According to reports from General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler, automobile sales rose significantly in September. Chrysler reported the biggest gain at 27%, Nissan with a 25% increase and GM at 20%. Even though Japanese auto makers were running their factories at full capacity for the first time since the March earthquake and tsunami, Toyota and Honda continue to trail the industry with a drop in US sales. The biggest rise came from the sales of full size pickups, sport utility, and crossover vehicles, a trend that seems to coincide with dropping gas prices. Despite the poor sales at the beginning of the year, some auto makers are expecting full year sales to top13 million before the end of the year, a level that has not been seen since 2008.
Tag Archives: auto industry
New California Lemon Law For Used Car Buyers
A new California lemon law bill, signed into law September 28, will give used car buyers more protection than ever before. The law, effective starting July 2012, will require all used and new car dealers to check the vehicle identification number (VIM) against a federal database. This database will have a more comprehensive list than existing commercial services because than law will require all states, insurance companies, salvage yards and junkyards to provide information on vehicles written off in a flood, fire or accident. The system is used by state motor vehicle departments and police, and is open to the public for a small fee.
OnStar Changes Privacy Policy
The automobile communication service provider OnStar will be changing its privacy policies after complaints of privacy issues from consumers. Last week, OnStar announced changes in their policy that would allow them to collect and sell non-personalized information about location, speed, odometer reading, and seat belt usage even if the customers service has been canceled.
According to Linda Marshall, OnStar’s President, OnStar will no longer keep former customers connected and they’ll no longer have to take action to “opt out” of the data collection system once their service has been discontinue. Marshall added that the service regrets concerns generated by its recent policy change and therefore has decided to reverse it.
Consumers Question OnStar Privacy Policy
Recent updates to OnStar’s privacy policy, has consumers asking the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate the company for unfair trade practices. According to the new policy, vehicles with the OnStar service will continue to be monitored even after the customer has canceled their service. The policy changes allows OnStar the right to sell information gathered such as location, speed, odometer reading, and seat belt usage to third parties. OnStar has assured customers that privacy is very important to them and they do not sell any personalized information about their customers.
Electric Car Charging Station Apps
It seems inevitable that the electric car will be a part of our future. With fuel efficiency standards becoming tighter, automobile manufacturers will include electric vehicles (EV) in their line ups in order to meet them. Even though this technology has come a long way in the last decade, auto manufacturers are still looking for additional ways to help the consumer get the most out of their EV’s.
One of the biggest drawbacks of an electric vehicle is the need to charge the battery. Having a charging station at home and at work makes electric car commutes trouble free, but long trips can make drivers uneasy. A new smart phone app hopes to relieve this anxiety by allowing hybrid and electric car drivers to find charging stations wherever they go. The app will let drivers know where the stations are, if they are available and whether the station offers free or paid charging. Some of the apps will even allow you to reserve the charging station, leave comments about the stations, as well as give you a street views through Google Street View. Some of the newest applications being launched include ChargePoint, ECOtality, Recargo, and PlugShare.
California Lemon Laws And Small Business Vehicles
A recently settled lemon law case in California is making it easier for small business owners to exercise their lemon law rights when it comes to vehicles used primarily for the business. Currently the law states that cars and small trucks purchased for personal use are covered under the law, but vehicles used primarily for business, weighing 10,000 pounds or more are not included. In the aforementioned case, the business owners trucks weight was under 7,000 pounds, but because the fully loaded weight was 10,000 pounds it did not qualify under the California lemon law. After a four year battle, courts finally sided with the business owner, saying that the vehicles actual weight and not the fully loaded weight, is what counts. This case will set the precedent for auto makers and future lemon law cases in California involving small business owners and their trucks used primarily for their business.
Chrysler Minivans Investigated For Headlight Failure
Chrysler is being investigated for headlight failure after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received over 1,500 consumer complaints. The investigation will cover over 600,000 minivans made by Chrysler, starting with the 2005 model line up. Divers complaints include headlights that turn off and remain off intermittently without any pattern. Two of the reports resulted in an accident, one of which reported minor injuries. According to reports filed with the NHTSA, there have also been an additional 14,000 warranty claims reported by Chrysler that could be related to the same problem.
Flooded Vehicles Complicate The Lemon Law
Any time there is major flooding in an area, the increase of flood damaged vehicles on the market also increases. Many of these these vehicles have been picked up by “middle men”, who take them to states unaffected by flooding, and unload them. Consumers looking to buy a vehicle may not suspect a vehicle as being flood damaged, and because they have been quickly “unloaded”, obvious sings may not be noticed right away. But, “Water Leaves Lasting Damage!” When problems start to arise, there is no protection for a flooded lemon. As soon as an auto manufacturer knows the vehicle has been flood damaged, it is difficult to get it bought back under the lemon law.
Your best bet is to avoid buying these vehicles all together. Here are a few tips to help you avoid buying a flood damaged vehicle.
- Moisture and Dirt: Moisture and gritty dirt in lights, the glove compartment, console, under seats and under the hood are a good sign the vehicle has been flooded. Many of these vehicles have been cleaned up and dried out, but missed areas is a good give away.
- Moldy Smell: Carpets and seats take a long time to dry out and it doesn’t take long for odors to appear. You may also notice fuel and oily smells that may have gotten into flood waters.
- Mismatched Interior Components: Mismatched components, could be a sign that parts may have been changed in a hurry after the vehicle was pulled from flood waters.
- Malfunctioning Electrical Devices: The electrical components will be the first thing affected by flood water. Corrosion on connections and water damage on electronic circuit boards could lead to electrical system glitches or systems not working at all.
- Get The Vehicle Inspected: Even if your don’t suspect the vehicle of flood damage, you should still get the vehicle inspected. A trained technician knows what to look for and will notice anything odd about the vehicle.
- Get The Vehicles History Report: Finding a vehicles history report is as easy as entering the vehicle identification number (VIN), but it is not a guarantee the vehicle has not suffered water damage. Look for signs that the car has recently been titled in multiple states, especially if it has been recently titled out of flood areas or into areas where damage disclosures don’t exist.
If you suspect a vehicle has been involved in a flood, “Don’t Buy It!”. It could take a while before problems start to show up, and the price of replacement costs not covered under warranty could far outweigh the “great deal” you got when you purchased the vehicle.
