Lemon Law for California

Build Dates : 01 April, 2008 – 01 June, 2008

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 08V334000

Date Owner’s Notified: 2008-08-01
Date Received by ODI: 2008-07-23
Date Added to Database: 2008-07-23

Manufacturers Involved: AIRSTREAM, INC.
Manufacturer’s Responsible for the Recall: AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.
Manufacturer Campaign Number:

Component: SEATS

Potential Number Of Units Affected : 14

Summary:

Airstream is recalling certain My 2008-2009 Class B vans built with factory installed driver and passenger seat swivel mechanisms. These vans fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 207, “Seating Systems.”

Consequence:

It is possible that during a frontal impact, the driver and passenger seat swivel mechanism could fail causing severe injury to the seat occupants.

Remedy:

Dealers will replace the defective seat swivel mechanisms with modified seat swivel mechanisms that have been reinforced and contains a stronger swivel locking bolt. The recall began on August 1, 2008.

How do you feel when you buy a new car spending thousands of dollars and a few weeks later find out that the vehicle is faulty! Disgusted and frustrated, right? However, you have a way out of the situation if you know and take help from the CA Lemon Law. Don’t be surprised to know that this law can help you get your defective vehicle replaced or you could even get full money back! This may sound easy, but in reality it is not so. The CA Lemon Law process in terms of is complicated and you would need the assistance of attorneys or firms specializing in California Lemon Law to help you get out of the situation.

Spend some time to learn more about this important law designed for protecting your rights as a consumer, if you buy a new or used vehicle. Knowing your rights can help you save time, money and nerves in case things go wrong after the purchase.

But what is Lemon Law and what is it designed for? This law is a part of the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act designed for protecting a consumer in case he buys a faulty vehicle. According to CA Lemon Law if you find you have purchased a defective vehicle, the manufacturer or his representative is liable to fix the fault and in the event of his inability to do so after a reasonable number of attempts for repairing, he should either replace the vehicle with a new one or refund you the value of the vehicle.

Build Dates : 18 September, 2007 – 31 March, 2009

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 09V161000

Date Owner’s Notified: 2009-06-08
Date Received by ODI: 2009-05-19
Date Added to Database: 2009-05-18

Manufacturers Involved: JAGUAR CARS LTD
Manufacturer’s Responsible for the Recall: SOVEREIGN COLLECTION
Manufacturer Campaign Number: J013

Component: TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS

Potential Number Of Units Affected : 112

Summary:

Jaguar is recalling 112 My 2007-2009 XK vehicles fitted with run flat tires for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No.138, “Tire Pressure Monitoring System“, “TPMS”. The TPMS warnings were turned off. If the TPMS electronic control unit were to send a signal to the instrument cluster to display a TPMS warning telltale, the light would not illuminate nor would the supplementary warning text on the instrument cluster message center be displayed.

Consequence:

Failure to warn of tire deflations is a non-compliance with FMVSS 138 and could lead to tire failure and a crash.

Remedy:

Dealers will update the car configuration file settings to enable the instrument cluster to flag the warning symbols as required by FMVSS 138 and associated test in the instrument cluster message center. The remedy will be performed free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on or before June 8, 2009.

There are some factors that arbitrators usually consider when reviewing your Lemon Law case:

• Whether your vehicle has a problem that substantially affects its use, value, and/or safety to you;
• Whether the problem was caused by an unreasonable use of your vehicle;
• Whether the problem is determined to be a substantial one by the arbitrator;
• Whether the manufacturer has had a reasonable opportunity to attempt repair your vehicle including:

• the number of repair attempts
• the number of days your vehicle was in the shop for repair
• other factors that affect the number of repair attempts, and the reasonableness of those factors
• whether your warranty dispute falls under the Lemon Law Presumption

• Whether a further repair attempt is likely to remedy the problem;
• The occurrence and amount of any incidental damages including:

• sales taxes
• license fees
• registration fees
• other official fees
• prepayment penalties
• early termination charges
• earned finance charges
• repair, towing and rental costs actually paid

• Whether a mileage deduction should apply
• Any other issue that is related to the particular dispute.

Build Dates : 02 March, 2009 – 17 August, 2009

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 09V358000

Date Owner’s Notified: 2009-10-08
Date Received by ODI: 2009-09-16
Date Added to Database: 2009-09-16

Manufacturers Involved: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Manufacturer’s Responsible for the Recall: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Manufacturer Campaign Number:

Component: SUSPENSION

Potential Number Of Units Affected : 26398

Summary:

Nissan is recalling certain model year 2009 and 2010 Altima and Maxima passenger cars. The upper front strut insulators may have been manufactured out of specification resulting in a potential for the strut insulator to crack.

Consequence:

If the strut insulator is cracked, there is a potential for the strut rod to come out of its mounting position, which could affect vehicle stability and increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy:

Nissan will notify owners and dealers will replace both left and right side front strut insulators free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during October 2009.

New vehicle means it should run without breakdowns and mechanical problems. However, you are to take proper care of your new vehicle to keep it running smoothly for a long time. Here are some tips:

• Read and follow the warranty and owner’s manual. Service and maintain your vehicle according to the manufacturer’s recommended schedule.
• Don’t abuse your vehicle. Warranty protection doesn’t apply to defects caused y misuse or abuse of your vehicle.

If after following these tips you still have to pay repeated visits to the dealer for service and if within a warranty period the dealer given a number of opportunities to fix your vehicle’s problems fails to do so, your vehicle is probably a lemon.

You may have heard of the CA Lemon Law but don’t know what it is about. The California Lemon Law is also known as The Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. It states that if lemon or faulty vehicle cannot be properly repaired within a reasonable number of attempts, the warrantor is required to give your money back or replace the vehicle.

So if you find out you are driving a lemon you should not worry as there is the California Lemon Law that will protect you if you are facing vehicle related problems.

Build Dates : 0000-00-00 - 0000-00-00

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 09V388000

Date Owner’s Notified: 2009-10-08
Date Received by ODI: 2009-10-05
Date Added to Database: 2009-10-06

Manufacturers Involved: TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION
Manufacturer’s Responsible for the Recall: TOYOTA MOTOR CO., LTD.
Manufacturer Campaign Number:

Component: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

Potential Number Of Units Affected : 3800000

Summary:

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2010 passenger vehicles. The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver’s floor mat.

Consequence:

A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.

Remedy:

Toyota will notify owners of affected vehicles to remove any driver’s floor mat and not replace it with any other floor mat pending the development of model-specific remedies. Toyota will mail a second notification to owners of affected vehicles notifying them of the free remedies when they are available. The first notice is expected to be mailed during October 2009 and Toyota will advise NHTSA of the estimated date when the remedies will be available.

If you think you bought or leased a lemon car there are several steps that you must take to effectively use the CA lemon law.

• Peruse your warranty and owner’s manual.
• Go to the dealer and tell about the problem. Make sure it is fully described on the repair order.
• If required contact the manufacturer directly. Send a letter describing the problems that need further repair. Send your letter by certified mail to the address shown in your warranty or owner’s manual.
• Keep the certified mail receipt and the copy of the letter.
• Keep copies of all repair orders in the order in which they occurred. You should focus on the problems that affect the use, value, or safety of the vehicle to you.
• Make copies of the purchase order and finance/lease agreement, and any other documents, such as signed statements, that might help support your case.

After you have followed the above-mentioned steps you should contact an attorney or law firm specializing in California lemon law and provide all the necessary documents to determine if your car is covered by California lemon law and what your best legal options are. California lemon law is to protect you as a consumer and an experienced attorney or law firm will help you get a refund or replacement.

Build Dates : 14 April, 2008 – 27 May, 2008

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 08V329000

Date Owner’s Notified: 2008-08-13
Date Received by ODI: 2008-07-23
Date Added to Database: 2008-07-23

Manufacturers Involved: VOLVO CARS OF N.A. LLC.
Manufacturer’s Responsible for the Recall: VOLVO OF AMERICA CORP.
Manufacturer Campaign Number: 201

Component: STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS

Potential Number Of Units Affected : 1020

Summary:

Volvo is recalling My 2008-2009 vehicles. A section of the power steering return line hose was not properly vulcanized “cured” and does not meet specifications. If the power steering return hose fails, a sudden rupture of the hose can occur.

Consequence:

This can result in a rapid drainage of the power steering fluid in the system and a complete loss of power assistance, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy:

Dealers will inspect and replace the steering return line hose assembly free of charge. The recall began on August 13, 2008.

A defective car is a ticking time bomb for people using it and you cannot understate the importance of knowing how you can protect yourself. This is where California lemon law comes in. It can protect you from purchasing a vehicle with irreparable defects that affect its safety, performance or value.

Having limited resources you may choose to buy a secondhand automobile that is less expensive. But this should not stop us from requiring honesty on the transaction of the deal, and the quality of the car that we are buying. California lemon law applies to used cars and can protect you from being tormented by a problematic vehicle.

However, to qualify under CA lemon law, used vehicles should meet certain criteria:

• The secondhand car should not have been purchased for commercial purposes
• The used vehicle should have been bought with a written warranty
• The repair visits should occur within the warranty period

California lemon law also applies to leased vehicles, as long as they have been leased under warranty. If first repair takes place within the definite warranty period, a leased or purchased vehicle can qualify under the California used car lemon law even after that period.

California used car lemon law applies equally to recreational vehicles, motor homes of all kinds, motorcycles, boats and other vehicles.