Build Dates: September 16, 2008- April 15, 2009
Vehicle Make/Model: Ford/E150, Ford/E250, Ford/E350
Model Years: 2007-2009
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number:10V242000
Manufacturer’s Responsible for the Recall: MOBILITY TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
Component:EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE
Potential Number of Units Affected: 60
Summary:
Mobility transportation (MTS) is recalling certain model year 2007 through 2009 conversion vans built on ford e150, e250, and e350 chassis from September 16, 2008 through April 15, 2009 and fitted with Ricon public use lifts. The restraint belt on these lifts was designed to prevent the lift from moving, unless the tongue of the belt is fully engaged and latched in the buckle. Ricon has discovered, however, that it is possible for the operator to insert the belt tongue into the buckle without fully engaging the latching mechanism. In this case, the restraint belt would appear to be latched, and the operator could run the lift. If the restraint belt tongue is not fully engaged into the restraint belt buckle, and latched, the lift may operate with an occupant on the platform.
Consequence:
The user of the lift could be injured should the lift move without the restraint belt properly buckled.
Remedy:
MTS is working with Ricon and Ricon will be performing the remedy for this campaign. Please see Ricon’s defect report 09e-060. Ricon will provide customers with a warning decal and a DVD-based training aid. The safety recall is expected to begin during June 2010.
Safety recalls usually happen due to Safety complaints that the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) gets. It is the part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Any person can make the complaint through the website of the ODI or by calling their number. If you found out that you have a defective vehicle, tires, equipment or child restraints, you can let the Investigation know about it.
To report a vehicle defect you will need to know the following information:
Model Year
Make
Model
Defective Component
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
Based on that, the NHTSA can later on announce a larger recall that will try to protect the owners of all defective vehicles.
If your car is in the recall list, contact your dealer or the manufacturer and give them the opportunity to repair your car.
If you however think your car is a lemon, consult California Lemon Law Attorney to get free evaluation and representation at the court if necessary
Toyota stopped the sales of its 2010 Lexus GX 460 sport utility vehicle (SUV). The automaker was urged to do so after the publication at Consumer Reports, a website and magazine of the non-profit organization Consumers Union. The car was given a “Don’t Buy: Safety Risk” label.
The previous similar case took place in 2001: Consumer Reports gave the same label to Mitsubishi Montero Limited.
A common test drive, usually done for SUVs, has shown that when making a turn, the electronic stability control was not fast to stop the car from sliding. The experts concluded that in the real world situation, this would cause the vehicle to roll over. Consumer Reports did the test with two cars of the model. The result was the same. However, the similar model Toyota 4Runner, which is built on the same platform, did not fail.
So far, Toyota has sold about 5,400 units of the luxury SUV Lexus GX 460. The price for the car starts at over $50,000.
The Japanese automaker said that it takes the Consumer Reports’ test results seriously. That is another reason why the sales of the Lexus GX 460 were stopped. The company will conduct its own tests again and inform the drivers about the outcome.
Consumer Reports has also informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on the issue.
As for the owners, they should be more careful on the road, especially, when making a turn. The speed limit should be followed.
Manufacturers Involved: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Manufacturer’s Responsible for the Recall: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Component: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: STORAGE: AUXILLARY TANK
Potential Number of Units Affected: 80689
Summary:
Nissan is recalling certain model year 2006 and model year 2008 Frontier, Xterra and Pathfinder vehicles. The molded fuel tank shells can deform, causing the fuel sender float art to contact an embossment molded into the tank shell causing the instrument panel fuel gauge to show that the vehicle has approximately one quarter tank when the fuel tank is empty.
Consequence:
This could cause the vehicle to run out of gas and stall in traffic, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy:
Dealers will replace the fuel level sending unit inside the fuel tank with a new one that has a modified float arm. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or before March 22.
Vehicle Make/Model: Chevrolet/Cobalt of 2005-2010, Pontiac/G5 of 2007-2010
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 10V073000
Date Owner’s Notified: 0000-00-00
Manufacturers Involved: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Manufacturer’s Responsible for the Recall: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Component: STEERING: ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
Potential Number of Units Affected: 1050889
Summary:
General Motors is recalling certain model 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt and model year 2007-2010 Pontiac G5 vehicles equipped with electric power steering. The driver may experience a sudden loss of power steering assist that could occur at any time while driving.
Consequence:
If power steering assist is lost, it would require greater driver effort at low vehicle speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy:
Dealers will replace the electric power steering motor free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided ab owner notification schedule.
Under the CA lemon law, if the vehicle manufacturer participates in a state-certified arbitration program, the vehicle owner must request arbitration in order to seek relief (although the owner can accept or reject the arbitrator’s decision).
On the arbitration hearing both you and the manufacturer’s representative will speak before the arbitrator. You will speak first. The manufacturer’s attorneys can question you; and you can question them when they speak.
Though the arbitration hearing is less formal than an actual court proceeding, you must come prepared to present your case. You must bring the records that outline all of the work done on your defective vehicle and all of the diagnosed problems; an odometer reading; copies of correspondence with the manufacturer and/or dealer; statements from mechanics or other experts; appraisals or estimates of the resale value of the vehicle with its defects; and a variety of financial records. All these records will help you prove to the arbitrator that the lemon law claim you are making is true, and that the defect negatively impacts the use, value, or safety of the vehicle. It is also important that your records are in chronological order and ready to present to the arbitrator in an organized fashion.
You will receive a notification on the outcome of the arbitration hearing. Possible decisions include:
An additional repair attempt
A replacement vehicle
A refund of the purchase price
Reimbursement for towing, car rental, and so forth
No award
If you are dissatisfied with the arbitration decision, you can either go to court or, after an additional repair attempt, re-file your arbitration case. Whether you choose to go into arbitration again or go to court, it’s in your best interest to have alemon law attorney represent you.
There are many vehicle owners who have lemon law situation but are not informed about the lemon law. And when they continuously experience the same problem with their vehicle, they often turn to their selling car dealer expecting them to take back the defective vehicle.
In this situation the car dealer can try to take potential advantage of the customers’ lack of information and “help” them trade-in the lemon and buy another vehicle. After this the car dealer ends up making profit for selling two cars. It turns out that the only way the car dealer “helped” the customer was to assist him/her with another sale. Moreover, the consumer cannot be still sure that this time he/she has bought a non-lemon vehicle.
According to the California lemon law the manufacturer and not the dealer is the responsible party for your “lemon” vehicle. If you think your vehicle is a lemon you’d better consult with a qualified and experienced CA lemon lawyer who will be able to evaluate your case to determine if you qualify under the California Lemon Law.
Your lemon lawyer will explain your potential rights under the CA lemon law and other consumer protection laws. Аs compared with the car dealer’s “help”, your lemon lawyer will really help settle your case ensuring either full refund or replacement.
If you have problems with the car you have bought you should not delay having it repaired. A malfunctioning car can become a reason of serious accidents. Why jeopardize your life?
Very often manufacturers and dealers give a consumer an endless runaround with a defective vehicle. Sometimes they repair items that do not actually fix the problem, telling him or her that there is nothing wrong with the vehicle and even that the problem is actually part of “how that vehicle runs.”
Unless the consumer contacts alemon law attorney, these distractions can go on for years and stick the consumer with a defective vehicle. Lemon law attorneys are much experienced on cutting through all the distractions and getting the consumer the reimbursement and possible reward they are entitled to under the California lemon law.
The CA Lemon Law, also known as Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, states that if a purchased vehicle turns out to be defective within the warranty period then the consumer is entitled to get a refund or replacement. The Lemon Law keeps the manufacturer liable for all the defects and problems in a defective vehicle. In case the manufacturer fails to fix the problem right even after reasonable number of attempts, defective vehicle must be either replaced or the consumer’s money must be refunded.
The term “lemon” is used to describe cars that have defects substantially affecting their safety, use or value and has now become a part of the legal system when discussing the California Lemon Law. This law was put into place to protect consumers who purchased a lemon vehicle.
This law states that if the vehicle is determined to be a lemon then the auto manufacturer must either give the buyer a replacement vehicle of equal or greater value or purchase the vehicle back. There are qualifications that should be met to be covered under this law.
First of all, to qualify under the CA Lemon Law the vehicle should not be used for commercial purposes.
The problem with the vehicle cannot be trivial, such as a broken cup holder or something similar that does not impair use of the vehicle or could cause harm to the driver and occupants of the vehicle.
The vehicle should be under warranty and have a condition that could cause injury or even death to those that occupy it. But that’s not the only way your car can qualify. If you have tried to get your new or used vehicle (as long as it’s still under warranty) repaired several times but you are still dealing with the problem, then you can qualify. Of course, you must have documentation proving that you’ve tried to get the defect repaired.
If there have been so many attempts to repair your defective vehicle that it has been out of service for a long time (for at least 30 days not necessarily consecutive) then your vehicle can qualify.
There are many ways for you to qualify. The best way to find out whether your car qualifies is to go to an attorney who specializes in CA lemon law. This law does create important rights for car buyers and you should not miss your chance to protect yourself.
Very often you buy a vehicle, spending thousands of dollars, only to find in a few weeks that that the vehicle is faulty. Of course, this makes the car buyer disgusted and frustrated. However, when you are in a situation like this you should know that you can take help from CA Lemon Law.In fact, Lemon law is designed to help customers have their defective vehicles replaced and even get full money back. This may sound very easy at first, but it is not the case. Typically, CA Lemon Law can be complicated, this is why you will need the assistance of attorneys who specialize in CA Lemon Law to help you out of the situation.
On the other hand, you should remember that the best way to protect your right as a consumer is knowledge. So it is always better to get as much information about car buying as you can before you buy a new or used vehicle. Being informed will help you get your rightful dues, in case things go wrong after the purchase.
What is the most important that you should know. First of all let’s define what CA Lemon Law is and what its purpose is. This law is a part of the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, which protects a consumer against loss of money, in case he buys a defective vehicle. In case you have purchased a lemon vehicle the manufacturer or his representative is liable to fix the fault and in the event of his inability to do so after ‘reasonable’ number of attempts for repairing, he should either replace the vehicle with a new one or refund you the value of the vehicle.