DEAR SUZANNE
By Suzanne Henderson
LETTER 7 – May 2022 | Torqued Out of Shape in Glendale
2019 Chevrolet Tahoe Torque Converter
Dear Suzanne,
A friend of mine suggested I tell you about the nightmarish trip through the mountains I took last month. I was driving my 2019 Chevy Tahoe from my place in LA to my son’s house in Prescott, Arizona. While I was going through the mountains, the transmission really began acting up. When I would go down the hills, it would shift into lower gears, then it wouldn’t shift back up when the roads leveled back out, and then it wouldn’t shift when I’d try to go uphill. It seemed like every change in elevation I had to stop, turn off the vehicle, restart it, and then try shifting again. After a little while, the check engine light began flashing and would stay on even after I restarted the SUV. When I got out, I noticed a weird smell coming from the vehicle, so I decided I should cancel my trip, turn around, and go home. I wasn’t happy about it, to say the least.
After I got home, I took it to the Chevrolet dealership to be looked at. After running a diagnostic, they said the torque converter was bad, even though I had only driven 25,000 miles. They kept my Tahoe at the shop for 27 days while they tried to fix it, and I had to rent a car in the meantime.Â
Not too long after, probably around 5,000 miles, my son noticed the transmission not shifting correctly and the check engine late coming on again, so we took it back to the dealership. After another diagnostic, they determined that the torque converter needed to be replaced. It’s been in the shop for the last 10 days now, and I’m still waiting to hear whether they can fix it or not.
I’ve been doing some research, because someone mentioned that it could be a lemon, but from what I’ve read, you can only qualify for lemon law if you have less than 18,000 miles, which I’m well over. Plus, I was told the torque converter isn’t a safety issue, and lemon law only counts for life threatening issues. Is this right? Did I miss the window?
Torqued Out of Shape in Glendale
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Warranty Period Protection
Dear Torqued,
First off, whoever told you that a bad torque converter is not a safety concern is very much so wrong. Aside from damaging your transmission, a bad torque convertor can cause the vehicle to oscillate between speeds or even stop suddenly – definitely not something you want to happen on the freeway. This is something that should be rectified as soon as possible.
Now, onto your other question about the required mileage to qualify for lemon law. The information you found wasn’t incorrect, but it wasn’t complete either. There are two periods during which you can qualify for California’s lemon law: the lemon law presumption and the manufacturer’s warranty. The information you found refers to the presumption period. During the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, if a vehicle needs to be repaired multiple times for serious safety issues, then it’s automatically presumed to be a lemon by law.Â
But, your manufacturer’s warranty also gives you protections under the lemon law. If, during the manufacturer’s warranty period, you need to bring your vehicle to the dealership for repairs two or more times for a singular issue, or three or more times for multiple issues, it can also qualify as a lemon. Because the part of your warranty that covers the transmission specifically lasts until you hit 5 years or 60,000 miles, you are still within that warranty period. This means, you haven’t missed your window to file a lemon law claim.
Because you’re still within your warranty period, have already had two repairs attempted for a singular issue, and the vehicle was held at the dealership for so long, you definitely have a potential lemon law claim on your hands.
Your next step is to begin the process as soon as possible. When you pick the vehicle up from the dealership, ensure that they give you a written record of the visit. This is called a repair order and will detail your concerns, what their technicians did, and whether the repairs were covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. This documentation is crucial to your claim, and you will want to obtain a copy from each repair visit. If you didn’t keep the copy given to you on previous visits, you can ask the dealership for another.
Once you have all your documents in order, contact a skilled lemon law attorney. Their knowledge of California’s lemon laws will be invaluable to you as you navigate the process. And because California is a consumer friendly state, there is no cost associated with filing a lemon law claim. The manufacturer of your vehicle will be responsible for all attorney fees and court costs.Â
Suzanne
PS. Tired of dealing with a car that’s more hassle than it’s worth? Get the help you need to get some recompense for your troubles by visiting our partner law firm Quill & Arrow LLP – California’s finest Lemon Law specialists. They provide accurate, no-cost information about how best to pursue compensation from their website at: www.yourvehiclesucks.com!
Free Legal Advice About Your 2019 Chevrolet Tahoe Lemon Law Claim
Dear reader, are your vehicle problems ruining your life? Confused about what legal route to take? We’re here to help! Find information about California’s lemon law protections here, fill out the form on this page, or give us a call at (323) 553-7525 to discuss your situation with someone who understands how frustrating it can be to have a lemon car, and what to do about it.
DEAR SUZANNE is a weekly column written by Suzanne Henderson and published in LemonLawyers.ORG. If you have a defective lemon vehicle and have questions about CA Lemon Law or how to file a claim in California, please write to dearsuzanne@lemonlawyers.org. While not guaranteed, we will try to feature your letter in this column to provide you the answers you need, as well as enlighten other consumers who may have lemon problems similar to yours.
Disclaimer: Suzanne Henderson is not a lawyer and the points discussed here are intended for general information and reference purposes only and not to be construed as legal advice. Please consult a California lemon law lawyer to get proper legal advice about your lemon law claim.
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