Honda has announced two recalls that will affect some 2006 Honda CR-V crossover vehicles and some 2011 CR-Z sport hybrid coupes.
Honda will be recalling over 80,000 2006 CR-V crossover vehicles in the U.S. to replace the power window master switch. The problem is being blamed on accumulated residue from interior cleaners which can cause the electrical contacts on the switch to degrade. The increased electrical resistance of the contacts could pose a potential fire hazard. Dealers will replace the switch with one that cannot be affected by interior cleaners.
Honda will also be recalling certain 2011 CR-Z sport hybrid coupes to update the software that controls the hybrid electric motor on some manual transmission vehicles. When the gasoline engine has stalled, the battery is in a low state of charge, and the transmission is in gear, it is possible for the electric motor to rotate in the opposite direction. If the driver does not engage the brakes completely, the vehicle could roll back. A software update will be added to correct the problem.
Owners wanting more information on the recall can go to www.recalls.honda.com or call (800) 999-1009, and selecting option 4.
The slowing economy has left consumers wary about making big item purchases, but according to a recent auto data report, automobile sales in August rose almost 8% from a year ago and 1.2% from last month. All of the large automakers have showed sales gains for the year to date, except for Honda and Toyota, whose dealers have struggled to keep inventory since the earthquake and tsunami in Japan early this year. Shortages of small, fuel-efficient cars, like the Chevrolet Cruze and Ford Focus, have also lead to increased prices on both new and used hybrid, electric and compact cars.
G.M. said it remains confident that industry sales will top 13 million vehicles this year, back to 2008 levels, when 13.2 million were sold in the United States. They intend to step up production by adding overtime shifts to plants that build the Chevy Cruze, in an attempt to fill the compact car void plaguing the auto industry. Ford said it hopes to increase its overall production by 9% in the fourth quarter from what is was in 2010.
But analysts feel the automakers are “playing chicken” with the economy. Stockpiling extra inventory while consumer confidence declines could lead to too much inventory and price reductions that could end up hurting the industry in the long run.
California lemon law specialist Kurt Delsack gives some pointers on how to find the best lemon law attorney. The most important decision in winning your lemon law case is choosing the right attorney. Many law firms offer lemon law services, but only experienced lawyers dedicated to the lemon law will be able to resolve your case fast and efficiently. The law offices of Delsack & Associated have been around since 1987 and are dedicated exclusively to the practice of the California lemon law. If you are in California and think you have a lemon vehicle call 1.888.ExLemon (888.395.3666) or fill and submit the lemon law form and see if you qualify under California’s lemon law.
According to a consumer complaint survey report, the category most complained about by consumers in 2010 was the auto industry. The survey, carried out collectively by the Consumer Federation of America, the National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators, and the North American Consumer Protection Investigators, looked at over half a million complaints in different states around the country. For a second year in a row, they found that automobile related problems topped the list. Some of the most complained about categories included misrepresentations in advertising or sales of new and used cars, lemon vehicles, faulty repairs, leasing and towing disputes.
If you think you own a lemon these are the 7 most important defenses to create a good lemon law case to help to get your car repurchased.
Bring your car in early. At the first sign of a manufacturing problem get a repair order from an authorized dealer. If the manufacturer buys your car back, the lower the mileage of the first repair, the lower will be the use fee deduction, and the greater the amount you may get back.
Always get a copy of the work order when you leave the vehicle; and always get a copy of the actual completed repair order when picking up the vehicle. Be sure the work order accurately shows your complaints. If the problem recurs, even if only 5 minutes later, get a new and separate repair order. Do not let the dealer add on to the earlier one. If possible, have the technician write on the repair order that they verified your complaint.
Be consistent in your complaints. The California lemon law states that the manufacturer must be allowed a reasonable number of repair attempts to fix the same problem. So be sure that the way your complaint is written on the repair order shows that you are describing the same problem.
Check the technical service bulletins or TSBs. These are issued by manufacturers for common defects for your specific year and model. Usually the dealer will not tell you about TSBs, unless you ask. Even if they tell you none exist, make sure that your request is written on the repair order. Check our website at calemonlaw.com to see the current technical service bulletins for your car.
Watch out for bad advice. Dealer service personnel are not lawyers. They may give you bad advice about the California lemon law which may affect your decision about how to handle your problem. If you have a question call us. Don’t be swayed by remarks that you are the cause of your car’s problems, like you don’t know how to use the brakes, or the NAV system, or it’s because you live on a hill, or you are using bad gas. These are just excuses for a problem the dealer doesn’t know how to fix.
Watch out for arbitration. Some manufacturers suggest that you have to go through arbitration before you can use the California lemon law. That is not true! In fact, it can be very dangerous because the ruling of an arbitrator has the same effect as if it were a decision made in a court of law. And if the ruling is against you, it could then become considerably more difficult to later win your case.
The final step is to call our offices for a free consultation as soon as you think you have a lemon. And in most cases we will not charge you any fees for handling your lemon law case. So call us today at 888 ex lemon or 888-395-3666 or complete the short submittal form on our website calemonlaw.com.
Life is too short to live with a lemon, especially if we may get rid of it for you and get you your money back. We look forward to hearing from you.
California Lemon Law in Los Angeles: 310-475-1700
California Lemon Law in San Francisco: 415-285-5366
California Lemon Law in Fresno: 559-382-0359
California Lemon Law in Long Beach: 562-282-9909
California Lemon Law in Oakland: 510-545-9083
California Lemon Law in Orange County: 949-856-4333
California Lemon Law in Palm Springs: 760-395-1000
California Lemon Law in San Diego: 619-229-6900
California Lemon Law in San Fernando Valley: 818-837-0500
California Lemon Law Specialist Kurt Delsack has been protecting California lemon law clients since 1987 and has recovered millions of dollars for thousands of clients. Representing clients to the highest legal standards under the California lemon law, we pride ourselves in obtaining the most favorable results without going through the arbitration process, which could have a significant negative impact on any future legal action you may bring against the manufacturer. The first step in getting rid of a lemon vehicle is to know if your vehicle qualifies under the California lemon law. The above video offers easy steps that will help you see if your vehicle qualifies as a lemon. Your vehicle could qualify if:
1. You have repeated problems related to the safety, value, or use of your vehicle.
2. The vehicle was purchased or leased as new for personal and most small business use.
3. Or, if the vehicle is used, it was purchased while the manufacturer’s original, new car warranty was still in effect.
4. Finally, the manufacturer has had a reasonable number of repair attempts. A reasonable number is four repair attempts for the same or similar problem; or only two times if it is likely to cause serious bodily injury; or if the vehicle has been out of service, in the hands of an authorized dealer, for more than 30 days during the first 18 months or 18,000 miles; AND is still not repaired.
These are not absolute requirements to demand a repurchase on your vehicle. There are many situations which do not meet these guidelines but which may still entitle you to the lemon law protections.
If you think you have a lemon, call us today at 888-EX-LEMON or 888-395-3666 for a free consultation, or complete and submit the short form on our website at www.calemonlaw.com.
Life is too short to live with a lemon, contact our offices and “Get Rid Of Your Lemon Today! CALL:
Difficult steering in BMW’s 2004-2005 Mini Cooper has lead the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to upgrade its investigation to include almost 60,000 vehicles. The investigation began last fall with over 500 complaints filed with the NHTSA, and 4,500 warranty claims with BMW. Among the complaints were allegations of five minor crashes, three of which resulted in a fire. The suspect part is a malfunctioning cooling fan which causes an under voltage condition in the power steering electrical system. Drivers have complained about loss of power assist making it difficult to maneuver the vehicle, and the inability to restart the vehicle because of a drained battery. If the investigation leads to a recall, over 200,000 Minis built between 2001-2007 could be involved.
With millions of recalls issued every year, it is not surprising that an estimated 25% are never fixed. Even though new car dealerships are forbidden from selling vehicles with open recalls, there’s no similar requirements for used car dealerships. According to Clarence Dithlow, the executive director for the Center for Auto Safety in Washington, “Every safety defect is serious and should be fixed, and better regulation is needed to ensure that they are.”
National Automobile Dealers Association (NADE) opposes any legal mandate that would prohibit a dealer from selling a vehicle with open recalls, because forcing used car dealerships will impose major costs and burdens on used car commerce. They say that it is the responsibilities of owners of pre-owned vehicles to investigate if a recall has been issued for their vehicle.
