My 2022 Chevrolet Suburban Is a Flop

DEAR SUZANNE

By Suzanne Henderson
LETTER 174 – From Betrayed 

Dear Suzanne, 

Owning a vehicle as big as the 2022 Chevrolet Suburban is quite cumbersome, especially, if you don’t know how to drive it. It’s a large vehicle and as a result, the handling may be quite challenging for the average driver. But this is one of the reasons why I love the Suburban and I purchased one certified pre-owned. When I got it, it only had 15,000 miles on it, but I’ve taken it up to 44,000 miles. 

Like I said earlier, the huge size is why I opted for the Suburban, because I see it as an advantage. At least, I did. Here goes the story of how I came to dislike one of my favorite vehicles. 

The ABS and Brake Traction Problem

About 10,000 miles after I got the car, the ABS sensor began going off, as well as the brake traction control sensor. I also got a brake system error notification. All of this started while I was on my way to drop off my kids at school. 

The ABS Problem Almost Causes an Accident

While heading to their school, I had a very scary close call. The thing is right before my kids’ school, there’s a sharp bend that is sometimes difficult to maneuver for certain vehicles. Whenever it rains, it’s borderline dangerous. This had never been a problem for me because my car’s handling was solid, or so I thought. 

On this particular day, my Suburban decided to disappoint. We were only a few minutes away from the turn when the sensors began going off. It was raining as well so it was difficult to focus on everything happening. While I was still trying to figure out what the sensor errors implied, I noticed the bend coming up and focused on navigating it as usual. 

Between the malfunctioning brake traction control and the wet road, I failed to slow down enough before the turn. I spun out of control and spinned several times before coming to a stop at the side of the road. 

While coming up to the bend, I stepped on the brakes, but the brakes failed to engage immediately. When it did, it was as if they were stiff, and I had to use a lot of force to press it down. A vehicle that had never felt cumbersome to me became so heavy at that moment, it felt unmovable.

I jumped out of the car and checked on my kids in the backseat. We checked for cars and went a safe distance from the road. I had to do this in case another vehicle also spun out of control. The whole incident had left me shaken. 

When we were at a safe distance, I called the Chevrolet dealership to come get my car. Then I called my workplace to explain why I would be late or possibly completely absent that day. After the dealership checked it through, they said resetting the software would fix it, so that’s what they did. Even then, it feels to me like the brakes still don’t function perfectly. The vehicle now feels heavier than it did before. 

Airbag Light and Burnt Oil Smell

About 10,000 miles later, there was another issue where the airbag lights came on. Around the same time, the smell of burnt oil would fill the cabin after driving for a while. I tried tracing the source of the smell, but I couldn’t detect it. I took the car in for repairs and they said they had to do something on the catalytic converter. I had to pay $1,500 and I don’t even know exactly what they did, whether they only fixed it or replaced it. All I know is that I had to pay for it while it was still under warranty. 

Right now, what’s giving me concern is the brake issue, because ever since that incident, my car has never been the same. I have to push very hard before the brakes even begin to respond, and it feels unsafe. 

A while ago someone told me about the lemon law, but I don’t remember what it entails exactly. Can you help?

Betrayed 

Flip Your Flop and Get Rid of Your Defective 2022 Chevrolet Suburban 

Dear Betrayed, 

I understand why you feel so betrayed. Coming to dislike something you’ve always enjoyed is not a great feeling, especially when it wasn’t your fault. With the way you’ve described your incident, it’s only normal that you would feel this way. 

With the lemon law, justice is served and the manufacturers pay up. Since you can’t remember what it entails, here’s a quick rundown. 

How Does The Lemon Law Work? 

The way the lemon law works in the state of California is that if the vehicle has been to the dealership for the same issues at least two times, and the issue persists, the vehicle is deemed a lemon. As a result, it qualifies for the lemon law. However, if you have three repair visits at the dealership for different reasons, you can qualify as well. 

The good thing about your case now is that you’re still within the manufacturer’s warranty. As such, you have a little wiggle room as to what your attorney can do for you. It’s still better if you continue taking your car in for repairs so your lawyer can build a stronger case. It is also important that you do this while you’re still under the warranty. 

The lemon law only covers vehicles within the original warranty, and this is the case with your vehicle. For your’s, the warranty is three years or 36,000 miles for anything basic such as brakes, power steering, electrical system, etc. Considering your mileage right now, this warranty is no longer active. You also have the powertrain warranty that covers engine and transmission which expires after five years or 60,000 miles. This one is still active. 

Therefore, if you still need to take your vehicle for repairs regarding either the engine or transmission, you can do so without having to worry about payments. Your warranty is still active and you shouldn’t be charged for such repairs. If they insist, find another certified dealership that you can take your car to for repairs. 

Your Retribution 

There are two different options of compensation you can receive for the issues you’ve endured with your vehicle: 

• The Buyback

This option has to do with the manufacturers opting to buy back the car from you while they refund you for what you have spent. This will include your down payment, monthly payments, taxes, and interest. In addition, if you owe a loan on your vehicle, the carmakers have to pay that off for you. The plus side of this is that your credit might even go up. 

The only deduction that they can take from the buyback is the mileage offset. This only means that the manufacturer has the right to charge you for the period you drove the car without any issues. They usually use the mileage you were at during your first visit as the baseline for this. 

With you saying that your first visit came up at about 25,000 miles, this limits what they can deduct. Regardless of if it’s a small or large amount, your lawyer can suit up and request a waiver either in half or in full. The main goal of your attorney is to get you back as much monetary compensation as possible. 

• The Cash And Keep

This option involves the carmakers giving you cash compensation for the vehicle while letting you keep it. With this option, your warranty isn’t voided or canceled. If you later decide to sell your car, you can sell it with a clean title on it. This means you don’t have to deem it a lemon to the next owner. 

California Lemon Law Benefits 

The good thing about purchasing your car in California is that it is a very consumer friendly state. As such, your lawyer takes your case on contingency, meaning you don’t have to pay for any of their legal services. This is because the manufacturer has to pay their legal fees and the total settlement won goes to you. Good luck in your future driving adventures!

Suzanne

Featured Image: 2022 Chevrolet Suburban ©Bull-Doser (Public Domain)

Free Legal Advice About Your 2022 Chevrolet Suburban 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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