DEAR SUZANNE
By Suzanne Henderson
LETTER 182 – From Betrayed
Dear Suzanne,
I drive a 2020 Jeep Renegade and I’ve gotta say it really tries to live up to its name. A renegade is someone who’s a traitor or changes allegiance. I can say in very plain terms that my car has zero allegiance to me. You may wonder why I’m talking as if my Jeep is an animated object, but you’ll soon understand what I mean. I originally bought it certified pre-owned with about 14,000 miles on it at the time.
The way my car problems have grown makes me wonder if I’m not better off without a car. I need it to transport myself and my wife to work, but I’m starting to think I should figure out an alternative. Here’s a quick look at a couple of problems I’ve had with this car.
The Fuel Consumption Problem
I remember one time there was a debate about what utility vehicle conserves fuel the best, and I was so convinced my Jeep fit that description. But ever since I’ve had my Jeep Renegade, I have to say this has not been my experience. It’s been consuming more and more gas per mile since I’ve had it. It’s really tough now considering how high gas prices have risen.
Do you know what makes this issue worse? It’s the fact that the increased gas consumption doesn’t mean it has more power. In fact, it feels like the more fuel it consumes, the less power it generates.
I first noticed this about six months after getting the car. I went to the gas station to fill the tank and two days later, I was back at the pump. I first thought maybe I wasn’t driving efficiently so I let it slide, but it kept happening, and was getting worse.
This was the beginning of my car eventually consuming fuel more than two times faster than it normally should. I realized I started buying gas at too regular intervals. I had no choice but to complain about this to the Jeep dealership.
While at the repair shop, they inspected the car and said it had to do with a broken filter in the fuel tank. They replaced it and gave me the car back. I took it for a test drive and noticed the fuel consumption had reduced a little, but wasn’t even close to where it should be. As a result, I took it back to them.
They inspected it again and found that the intercooler pipe was also cracked. They had to replace that as well, but this time it took them about three days to do it. When I got my car back, I noticed a significant improvement in the fuel consumption problem. However, even with that, it still didn’t feel as good as I expected a Jeep’s fuel economy to be, but what choice did I have?
The Rear-View Camera Problem
In addition to the fuel consumption issue, there’s also a problem with the rearview camera. The camera would randomly glitch or go completely blank for no reason. If it were to be the whole infotainment system, then it would be easy to trace the fault, but it’s just the camera feature.
The dealership has tried repairing this issue a couple of times, but no luck. It’s like there is no way of resolving this particular issue.
As a consequence, each time I have to reverse, I have to walk out and check if I’m about to hit a pillar. Otherwise, I stick my neck out of the car or twist it in a way that makes it possible to see out the back window. If I keep doing this long enough, I know I’m gonna have some cramped-up muscles in my neck, as I can already feel it coming.
I hope you can now see why I feel betrayed by my own car. If only these issues were absent, it would have been a good ride but oh well, it is what it is.
Betrayed
Your 2020 Jeep Renegade Problems Are Typical Of A Lemon
Dear Betrayed,
I’m sorry to hear that you are going through such a tough time with your vehicle. Your vehicle should be a safe and reliable form of transportation where you don’t have to constantly worry about problems, but this is not the case with yours.
How Lemon Law Works And Jeep Warranties
The way lemon law works is that in order to qualify, you need 2 visits to the dealership for the same issues, or three visits to the dealership for different issues, all within the warranty period. From your description, you have about five to six visits, so you are eligible for a lemon law case.
GM vehicles can be just as defective as other makes, especially when it comes to the electrical system. Your attorney does not file lawsuits against the GM dealership you’ve been frequenting, but rather against the manufacturers themselves. This is because the dealer can only do their best to repair the defects caused by building the vehicle wrongly.
One thing you should note with your vehicle is that it has two warranties. One is the basic warranty which expires at 36,000 miles or 3 years from the car’s purchase. The second is the powertrain warranty which covers up to 60,000 or 5 years. Knowing this means the dealership won’t be able to pull a fast one and charge you for something that’s covered by the other warranty.
What Offers Come With The Lemon Law?
When it comes to what your lemon law attorney can do for you, there are three alternatives.
The first is the buyback which is where the manufacturers buy the vehicle back from you. They pay you back all that you have spent towards the vehicle. This includes your down payment, monthly payments, your taxes, and interest. Also, if you still owe on the vehicle, then they pay off the remaining balance on the loan to the finance company.
However, the automakers do have a right to charge you for the miles you drove the car without any problems. This is based on the first time you took your vehicle to the dealer for the first issue. Nevertheless, the automakers do not always get to deduct this amount as your attorney can get them to waive it in half or in full.
The second option is called the cash and keep. Here, the manufacturing company gives you cash compensation for the issues you’ve been experiencing with your car. With this you get to keep the car and the automakers won’t void your warranty. You can also sell your car down the line if you wish without labeling it a lemon to the next owner. The only thing with this option is that you can’t file a lemon lawsuit against the manufacturers for the same vehicle.
The third option is the replacement offer, but this is the last and probably least option available. This is because the automakers swap your car with another one of the same model, miles, and wear as yours. With this, you run the risk of receiving another defective vehicle as a replacement.
Since you purchased your truck in California, you are not required to pay attorney fees. This is because all lemon law cases are taken on contingency, meaning they are billed to the manufacturers. As such, the total original settlement amount won is yours.
I hope you’re able to get into a reliable ride soon. If you have any questions, your attorney is your best resource, but feel free to stop by again for some more lemon law knowledge. Best of luck to you and your Jeep!
Suzanne
Featured Image: 2020 Jeep Renegade ©Alexander Migl (CC Attribution Share-Alike 4.0 license)
Free Legal Advice About Your 2020 Jeep Renegade 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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