California Lemon Law Blog

The NHTSA has launched an investigation into an issue with the fuel tanks of three million 1993-2004 model Jeep Grand Cherokees, according to the U.S. News & World Report. The Administration has received several reports suggesting that the placement of the fuel tank puts it at high risk of leaking or rupture in the event of an accident. The release of fuel during such an accident could pose a significant fire hazard.

A reported 13 deaths may be linked to the defect in ten different crashes. Watchdog groups contend that the number is much higher. However, the NHTSA has qualified that "the existence of these post-crash fires does not, by itself, establish a defect trend.” Their investigation will hopefully determine conclusively whether the fuel tank placement directly impacts the severity of post-crash fires and whether the problem warrants issuing a recall of affected vehicles.

Chrysler, the maker of the Cherokee, maintains that the vehicle is in compliance with all national safety standards.

California law requires auto manufacturers to make sure that their vehicles maintain quality and reliability standards. If these standards are not met, consumers are entitled to remuneration in the form of free repairs, a full refund or a new car. If you suspect you have been sold a sub-standard vehicle, call the Law Offices of Howard D. Silver to speak with a skilled California lemon law lawyer for a free consultation about your case at (866) 46-LEMON.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced that it has begun a preliminary investigation into a purported manufacturing defect affecting the 2003 and 2004 model year Volkswagen Passats. The New York Times reports that the investigation comes after the Administration received sixteen reports of failing ignition coils in the affected cars. Ignition coil failure can cause fires or lead to loss of power, which some complaints allege could have caused accidents.

A similar issue with faulty ignition coils in some of Volkswagen’s most popular models came up in 2003.

The NHTSA has emphasized that it has made only a preliminary evaluation of the situation as of yet. The organization will conduct a more rigorous engineering diagnostic if the preliminary evaluation shows any cause for concern.

Volkswagen has already implemented a service campaign to replace all of the malfunctioning coils in the hopes of avoiding a full blown recall, which can be costly to the manufacturer and comes with stringent legal requirements and penalties. However, some customers have complained that even the replacement coils that they received were failing soon after installation.

Under existing California consumer protection laws, car manufacturers have a duty to ensure their products are reliable and safe. If a defect or reoccurring problem occurs, manufacturers have a legal responsibility to repair the faulty part or, in cases where numerous repairs have already been attempted and failed, refund the money paid for the car or replace the vehicle. If you think you have been sold a sub-standard car, call the knowledgeable California lemon law attorneys at the Law Offices of Howard D. Silver for a free consultation about your case at (866) 46-LEMON.

The initial consolidated complaint in the first of many multi-district litigation (MDL) class action lawsuits was filed against Toyota Motor Corp. for damages suffered by drivers as a result of unintended acceleration. Lawyers have chosen to use California consumer protection laws as the framework for their case.

The National Law Journal reports that the MDL compiles more than 200 lawsuits and lists not only individual consumers, but also rental car companies and car dealerships as plaintiffs seeking compensation. The complaint does not include claims involving death or injury. Instead, it alleges that Toyota knowingly concealed information about defects associated with unintended acceleration (primarily due to floor mat and pedal design issues), which posed a significant safety hazard to drivers.

Plaintiff lawyers intentionally chose to cite California state consumer protection laws, including the Consumer Legal Remedies Act and the California Unfair Competition Law. Attorneys explained that class certification is more likely when the law of only one state is applied, and they specifically chose the California statute because it is significantly pro-consumer.

California auto fraud and consumer protection laws are among the strongest and most comprehensive in the nation. If you suspect that you have knowingly or fraudulently been sold a defective vehicle, the experienced California auto fraud attorneys at the Law Offices of Howard D. Silver are well equipped to handle your case. Call today for a free consultation at 866-49-LEMON.

Honda Motor Company has announced a recall of its popular Accord, Civic and Element models due to a defect in the ignition interlock lever. The lever is meant to prevent drivers from removing their key from the ignition before putting the car in park. ABC News reports that failure of the lever could cause cars to roll away when parked, a significant safety hazard.

The recall affects models from 2003 and 2004 and covers around 384,220 cars in the United States. An additional 44,000 vehicles in Canada are covered. The recall decision follows the release of a 2009 NHTSA inquiry confirming the safety hazard. After meeting about the study results, Honda and the NHTSA mutually determined that a recall was necessary for the defective Honda vehicles.

Honda will begin notifying individual customers in September, per the NHTSA recall guidelines. So far, eleven crashes related to the defect have been reported to the Administration.

The NHTSA works closely with auto manufacturers to regulate the safety of all vehicles put into the consumer market. If you suspect you have been sold a defective car, you may have a right to a manufacturer repair, a refund or a new vehicle. Getting a full grasp on the scope of the California lemon law and how it may apply to you can be quite a challenge. Skilled San Bernardino lemon law lawyer, Howard D. Silver, can help you with your particular situation and defend your rights. Call today for a free consultation about your case at 866-46-LEMON.

Price Wheels reports that Subaru has announced a voluntary recall of Legacy and Outback models from the 2010 and 2011 model years. The company discovered that an essential lubrication hole for the transmission was absent from these models due to a programming error.

Vehicles missing the lubrication hole are at risk of serious damage being done to their transmissions. Transmission gears lacking adequate lubrication will become stressed, potentially causing damage or breakage to the transmission gears while the car is driving. Although no accidents have been reported to the NHTSA resulting from the defect, the defect does pose a potentially significant safety risk to drivers.

Subaru has halted sales of the affected vehicles at its national dealerships. The company will also contact all registered owners of the vehicle with information about the recall and to schedule a service appointment to repair the defect and any related damage to the internal parts of the transmission. Subaru has also offered to replace the shaft and gears of any recalled vehicle with more than 6,250 miles.

If you have recently purchased a new car that has required repeated trips back to the dealer for repairs, you may have purchased a lemon. Under the lemon law in California, you may be entitled to compensation for repairs, a replacement vehicle or a full refund of the purchase price. Call the Law Offices of Howard D. Silver today at 866-46-LEMON to learn about your rights.

Reports of steering wheel problems have compelled the NHTSA to launch investigations into 2007-2009 Mazda3s and 2003-2005 BMW Z4s, according to US News & World Report. Although equipped with different types of steering systems, both vehicles have been the subjects of consumer complaints about increased difficulty turning the steering wheel.

The BMW Z4 has an electric power steering system, while the Mazda is equipped with an electro-hydraulic assist system. Consumer complaints indicate the Z4 experiences steering problems while the vehicle is operating at higher speeds and temperatures. Mazda became aware of the problem in 2009 and released a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB).

If you are a California resident and your new car has required frequent unsuccessful repairs, you may have been sold a lemon and may be entitled to compensation under the California lemon law. Seek the counsel of the California lemon law attorneys at the Law Offices of Howard D. Silver. Call today for a free consultation: 866-46-LEMON.