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2019 Subaru Ascent, Crosstrek And Forester Increased Tailpipe Exhaust

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Subaru will be contacting the owners of certain 2019 Ascent, Crosstrek and Forester SUVs regarding a problem affecting the engine in their vehicle.

According to the defect report, the material used for the PCV valve case was changed from aluminum to steel on the engine production line beginning October 2018. The difference in metal combined with heating and cooling experienced during regular vehicle use could cause a gap to develop between the PCV washer and valve case. In addition, other components surrounding the PCV case could press into the case, potentially contributing to the separation of the valve components over time. If this happens, oil will enter the engine combustion chamber, changing the appearance and/or amount of tailpipe exhaust. If the vehicle continues to be driven under these conditions, drivers may experience a complete loss of engine power.

Dealers will inspect the PCV valve, and if the valve has separated, the short block engine will be replaced. Subaru’s number for this recall is WUW-08 and the NHTSA campaign number is 19V-856.

Is Your 2017 Chevrolet Camaro A Lemon?

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The Camaro is a mid-size American sports car manufactured by Chevrolet. Despite having good performance ratings and respectable features, the 2017 Chevrolet Camaro ranks average in the class of sports cars. Drivers say it has high maintenance costs compared to its rivals and the passenger and cargo space is lacking. If you research the 2017 Camaro on the NHTSA website, you will see there is only one recall, but owner complaints are high.

The number one complaint of the 2017 Chevy Camaro is steering. Drivers say the power steering warning light will intermittently illuminate while driving at various speeds, the power steering will fail and excessive force is needed to maneuver the vehicle. In February 2019 GM released a recall affecting the 2017 Camaro for loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist. The problem was a manufacturing error which caused a short on the EPS printed circuit board in the steering assembly. The recall affected over 26,000 Chevrolet and Cadillac vehicles.

There are no recalls affecting the transmission for the 2017 Camaro, but drivers say they are continually experience problems. Hard shifting, noises and hesitation are especially noticeable between 55 to 85 mph, making it dangerous for highway driving and during critical maneuvers. There are over eighty TSBs issued by the manufacturer affecting the 2017 Chevrolet Camaro transmission.

The third top complaint of the 2017 Chevy Camaro is interior and exterior accessory problems. Complaints include windows that fog up, the radio and blue tooth stop working, the key gets stuck in the ignition and general lighting problems. The manufacturer wants you to believe that these are minor issues, but don’t be fooled, these problems can impair the use, value and safety of your vehicle.

Do you think your 2017 Chevrolet Camaro could be a LEMON?… Contact us now for a free case evaluation.

Infiniti Q50 Hybrid Common Problems

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Of all the Infiniti Q50 vehicles, the 2014 hybrid model has the highest number of manufacturer recalls and owner complaints. The systems with the highest defects include steering, electrical, air bags and braking.

Steering problems is the number one driver complaint of the 2014 Q50 hybrid. The vehicles Direct Adaptive Steering (DAS) is an advanced “steer by wire” system developed to enhance feel and feedback, but drivers say it is unpredictable and unreliable. Temporary loss of steering because the system goes out of calibration and resets, the vehicle unexpectedly pulls left or right and the vehicle fails to steer in the intended direction, are also common complaints.

Repeated failure of the electrical equipment on the 2014 Q50 hybrid have owners frustrated. The top complaint is unexpected software shutdowns which leave drivers without an instrument panel, climate control and audio control. The vehicle must be shut off and restarted before it can be restored. Failure of the vehicle sensors is common as well. These sensors are used throughout the vehicle to help the driver maintain safety while driving. If they are not working properly it can cause unexpected problems with the Occupant Classification System (OCS), driver assist and the backup camera system.

Airbag problems are a common complaint on many many vehicle makes and models, and the Infiniti Q50 hybrid is not immune. Errors affecting the OCS have drivers concerned about their passenger safety, even after having the Air Bag Control Unit and the OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) reprogrammed under NHTSA recall 16V-244

According to some 2014 Q50 owners, the electronic braking system in their vehicles have made their cars difficult to handle. Brake booster pump failures cause reduced braking power and longer stopping distances, and the emergency collision warnings and impact mitigation activates while driving, making it difficult to avoid collisions or make quick maneuvers around obstacles.

Do you think your Infiniti Q50 is a LEMON?… Fill out the above form or call us now for a free case evaluation.

Nissan Brake Fluid Leak Could Result In Fire

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Nissan will be asking the owners of certain 2015-2019 Infiniti and Nissan vehicles, equipped with ADVICS ABS actuators, to return to their dealerships for a problem affecting the braking system. These vehicles were previously recalled under NHTSA campaign number 18V-601, but were not repaired. This new recall (19V-807) also expands the previous population. The affected models include:

  • 2017-2019 Infiniti QX60
  • 2016-2018 Nissan Maxima
  • 2015-2018 Nissan Murano
  • 2017-2019 Nissan Pathfinder

Due to manufacturing variation, the ABS actuators may contain an oil seal with inadequate sealing performance. The seal could prematurely wear and leak brake fluid. If this occurs, the ABS warning lamp will illuminate to warn the driver, but if the warning is ignored, the brake fluid leak could create an electrical short in the actuator circuit. In rare instances, this could lead to a fire.

Note: When brake fluid leaks onto the circuit board, the ABS warning lamp will remain illuminated for more than 10 seconds after engine is started. If this occurs, owners should park their vehicle outdoors away from other vehicles or structures and to not drive the vehicle.

Is Your Cadillac Escalade A Lemon?

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The Escalade is a full-size luxury SUV engineered and manufactured by Cadillac. It was Cadillac’s first major entry into the luxury SUV market in response to competition from Mercedes-Benz, Lexus and Ford. Today, Cadillac makes their Escalade in an EXT, ESV and a hybrid version as well.

The 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade models have received some of the highest complaints and recalls of all the model years. Although there have been no recalls for transmission problems, complaints are common. Drivers say there is a “distinct clunking and surging when accelerating and decelerating, and the transmission becomes stuck in gear.” The 2015 Cadillac models have 167 manufacturer communications / TSB’s affecting the power train, many which recommend flushing and changing the transmission fluid. The problem is a common complaint with many 2015-2019 Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC owners and is part of an ongoing class action lawsuit between vehicle owners and GM.

Drivers of certain 2015-2020 Cadillac Escalade vehicles believe that shaking and vibrations are caused by the same transmission defect, but some attorneys say the symptoms are caused by a defective drive shaft. The problem has been so wide spread, it has been coined “The Chevy Shake”. A few owners say they fixed the problem by replacing the aluminum drive shaft with a custom steel drive shaft, but GM continues to replace parts with the same defective parts.

Electrical defects are common in many newer Cadillac Escalade models. Heating and air conditioning are the top, with exterior lighting and software problems following close behind. Other complaints include: thermostat gives wrong information or just doesn’t work, no control of audio, Bluetooth intermittently disconnects, complete failure of the instrument cluster, repeated electrical shorts and temporary loss of the electric power steering.

Do you think your Cadillac Escalade could be a LEMON?… Fill out the above form or call us now for a free case evaluation.

GM Transmissions & Difficult Shifting

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The eight-speed automatic transmission found in certain 2015-2019 Chevrolet, Cadillac and GMC vehicles have a defect that makes the vehicle hesitate and jerk when accelerating or slowing down. Owners say that the 8L90 and 8L45 transmissions experience hard shifting and eventual engine damage.

According to a class action lawsuit filed last year, “Drivers attempting to accelerate or decelerate feel a hesitation, followed by a significant shake, shudder, jerk, clunk, or ‘hard shift’ when the vehicle’s automatic transmission changes gears.” The shuddering, shaking, jerking and hesitation is believed to be related to friction within the transmission and/or torque converter causing metal shavings to be circulated throughout the transmission.

The vehicles affected by this problem include:

  • 2015-2019 Chevrolet Silverado
  • 2017-2019 Chevrolet Colorado
  • 2015-2019 Chevrolet Corvette
  • 2016-2019 Chevrolet Camaro
  • 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV
  • 2016-2019 Cadillac ATS and ATS-V
  • 2016-2019 Cadillac CTS and CTS-V
  • 2016-2019 Cadillac CT6
  • 2015-2019 GMC Sierra
  • 2015-2019 GMC Yukon and Yukon XL
  • 2015-2017 GMC Yukon Denali and Denali XL
  • 2017-2019 GMC Canyon

Air conditioning problems are another common complaint affecting certain newer Chevrolet, Cadillac and GMC vehicles. Owners say the system is not strong enough to withstand the internal and external pressures. Leaks eventually occur causing damage to compressors and condensers and expensive repairs.

The vehicles affected include:

  • 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade
  • 2014-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  • 2015-2017 Chevrolet Suburban
  • 2015-2017 Chevrolet Tahoe
  • 2014-2016 GMC Sierra 1500
  • 2015-2017 GMC Yukon

 

If you purchased or leased a defective Chevrolet, Cadillac or GMC in California and it turned out to be a lemon, contact us now and we can help you get rid of it… Fill out the above form or call us now for a free case evaluation.

Ford F150 Grinding Noise

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The Ford F-Series is a series of light, medium and super duty trucks manufactured by Ford Motor Company since 1948. One of he most popular versions of the series is the light duty F-150. Now in its thirteenth generation, the F-150 is one of the best selling trucks in America.

Throughout the years, every model year F-150 has experienced problems and defects. Below are some of the most common problems affecting 2015-2019 model year F-150 trucks.

“Transmission makes clunking and grinding noise.” Many F-150 owners report problems with their transmissions when starting, accelerating, or shifting. They experience clunking and jerking when shifting through gears on all types of roads. Although there are several transmission recalls affecting Ford F-150 trucks, none of them address the difficult shifting problems.

“Loud grinding when starting.” Grinding from the starter often starts with a faulty starter solenoid. The starter solenoid has internal electrical contacts that supply electricity to the starter. When it is not working properly, it may allow the starter drive gear to grind on the teeth of the flywheel after the engine has started. Over time the drive gear will wear down, the grinding will become more frequent and the starter will have to be replaced. In some cases a vehicle could go through two or three starters in its lifespan.

“Front end grinding in 2WD” In August 2019, Ford released a technical service bulletin for intermittent grinding noises coming from the Integrated Wheel Ends (IWE) in some 2013-2018 F-150, Expedition and Navigator vehicles. The problem was caused by a loss of vacuum to the Integrated Wheel End (IWE) actuators and/or wear of the IWE components. To correct the condition service centers were instructed to inspect and replace worn vacuum and IWE components.

“Engine rattle at startup.” The first symptom of problems with a timing chain is a rattle from the engine on start up. Because the timing chains are so long, they must be kept tight using hydraulic tensioners and are supported by plastic guides. With the proper lubrication and oil filter the timing chain should last the life of the vehicle, but with a substandard oil filter, the engine oil may drain back to the oil pan when the engine is turned off.  A lack of oil pressure means tensioners cannot immediately tighten the timing chains on startup.  When this occurs slack in the chain tends to jerk and the plastic timing chain guides can break.

“Grinding noise coming from the wheels.” Grinding that seems to be coming from your wheels is most likely bad wheel bearings. Wheel bearings allow for friction-free movement of the hub assembly so your wheels can rotate smoothly, but they are not immune to wear and tear and may need to be replaced over the length of a vehicle’s life. If the noise gets louder as you accelerate, then a bad wheel bearing is most likely the problem.

If you purchased or leased a defective Ford F-150 in California and it turned out to be a lemon, contact us now and we can help you get rid of it… just fill out the above form or call us now for a free case evaluation.

2018 Volkswagen Atlas Repeated Problems

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Although the Volkswagen Atlas has only been in production for three years, it has already gained a reputation for being a problematic vehicle. The 2018 model Atlas, for example, has ten recalls and hundreds of manufacturer communications. (Automobile manufacturers are required to submit copies of their communications to dealers and owners about defects, to the NHTSA.) These documents can be useful to owners because they identify known problems.

Manufacturer communications for the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas show that the electrical, engine and braking have issues.

The top complaint of the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas is braking. The vehicles’ automatic emergency braking (AEB) is designed to reduce crashes, but poorly deigned or calibrated systems have become a safety issue. Drivers say while crossing lanes of traffic or after leveling out from a down slope, the AEB will automatically activate leaving them with no control over the movement of the vehicle. In order to move again, they have to shift the transmission into neutral and restart the engine.

The second biggest complaint about the 2018 Atlas is the engine start-stop technology. Start-stop technology advertises cost savings and environmental benefits, however, repeated engine starts while supplying power to systems when the engine is off, requires powerful batteries and complex systems to run smoothly. These systems are vulnerable to problems, the biggest being batteries that prematurely die and leave drivers stranded.

Air conditioning defects are the third top complaints of the 2018 VW Atlas. If your a/c is blowing warm air, it is most likely low refrigerant pressure. Leaks and blocked condensers can result in worn compressors, failing blower motors and expensive repair cost. In a recall affecting the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, an improperly installed HVAC drain tube allowed moisture to enter the airbag control unit, causing the airbag to unexpectedly deploy. This dangerous driving condition had thousands of owners returning to their dealers for repairs.

If you purchased or leased a defective Volkswagen Atlas in California that turned out to be a lemon, and need help to get rid of it, just fill out the above form or call us now for a free case evaluation.