DEAR SUZANNE
By Suzanne Henderson
LETTER 178 – From Incompatible Vehicle Owner
Dear Suzanne,
I have never been a big fan of astrology signs, compatibility charts, and all of that stuff. In retrospect, maybe I should have been, because maybe if I was, I would have known to avoid a car with the name “Taurus” in it. You may not understand just yet, but let me give you some context.
According to astrology signs, I’m a Sagittarius. If you don’t know what that implies (and I don’t blame you), it’s the worst possible match with a Taurus. I thought this was limited to only human relationships. Little did I know that it would stretch to my relationship with my 2019 Ford Taurus.
When I bought the car, it was used and certified pre-owned. It only had 25,000 miles at the time. As a result, I made sure I got it at a Ford-certified dealership. I thought doing this would mean that I wouldn’t have to deal with problems popping up all the time. I later found out all of this was just wishful thinking.
Brake Light Wiring Defect
I have had to take the car for repairs a number of times. The problems plaguing the car in itself are not many, it’s just that they are repetitive and haven’t been able to get fixed.
I remember the first time I had to take the car for repairs. It was a little below 43,000 miles at the time I took it in. The problem that warranted this first visit had to do with the brake lights.
Everyone knows one of the functions of the brake light is to let other road users know that you’re reducing your speed. With this in mind, you see how it can affect the drivers around me. I can’t count how many times the brake lights have failed to illuminate whenever I hit the brakes. Other drivers are not aware that I have hit the brakes until it’s too late. There have been so many close calls, it’s a wonder I haven’t gotten rammed.
When I took it in to the dealership for inspection, they also noticed the issue. They said it was an electrical wiring issue and should be resolved easily. True to their words, they fixed it and I left with a functional car. But not long after, the brake lights began malfunctioning once again.
Indicator Not Working Well
The next problem was related to the turn signal. Many times, I have received insults about this because other drivers think I refuse to turn on my blinker before making a turn. What they don’t understand is that it’s not my fault. What more can I do when the indicator sensor is faulty?
There was even an incident where I turned on the blinker to turn left. Then a van coming from behind decided that it was at that moment that he wanted to overtake me on that same left. According to him, he did not see any sign that I was turning that way, but I am sure I turned on the signal.
I still don’t know how we didn’t collide, because the van zoomed past me as I started to turn. If I had hit the van, I’d have nudged him to the oncoming lane and he would have been hit by a huge oncoming truck. What a complicated accident that would have resulted in, all because of a ‘simple’ malfunctioning indicator light.
I know your next question may be why didn’t I take it for repairs? But I did. It’s just that the diagnosis of the dealership didn’t match up with my reality. They said I should make sure I press the indicator well, saying maybe that’s what caused everything. I know that it’s the indicator that is faulty.
Stiff Steering
The last issue now has to do with the steering and it is the one that has cost me the most. I noticed that a while after I bought the car, the steering gradually became stiff. I first thought maybe I wasn’t gripping it well but it became so stiff that it was becoming too difficult to maneuver the vehicle. That was when I went to the dealership again.
There, they told me that stiff steering meant one of two things. It was either a result of insufficient steering fluid or a damaged steering rack. At first they thought it was most likely the first but later they found it was the latter that caused the fault. To fix this, I had to spend $800 which they used to get another rack for replacing the faulty one.
With all the issues listed, I think you now understand my sentiment about incompatibility between vehicle and owner. Maybe it’s all in my head but never again am I getting a vehicle like this. I need to get this one off my hands because I recently exceeded the warranty and can’t afford the constant repairs. What would you suggest?
Incompatible Vehicle Owner
With 2019 Ford Taurus Vehicles, It’s Always One Thing Or The Other
Dear Incompatible Vehicle Owner,
I am sorry to hear about the kinds of issues that you’re dealing with. I know that while you may not state the ways in which it has affected you, it must have affected various aspects of your life. One thing I know is that vehicles as defective as yours usually have a common reason behind them – the manufacturer built it defective. Just because the dealership claims to have tried to fix the issues with no success doesn’t mean that they are acceptable.
The issue about the steering wheel being too stiff is too early for your vehicle. Problems like this shouldn’t show up until the vehicle is well over 100,000 miles. In your case I feel that it further proves you own a lemon car.
The good thing, however, is that your vehicle likely qualifies for a lemon lawsuit. This is partly because you already have multiple visits to the dealership. The condition to qualify is that you need at least two visits done for the same issues or three visits for different problems within your warranty period. If your vehicle has been there for over a month, then it also qualifies.
What Does The Lemon Law Entail?
In a nutshell, filing a lemon law case means you are submitting a lawsuit against the manufacturers. This lawsuit is based on the fact that they sold you a defective vehicle. With lemon law, you can request one of three forms of compensation namely:
- Buyback
- Cash and keep
- Replacement
The buyback, in simple terms, involves the manufacturers buying back the vehicle from you. Then they pay you for what you have paid towards the vehicle. This settlement offer includes your monthly payments, down payment, and also your taxes. In addition, if you took out any loan on the vehicle, it would be paid back in full along with any accrued interest. This way, your credit won’t be affected negatively.
With this option, the manufacturer has the right to a percentage deduction of the settlement. This is called the mileage offset, which is their right to charge you for the period you drove the car during which you had no issues. This is usually based on the mileage you were at when you took your car in for its first repair.
The second option is the cash and keep where the automakers compensate you for the troubles you experienced. In essence, they pay you some cash to drop the lawsuit. This cash serves as compensation for the issues you’ve experienced while allowing you to keep the car.
Furthermore, your warranty will not be voided or canceled. If you later decide to sell your vehicle, you are not required to deem it a lemon to the next owner. The compensation amount depends on several factors like the severity of the car problems, the number of times you’ve taken it in, and how long it has been at the dealership.
The third option is called the replacement offer. Here, you get to trade in your vehicle for another of around the same mileage and same value as yours currently has. Considering you may end up getting another lemon car, it is not usually recommended.
Are There Any Legal Fees You Will Pay For?
Because you purchased your car in California, a consumer-friendly state, all lemon law cases are taken on contingency. This means that you are not required to pay any legal fees as this is taken care of by the automakers. This means the total original settlement received will go over to you.
I hope you’re able to get into a reliable ride soon. If you have any questions feel free to write back or reach out to your attorney. Best of luck!
Suzanne
Featured Image: 2019 Ford Taurus ©Navigator84 (CC Attribution Share-Alike 4.0 license)
Free Legal Advice About Your 2019 Ford Taurus 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 California Lemon Lawyer or how to file a claim in California, please write to help@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 CA Lemon Law Attorney to get proper legal advice about your lemon law claim.
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