Lemon Law for California

Build Dates: 01 September, 2005 – 04 May, 2009

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 09V223000

Date Owner’s Notified: 2009-09-18
Date Received by ODI: 2009-06-15
Date Added to Database: 2009-06-15

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

Potential Number of Units Affected: 27080

Summary:

Toyota is recalling 27,080 model year 2009 and 2010 passenger cars built from June 2, 2008 to May 4, 2009. These vehicles were not equipped with load carrying capacity modification labels which fails to conform with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 110, “Tire Selection And Rims.”

Consequence:

Incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels could result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy:

Toyota will notify owners and provide them with a new, accurate label to be installed over the inaccurate label free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about August 31, 2009.

Lemon Laws vary from state to state. Each state has its form of protection for vehicle buyers, and it’s up to consumers to know the laws of the land where they choose to live. Let’s take a look at some details of CA Lemon Law as there are some things you need to understand before making a new or used vehicle purchase.

In California, buyers of defective vehicles can receive a refund or a replacement of the faulty vehicle. Also included are rental costs, registration fees, and even towing charges. Typically, the choice of a replacement or refund is up to the consumer, not the carmaker.

The Lemon Law also protects used vehicles’ buyers if there was a written warranty included at the time of purchase. Cars purchased ‘as-is’ do not qualify for California Lemon Law protection.

CA Lemon Law remains in effect as long as the vehicle is under warranty, and can even extend out longer. Even after the warranty period is expired the vehicle can still be protected under the lemon law if the first repair takes place while it is under the warranty period.

The more you know about the CA Lemon Law before making a purchase the more likely you are to walk away from lemon vehicles. In case you have already bought a lemon vehicle, the more you know about the CA Lemon Law the more likely you are to undertake all necessary steps to get a full refund or replacement.

Build Dates: 01 July, 2008 - 11 August, 2009

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 09V343000

Date Owner’s Notified: 2009-09-28
Date Received by ODI: 2009-09-01
Date Added to Database: 2009-09-01

Manufacturers Involved: VOLVO CARS OF N.A. LLC.
Manufacturer’s Responsible for the Recall: VOLVO OF AMERICA CORP.
Manufacturer Campaign Number: R215

Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: SOFTWARE

Potential Number Of Units Affected: 11993

Summary:

Volvo is recalling My 2008-2010 S80, model year 2009-2010 XC70 and model year 2010 XC60 vehicles. Under certain conditions the software within the Central Electronic Module “CEM” may not send a signal to the fuel Pump Electronic Module “PEM”. This missing signal to the PEM inhibits the start of the fuel pump. The driver may be able to start the engine in spite of the fuel pump not being activated due to residual pressure in the fuel system. In some cases, the driver may be able to drive the vehicle a short distance at idle but then the engine may stall.

Consequence:

If the vehicle stalls in certain conditions, a crash could occur.

Remedy:

Dealers will download software to the vehicles’ CEM free of charge. The recall began on September 30, 2009.

If you have a lemon car you should know that you are protected by California lemon law. Even if the manufacturer refuses your claim you can protect your rights in a court.

Car companies avoid going to court on a lemon law case as there are some risks for them.

a) Lemon law cases are rarely completed with the own attorneys of the car companies so it is really very expensive for them to defend a lemon law case even if they win. Defending from your claims can cost them about $20,000 by the time a lemon law trial is completed.

b) Car companies risk losing more money than the car originally costs going to court. Due to a jury decision there is also a possibility of having to pay your attorney fees in addition to their attorney fees. Instead they could save more money buying back your car and still recover some of their loss by selling your old car. Or they could replace your car with a new one (if you wish) and also save a lot of money.

c) Dealing with a lemon law case car companies have to deal with the bad publicity as well. Though your case is likely not going to make headlines in famous newspapers, but it still registers as newsworthy and can negatively affect the public image of the car company which may result in a significant loss of sales. For car companies public attention to a lemon law case may have more risks than a loss in court.

These risks give you a great advantage. If you have a lemon car know that the CA lemon law is on your side and with a professional lemon law attorney you can protect your rights.