California Lemon Law Blog

The Baltimore Sun reports that the Maryland Attorney General’s office has ordered a Missouri-based company and its owners to pay approximately $25 million in penalties and restitution to close to 17,000 customers in Maryland.

According to the article, consumers bought extended vehicle warranties that the company alleged would offer “bumper to bumper” repair coverage from 2005 through 2010. The company contacted consumers via letter or telephone notifying them that even though their existing warranty was about to expire, they could extend the expiration date for $2,000 to $4,000. According to the State Consumer Protection Division, however, the company was offering third-party repair contracts with serious exclusions and limitation. The company was also found to have violated both the Maryland Consumer Protection Act and Telephone Solicitations Act by inflating the extent of the warranties’ coverage and misleading consumers regarding the relationships the company had with automakers.

If you believe you have been the victim of wrong or unfair business practices, a consultation with a deceptive business practices attorney in California can help you understand what legal options are available to you, based upon the specifics of your case. To learn more about your rights, call 1-866-49-LEMON to speak with attorney Howard D. Silver.

A recall of 299,718 vehicles was issued recently by Chrysler for an air bag defect. The recall includes certain Chrysler Grand Voyager and Town and Country vehicles as well as Dodge Grand Caravan vehicles. All vehicles included in the recall are from the 2008 model year and were manufactured between June of 2007 and July of 2008.

According to the recall notice, the affected vehicles have the potential for air bag deployment without warning, due to an air conditioning and heating (HVAC) condensate leak from the HVAC drain grommet onto the occupant restraint control (ORC). Should inadvertent air bag deployment occur, it could result in occupants in the front of the vehicle sustaining serious injury, in addition to increasing the risk of an accident.

Chrysler has indicated that the air bag modules in the affected vehicles will be replaced free of charge. Consumers can expect to be notified sometime during August. To learn more, consumers can call Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403 and reference recall number L01. The Vehicle Safety Hotline, part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), can also be contacted for more information at 1-888-327-4236.

Anytime a vehicle has a defect that reduces its use, value, or safety, a consumer may wonder what can be done to remedy their situation. A consultation with a lemon law attorney in California may help them conclude whether or not they are eligible for a replacement vehicle or a refund of their money under the California lemon law. Contact attorney Howard D. Silver to learn more about the rights granted to you under this law. Call 1-866-49-LEMON today.

In an effort to reduce fraud, California residents may start to pay more in document fees when purchasing a motor vehicle, reports The Sacramento Bee.

According to the article, the new legislation is receiving support from both Democrats and Republicans. Assembly Bill 1215 would permit car dealers to increase their maximum fee for document processing from $55 to $80 starting in July of 2012. The fee increase applies to both new and used vehicles.

The good news for consumers is that the bill would also require dealers to obtain a report from the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System when selling a used vehicle. Further, it would be mandatory for dealers to post a sticker on the vehicle informing the consumer that the vehicle had been salvaged or junked, or branded as rebuilt, non-repairable, or flooded.

According to the president of the Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety (CARS), the legislation is the first of its kind in the U.S. The goal is to discourage car fraud. Often, consumers pay much more than a vehicle is worth because they are unaware of its history. The legislation would also require dealers to electronically register vehicles through the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to reduce the lengthy registration process. Consumers would also be required to obtain and install new license plates on the vehicle within 90 days of purchase.

If you believe you have been a victim of used car fraud in California or other deceptive and illegal business practices, lawyer Howard D. Silver may be able to help you. As an attorney who has spent over 20 years protecting the rights of wronged consumers, Mr. Silver can launch a thorough investigation into the purchase of your vehicle to determine whether you have a valid claim. Schedule your free consultation with Mr. Silver today by calling 1-866-49-LEMON.

Honda recently issued a recall of approximately 1.5 million of its vehicles, reports SaferCar.gov. It was found that the outer race of the secondary shaft bearing in the affected vehicles could break when driven a certain way. A broken outer race may result in an abnormal noise, as well as turn on the malfunction indicator light, and may cause the transmission idle gear and the electronic sensor housing within the transmission to touch.

Consequently, this defect may cause a short circuit, resulting in engine stalling. There is also the potential for broken pieces of the outer race or ball bearing from the secondary shaft to become stuck in the parking pawl, which could cause the vehicle to roll after the gear selector has been placed in “park” by the driver. Engine stalling and sudden vehicle movement adds to the chances of an accident occurring and injury to anyone that is in front of a rolling vehicle.
The vehicles included in the recall are:

• Honda Accord vehicles from 2005-2010 model years


• Honda CR-V vehicles from 2007-2010 model years


• Honda Element vehicles from 2005-2010 model years

The vehicles were manufactured between July of 2004 and September of 2010.

To repair the defect, owners of the affected vehicles will be notified by Honda to take their vehicle to a dealer, where the software for the automatic transmission control module will be updated at no cost. The recall is projected to begin before the end of August.

Consumers with questions can contact Honda’s customer service by calling 1-800-999-1009 and reference recall number R89. The Vehicle Safety Hotline of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) can also be reached for more information at 1-888-327-4236.

If you have purchased a vehicle in California and believe it to be a lemon, call Howard D. Silver, a lemon law lawyer in Ventura County. For over 20 years, he has protected the rights of consumers throughout Southern California. Mr. Silver can investigate the details of your circumstances to conclude whether you qualify for coverage under the California lemon law.

The Columbus Dispatch reports that the Ohio Attorney General is suing a car dealer for breaking several consumer protection laws. According to the article, the company allegedly sold vehicles without divulging financial terms, tampered with a vehicle’s odometer in at least one case, and failed to provide dated sales receipts.

Action was taken after the Attorney General’s office received several complaints from consumers regarding the car dealer. Most of the complaints involved problems with repossessions, certificates of title, and vehicle repairs and services. The company is also accused of regularly using a one-page contract to explain to buyers the financial terms of vehicle sales that did not fully disclose financing costs. The lawsuit also accuses the company of regularly failing to apply for vehicle certificates of title within 30 days of sale, as well as selling a vehicle that had an odometer reading of 125,000 miles when the vehicle’s actual mileage was over 270,000 miles. The lawsuit seeks restitution on behalf of consumers as well as a $25,000 fine for each violation of the law. Additionally, the car dealer is to stop doing business until they have paid all penalties, fines, and restitution.

All California consumers are entitled to be treated honestly and fairly, particularly when making a large purchase such as buying a vehicle. When someone is a victim of deceptive business practices in California, it is important to remember they are given certain rights under law. Attorney and consumer advocate Howard D. Silver has protected the rights of consumers in California for more than 20 years. To find out more about your legal rights, call 1-866-49-LEMON today.

As automakers turn more and more to integrating electronic systems in their vehicles, the number of recalls launched to correct electronic defects is increasing.

According to The Safety Record, a recent study analyzed the number of electronic-related recalls in the past year. In fact, since July 2010, there have been 722 electronic related recalls. While it is challenging to define electronic recalls since they can encompass a wide variety of defects, when broadly defined, electronic recalls comprised over one-fourth of the total submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) during the past year. Notably, 24 of those recalls included software defects.

If you have purchased a vehicle that has needed multiple repairs for a defect, that significantly impairs the use, value, or safety of the vehicle, it could be a lemon. A free consultation with San Bernardino County lemon law attorney Howard D. Silver can assist you in determining whether your circumstances qualify your vehicle for coverage under the California lemon law as well as what legal options are available. To start the process with Mr. Silver, call 1-866-49-LEMON.

WIVB News reports that two men from Niagara County were charged recently for their alleged involvement in a car dealership scam in Pendleton, New York. The men were allegedly selling customers fake extended warranties for their motor vehicles.

According to the article, the two men were charged by New York state police with second-degree schemes to defraud and falsifying business records, and fourth-degree larceny. The men were charged after an investigation was conducted by the state Insurance Fraud Bureau along with the Niagara County DA.

The investigation was prompted after a man, who purchased a used vehicle and an extended warranty, needed the vehicle repaired. He then went to a shop but was told that the warranty company did not have a record of his vehicle and had not received a contract or payment for the warranty that he had purchased. After reporting the incident to the authorities, the investigation revealed additional victims and that the dealership’s employees were selling extended warranties without processing them with the warranty company.

If you believe you have been taken advantage of by a car dealership in relation to repairs or warranties, contact attorney Howard D. Silver. Mr. Silver is an unfair business practices attorney in Los Angeles who has represented clients throughout Southern California that have been victimized by deceptive business practices. To find out how Mr. Silver can help you, please call 1-866-49-LEMON today.

WSAV.com in Savannah, Georgia, reports that the results are in from a survey taken in 2010 by the National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators (NACAA), the Consumer Federation of America (CFA), and the North American Consumer Protection Investigators (NACPI). The survey listed the most common, worst, and fastest growing complaints received in 2010 by local consumer agencies throughout the United States. Over 252,000 complaints that were filed in 2010 were reviewed in the survey, which resulted in over $208 million dollars in savings and restitution for consumers.

The survey found that complaints regarding credit and debt are second only to complaints that are auto-related. The results were the same in the 2009 survey. Auto-related complaints included lemon vehicles, advertising or sales misrepresentation of new and used cars, faulty repairs, and towing and leasing disputes.

In relation to auto-related complaints, new types of complaints in the 2010 survey included failing to pay off liens on trade in vehicles or “NSF” checks issued to consumers.

If you believe you have been taken advantage of by a dishonest car dealer in relation to car or repair fraud, you may find it beneficial to consult with Howard D. Silver, an unfair business practices attorney in California who protects the rights of wronged consumers throughout Southern California. Mr. Silver will investigate your situation to determine whether you have a meritorious claim. To get started with Mr. Silver, call 1-866-49-LEMON today.

Nissan North America, Inc., recently announced the recall of approximately 20,000 Nissan Altima vehicles from model years 2011 and 2012. The vehicles were manufactured from April 2011 through June 2011in Canton, Mississippi.

The vehicles are being recalled because the transverse link bolt in the affected vehicles may not have been torqued to the proper specification. Consequently, the bolt may loosen creating a vibration or rattling noise while driving. If the bolt completely comes out, the driver may have difficulty controlling the vehicle’s direction, increasing the risk of an accident.

Vehicle owners will be notified by the automaker to take the vehicle to a Nissan dealer, where the transverse link bolts and nuts will be replaced and then tightened to the proper torque specification. The repairs will be made free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin in early August.

Consumers with questions regarding the recall can reach Nissan by calling 1-800-647-7261. They may also call the Vehicle Safety Hotline of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) at 1-888-327-4236 and reference NHTSA campaign ID number 11V371000 or visit http://www.SaferCar.gov to learn more.

If your vehicle has needed multiple repairs for a defect that affects its use, value, or safety, the vehicle could be a lemon. Consulting with a lemon law attorney in Los Angeles can help you determine whether you qualify for coverage under the California lemon law. To learn more, call Howard D. Silver at 1-866-49-LEMON today for a free consultation.

Recently, Volvo Cars of North America, LLC, announced a recall of approximately 8, 406 of its S80 passenger vehicles from model year 2007 due to a steering defect. The vehicles were manufactured between March 2006 and May 2007.

The recall was prompted after it was discovered that the power steering reservoir return hose in the affected vehicles may not have been routed correctly. This can cause an increase in pressure in the power steering system. Due to this increased pressure, the power steering return hose may burst at the steering gear, which would result in a loss of power steering fluid. Should this occur, the driver may experience an unexpected loss of power steering, which increases the risk of an accident.

Owners of the affected vehicles will be instructed to take the vehicle to a Volvo dealership, where dealers will inspect the routing of the power steering reservoir return hose. If necessary, repairs will be made at no cost to consumers. This recall is expected to begin sometime during August.

Consumers with questions can contact Volvo by calling 1-201-768-7300 and reference Volvo Safety Recall Number R246. To learn more about the recall, vehicle owners can also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) by calling their Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or visiting http://www.SaferCar.gov.

Consumers expect that automakers will make vehicles that are of high quality and are not defective. Unfortunately, some vehicles are found to be defective or made with faulty parts. In fact, should a non-conformity significantly impair a vehicle’s use, value, or safety, it may be a lemon. Under the California’s lemon law, if certain criteria is met, consumers may be eligible for a replacement vehicle or a refund of their money. Determining whether a vehicle is a lemon can be a complicated process, which is why consulting with a lemon law attorney may be in your best interest. Since 1987, attorney Howard D. Silver has dedicated his practice to helping wronged consumers. To get started with Mr. Silver, call 1-866-49-LEMON today for a free consultation.