DEAR SUZANNE
By Suzanne Henderson
LETTER 109 – April 2023 | Struggling
Dear Suzanne,
I may break down in tears if anyone asks me how I feel right now. My life right now seems to be going in an awful direction. And it all began right after I purchased my 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe.
My Hyundai, which was brand new when I bought it, is now dangerous to me—and other drivers on the road. And to make matters worse, it started a series of events that led to me losing my job.
Sometime last December, I was driving to work when the ABS dashboard warning light came on. I took it to the Hyundai dealership after work, but they said they couldn’t find anything wrong with it. So I returned home.
However, a week after, the light came on again so I took it back to the shop. This time, they were able to find and fix the issue. But it took them a couple of weeks before they completed the repair, and they were unable to give me a rental for use in the meantime.
But luckily, it fell during a period when I wasn’t going to work—because of the holidays. So though my lack of transportation was inconvenient, I didn’t mind too much. I was reunited with my car at the beginning of January, about two weeks into the new year.
A week after I got my car back, I was involved in a minor accident that caused me to once again take the car to the shop. The faulty brakes were responsible for nearly causing an accident. On my way to work a kid ran out into the road. I saw him with plenty of time to brake, but they did not respond; I repeatedly hit the brakes but they failed to engage due to the ABS malfunction. So I had to swerve to avoid hitting the child and fortunately, I was able to. After the car came to a stop, we were both very shaken. After taking the time to calm down enough to be able to drive and be sure everything was alright, I was already late for work.
When I arrived at work, my boss was already waiting for me. From the look on his face, it was clear that he had something to say about my absence. As a stickler for rules and routine with no exceptions, it would seem like bad news for yours truly—except that I have a valid alibi!
I tried explaining to him as best I could the whole incident that happened earlier that morning. But despite my pleas, my explanation fell on deaf ears and I was fired right there and then. I was very shocked but there was nothing I could do. I packed my stuff and left, then went to cry my eyes out at home.
After I calmed down, I took the car back to the dealership to complain about my ordeal. And so far, I haven’t gotten my car back. It will be a few days more than two months since I took it in; they claim they still don’t have a fix for the problem.
Now, I am jobless, without a source of income, reliable vehicle, and several bills to pay. I am now struggling to make ends meet. I’m feeling increasingly disconnected from life. I just want to be given compensation for what my car has put me through—what do you think is the best way of getting that?
Struggling
Watch: Demystifying The Hyundai Lemon Law Buyback Settlement Option: Vital Information You Should Know
Get The Compensation You Deserve Through Lemon Law
Dear Struggling,
I’m really sorry to hear that you lost your job because of issues with your car. It’s tough when something like this happens, and you didn’t have control over it. While it might seem like the dealership is at fault, the main blame lies with the manufacturer, who built a defective vehicle.
You have the right to file a lemon law claim against the manufacturer, and it sounds like you have a strong case. It’s important to start as soon as possible, especially since your car is still at the dealership.
You’ll be glad to know that you likely qualify for a lemon law case. All you need is at least two repairs done at the dealership for the same issue under the manufacturer’s warranty, or three or more repairs for different problems.
Since you meet these requirements, you have a good case. You can work with your lemon law attorney to decide what outcome you want from the case.
It’s concerning that your car is already having problems at 20,000 miles. This could mean more issues might come up after the warranty expires, and then you’ll have to pay for repairs yourself.
Keep in mind that the dealership is doing their best, and the main problem is with the manufacturer. If the car isn’t built well, the dealership can only do so much to fix it.
You have a few options for your case, which you can discuss with your lawyer:
- Buyback: The manufacturer buys the car back from you and refunds all your payments, taxes, and interest. They can also pay off any loans you took for the car, which can improve your credit. There’s more information about the Hyundai Lemon Law buyback settlement option here.
- Cash and keep: You receive cash compensation for the issues and keep the car. However, the manufacturer might not help with any future problems.
- Replacement offer: You trade in your car for another one with similar mileage and value. This option is less recommended because you could get another lemon and won’t be able to file another case.
While they can get you compensation for your car’s defects, that may not extend to income losses from your termination. However, you may want to also look into employment attorneies who may be able to assist further in that aspect.
Now, all this talk of attorneys may sound alarming, especially given your current financial difficulty. But not to worry, because in California, you don’t have to pay attorney fees for lemon cases, as the manufacturer is responsible for those costs. So, all the settlement money will go to you.
Make sure to give your attorney all the necessary documents as soon as possible to start your case. If you need more help, reach out to your lemon lawyer.
Suzanne
PS. If you think your vehicle sucks and want to actually do something about it, you definitely can! Find out quickly if you have a case by visiting www.yourvehiclesucks.com right now. This website is owned by our partner law firm Quill & Arrow LLP, California’s #1 “settled” Lemon Law attorneys.
Free Legal Advice About Your 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe 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 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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Featured Image:
- 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe ©MercurySable99 (CC BY-SA 4.0 License)
