California Lemon Law Blog

A defect that affects a motor vehicle’s safety is a serious problem. Also, any vehicle that needs to be repaired multiple times for the same problem or has been out of commission for 30 days or more due to unsuccessful defect repair attempts may be a lemon.

Manufacturers of motor vehicles are responsible for designing safe and reliable vehicles. However, in some instances, a consumer may purchase a vehicle with a defect cannot be fixed that negatively affects the vehicle’s use, value, or safety. A few examples of defects that are safety-related include:

• Electrical problems that cause fires or unexpected loss of lighting.
• Fuel system components that cause leaks or weakness in the event of a crash.
• Steering components that break without warning, causing loss of vehicle control.

If your vehicle has been in the shop multiple times for the same problem without a successful outcome, you may have a lemon. Howard D. Silver is a California lemon law attorney who can help you understand your rights and options under the state lemon law, including the return of your vehicle or your money back. To learn more about how Mr. Silver can help you, call 1-866-49-LEMON.

The California lemon law, also known as The Tanner Consumer Protection Act of California, was designed to protect the rights of consumers who have vehicles with serious problems that cannot be repaired after a reasonable number of attempts. The lemon law covers passenger vehicles; the chassis, chassis cab, and propulsion system of a new motor home; and used vehicles that are still under manufacturer warranty.

Vehicles that have serious problems that affect the use, value, or safety of the car, such as brakes that don’t work properly, may qualify for relief under the California lemon law. However, minor issues such as an occasional squeak or unauthorized alterations made to the vehicle are not covered under the law. Although the basic principle is that a vehicle can qualify as a lemon if it has not been successfully repaired after a reasonable number of attempts, it is presumed the vehicle is a lemon if it has been out of commission for a cumulative 30 days four times for the same problem or has been into the repair shop for a safety defect twice without success and within eighteen months of the purchase date or 18,000 miles.

If your car is identified as a lemon vehicle in California, the manufacturer has to replace the vehicle with a comparable one or refund your money, minus a reasonable charge for use of the vehicle prior to the first repair.

If you have questions regarding your rights and whether you have a lemon vehicle, contact experienced California lemon law attorney Howard D. Silver. He can help you understand your options and ensure that your rights are protected. For a free consultation, call The Law Offices of Howard D. Silver at 1-866-49-LEMON.

The Los Angeles Times reports that Mazda Motor Corp. is recalling 65,000 Mazda6 cars to fix an issue with spiders nesting in small hoses connected to fuel tank systems. Apparently, the spider infestation can lead to pressurization and ventilation problems which increases the chances of fuel leaks and fires.

A UC Riverside entomologist stated that the yellow sac spiders (Cheiracanthium inclusum) most likely made their nests inside the vehicles at the auto parts supplier or the Flat Rock, MI assembly plant and not owners’ garages. Twenty cases of spider infestation inside Mazda6 vehicles have been reported so far.

It is suspected that the Mazda spider problem began prior to assembly. According to the entomologist, the spiders probably made their way into the vehicles’ fuel tank tubes before an employee shipped the tubes to the assembly plant or installed them into the cars.

The Mazda recall includes Mazda6 cars from the 2009 and 2010 model years in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Only the four-cylinder version of the Mazda6 is thought to be affected by the spider infestation.

Auto dealers who discover evidence of spiders inside the tubes should clean out and replace the hoses. If necessary, gas tanks will be replaced as well.

A pest infestation is probably the last thing a car owner would expect to be at the root of a vehicle problem. Unfortunately, problems with a car occur for a wide range of reasons. Lemon vehicles are a nuisance. If you believe your vehicle is a lemon, contact skilled California lemon law attorney Howard D. Silver for a free consultation. Call 1-800-49-LEMON.