California Lemon Law Blog

Consumers throughout the United States seem to be watching every dime with the current state of our economy, especially when considering buying a used car. Despite a person’s heightened budgeting, some individuals do not anticipate the potential for additional fees when buying a used vehicle.

Before you actually purchase the used car of your heart’s desire, it is important to be aware of the total cost: used vehicle price, down payment, interest rate, and monthly payments. However, a WTVM report includes a few other potential fees that the Georgia MEA Federal Credit Union warns consumers against. Some of these extra costs may include dealer preparation, documentation, delivery, extended warranties and gap insurance.

Based on the article, the National Automobile Dealers Association anticipates the purchase of over 7 million car and trucks during April and August, particularly since consumers tend to buy vehicles more often during the spring and summer months than other times of the year. Even though the excitement and possible urgency of buying a used car may tempt an individual to make an impulsive and quick buy, it may be worth it to invest a little more time in finding the best financing deal for a used car in addition to the vehicle’s actual price.

If you are thinking of buying a used car in California, please refer to California lemon law attorney Howard Silver’s Consumer’s Guide to Buying a Used Car in California for more information. It is vital that consumers not only save as much money as possible and feel confident in their used car purchase, but that a consumer takes extra care in making sure that the used vehicle they purchase is not a lemon. When consumers have a solid understanding of their rights, they are less likely to be stuck with a lemon vehicle.

When it is determined that a vehicle has a problem, such as lack of engine acceleration or bad brakes, the car owner may be protected by the California lemon law if the problem cannot be repaired after a reasonable number of attempts.

The Los Angeles Times reported that approximately 50,000 early-2003 model Toyota Sequoia SUVs have been recalled due to an issue with electronics and inhibited acceleration. The article addresses drivers having to pay to fix a defect that the automaker may have known about for several years, and in the past repaired for other drivers without charging them.

According to the article, owners were not notified of the electronics problem after Toyota discovered the issue within months of placing the Sequoia SUV into production in 2003 and issued a “technical service bulletin” to its dealers on how to fix it.

The president of Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety, a consumer advocacy group based in Sacramento that supports stricter California automotive lemon laws, stated that automakers often charge a car owner to fix something in a vehicle that they already know to be defective. In referring to “secret or hidden warranties,” the president of the consumer group noted that violations of California law may be occurring if it is determined that some vehicle owners receive free repairs for the same problem that other vehicle owners are forced to pay for.

If a motorist discovers their vehicle listed on service bulletins on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s online database, he or she can request that their dealer fix the issue for free, even if the car is officially beyond its warranty. While several owners of the now recalled Sequoia SUVs have had their vehicle repaired under warranty, others have waited past their warranty’s expiration or did not experience the infrequent acceleration problem until later.

For more information about seeking a refund or replacement vehicle that you deserve for your lemon car, contact skilled lemon law attorney Howard D. Silver at 866-49-LEMON for a free consultation.

California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Protection Act protects purchasers or lessees of new vehicles that, after a reasonable number of repair attempts, still have problems that cannot or have not been fixed.

According to the California Office of the Attorney General website, under the Act, a “new” vehicle is not only a new car or truck, but the chassis, chassis cab and propulsion system on a motor home, and any vehicle sold with a manufacturer’s new car warranty. In fact, a two-year-old used car which is sold with one year remaining on the new car warranty is still a “new motor vehicle” under the Act.

Even though the coach or living quarters portion of a motor home and a motorcycle or off-road vehicle is not considered a motor vehicle under California law, you still have the right to receive your money back if the product does not conform to the warranty after a reasonable number of repair attempts.

If you believe you’ve been sold a lemon or defective vehicle or product, please don’t hesitate to contact experienced California lemon law attorney Howard D. Silver by calling 866-49-LEMON. The Law Offices of Howard D. Silver stands ready to advise you of your rights under the California lemon law. Contact Howard D. Silver today for a free consultation and more information about the California lemon law.