California Lemon Law Blog

An informative article in the Boston Herald gives readers some good tips about doing your homework before buying a used car. According to the article, the most common mistake car buyers make when they buy a used car, is not getting the vehicle checked by a mechanic before buying. In fact, more and more consumers are getting duped and stuck with lemon vehicles or becoming victims of car repair fraud because they are not doing their homework before buying a used car.

According to this article, the percentage of people calling their local Better Business Bureaus with inquiries about car dealerships is on the decrease, but the number of complaints filed against dealers has increased. Recent research by the Better Business Bureau of Eastern North Carolina has also shown that fewer disputes between car owners and dealers are getting resolved, which means fewer dealerships are working the problems out with the consumer.

The article suggests a few things car owners should do before driving off the lot with their used or certified used vehicle. Here’s a summary of some of the tips offered to prospective used car buyers:

• Check out the vehicle’s history
• Verify the dealership’s record with the Better Business Bureau or the Attorney General’s office to see if complaints have been filed.
• Take the car for a test drive and get it properly inspected by a licensed mechanic

If you or someone you know has been stuck with a lemon vehicle – whether it’s a used car or a new car, call the Law Office of Howard Silver for a free consultation with an experienced California lemon law attorney.

The Philadelphia City Council has introduced a used car lemon law to protect local consumers from getting duped by used car dealers. According to this NBC News article, this is the city’s first used car lemon law under which used car buyers have the opportunity to have the car inspected by a mechanic within 72 hours of purchase. If a major problem is found with the car, the buyer can either return the vehicle for repair or get their money back.

The new lemon law was a much needed one for Philadelphia to protect used car buyers from their mistakes. Common mistakes include buying a car without having it inspected by a mechanic or not obtaining a vehicle history report to find out about things like prior accidents or frame damage

Consumers who buy a defective used car in California have rights too. If the vehicle is new or still under manufacturer’s warranty you can bring a lemon law claim. If the vehicle came with a dealer’s warranty, you can bring a claim that the warranty has been violated. If the vehicle came without a warranty, but there has been some type of fraud or misrepresentation, you may have a claim pursuant to the California Consumer Legal Remedies Act which prohibits used car sellers from using deceptive practices to sell vehicles.

If you or someone you know has been stuck with a lemon vehicle or been lied to about the condition of their vehicle, please call the Law Office of Howard Silver for a free consultation.

Nissan Motor Co. is recalling 169,202 of its 2007 and 2008 model year Sentra vehicles because of a problem with the brakes, according to this news report. A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigation found that the brake master cylinder on these automobiles might leak fluid causing one of the brake circuits to fail leading to brake failure and an accident.

Consumers who own a recalled Nissan Sentra should be getting these recall notices in the mail. Nissan officials say that consumers should also pay attention to their brake warning light. If the light illuminates, they should take their car to a dealer immediately. Failure to do so, may result in one of the brake circuits not operating increasing the risk of a crash.

Continue reading " Nissan Recalls Sentras With Brake Problems " »

Chrysler is recalling more than 5,500 2008 Dodge Magnum and Charger sedans because of a manufacturing defect. According to a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a manufacturing defect could cause the half-shaft in the rear wheel drive vehicles to “disengage from the wheel hub,” lose power and then crash without warning.

Chrysler dealers are saying they will replace the rear axle hub nuts. Owners of these vehicles should already be getting notices of the defect in the mail. If not, you should contact the manufacturer or your dealer and get them to inspect your recalled Dodge Charger or Magnum.

If your vehicle has a defect that cannot be repaired to conform to the manufacturer’s warranty, it may be a lemon entitling you to a free replacement car or full refund plus the money you spent for rental cars, towing and other expenses.

If you are stuck with a defective auto, call a California Lemon Law attorney at the Law Office of Howard Silver for a free consultation.