build Dates : January 01, 2005 - December 31, 2007

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 08V494000

Date Owner’s Notified: 20080411
Date Received by ODI: 20080925
Date Added to Databse: 20080929

Manufacturer’s Involved: DODGEN INDUSTRIES, INC.
Manufacturer’s Responsible for the Recall: DODGEN INDUSTRIES, INC.
Manufacturer Campaign Number:

Component: EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 2

Summary: 

Dodgen is recalling 2 MY 2005-2007 26′ handicap accessible motor homes equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lifts. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 404, “platform lift installations in motor vehicles.” the threshold warning system may not detect the presence of a wheelchair or mobility aid user in a certain spot within the defined threshold area.

Consequence: 

The user of the lift could be injured should the lift move unintentionally.

Remedy: 

Dodgen is working with ricon to correct the wheelchair lifts free of charge.

You must always stake your claim when stuck with a “lemon“, because consumer rights violation is has become a serious offence these days. You should always hire an efficient lemon law lawyer, when you are seeking justice for your “lemon” piece of automobile. 

It is true that a lemon law lawyer will cost you much, but you can be sure that he will save you a lot of costly legal hassles in the long run. There are a lot of lemon lawyers who don’t even charge you anything until you win the case. 

A lemon law lawyer is the one guiding you through the entire process of claiming and protecting the consumer’s interests. After you and the manufacturer have exhausted  and explored  all the avenues of fixing it within a specified period of time, your vehicle can be classified as a “lemon“. Sometimes even though the vehicle did not fall under lemon law, a skilled lemon lawyer had been able to clinch a handsome compensation or even a replacement on grounds of breach of warranty. 

You should consult your lemon law lawyer on whether this will abide by the rules of the Federal Trade Commission, in case the frightened manufacturer is plagueing you to go for an out-of-court settlement. As, in some states, there are variations in lemon laws, it is essential that you go through a mediation procedure to be able to sue under the lemon law. Only skilled and lemon law lawyer will be able to guide you through these intricacies of lemon laws. 

The most obvious advantage of soliciting a lemon law lawyer help is that he is well versed in the ways and the tricks of the trade. A lemon law lawyer is the perfect person to consult during these times, because he will know exactly what the manufacturer has on his mind and play his cards accordingly. 

A lemon lawyer is the one filing the lawsuit for you. These legal formalities involve a lot of complexities and it is best that you let someone well up in the ins and outs of law to do the paperwork for you. A good and experienced lemon lawyer knows that it is best to remain under the jury system of trial, which normally has a soft spot with the claimant who is stuck with a car making all the wrong noises. 

When you are going in for a lemon law lawyer, it is best to check his credentials and experience. A lawyer with two decades of experience in tackling lemon law cases is definitely worth his salt many times over than the greenhorn who is fresh out of college. Lemon laws differ by the state so if you are living in CA, it is always a good idea to hire the help of a lemon lawyer who has the CA lemon laws at the tip of his fingers.