My 2023 Jeep Renegade Left My Wife Stranded On The Highway

DEAR SUZANNE

By Suzanne Henderson
LETTER 171 – From Alarmed

Dear Suzanne, 

The number of defective vehicles on the road today is simply not safe. I have had too many experiences with seemingly dependable vehicles that end up broken down on the side of the road. Even my wife has had a close call on the highway, which is one of the last places you want to be stranded.

I always thought that if a vehicle has something wrong with it, then it should be fixed as soon as possible. It was when I got my car that I understood that not all vehicle problems are easily fixable, or so the Jeep dealership claimed. 

I own a 2023 Jeep Renegade that I purchased brand new. It’s my wifes car since she uses it more than I do, but I also use it once in a while. During the time we’ve owned this car, she has made several complaints about the issues affecting it, and even I have started to notice them. At first, I thought she was just blowing things out of proportion, but I later realized that it might actually be worse than she said. 

Oil Leakage 

About 10,000 to 15,000 miles after we got the Jeep, I had to take it into the shop. This was for oil that was leaking from somewhere. At first they said they couldn’t figure out what the problem was. However, after numerous visits and complaints, they decided to add some colorant to the oil so they could use that to pinpoint the source of the leakage. 

Eventually, they were able to find the source of the leak and patch it up. I don’t know what exactly they did, but I know I didn’t have oil leaking on my garage floor anymore. 

A Silent Radio 

The second issue that warranted a visit had to do with the radio. When we turn on the radio, sometimes nothing happens. It looks like it’s on, but it produces no sound. The dealership has tried several times to get this problem fixed to no avail. 

My Wife’s Close Call 

I know that the issues affecting my car are not as serious as those plaguing other vehicles. This doesn’t mean it’s been smooth sailing for my wife and I. My wife’s close call with a truck was some time ago, before they fixed the oil leak. 

She was driving home from work and her coworker who lives close by was in the passenger seat. All of the sudden the smell of burning oil filled the cabin and the engine stalled and died. According to her, several attempts to get the vehicle to start up again yielded no results. This was where things took a turn. 

My wife was driving in the fast lane when the car died, and this created a traffic jam. Other drivers had to pull into the next lane so they could get around her. While she was still trying to get the car started, there was a semi truck coming fast behind her. The truck driver didn’t see the car until it was almost too late. 

Fortunately, at the last second the truck veered to the right, narrowly missing my wife’s Jeep. She eventually got the Jeep to start, and once she was safely off the highway she pulled over and called me to come meet her. She was so shaken after the incident that she couldn’t get herself to focus and drive safe. 

It was later that we found out that the truck’s brakes were faulty and this was why the truck almost hit our car. I guess that’s what I meant when I said the number of defective vehicles on the road is alarming. 

The funny thing is that as of now, we aren’t exactly looking to change the car. We don’t mind keeping it, because it seems like even with the issues affecting it, it’s still a better option compared to other vehicles out there. I just feel like we shouldn’t have had to deal with all the problems we did with nothing to compensate us. If you have any advice along that line, I would appreciate it. 

Alarmed

A 2023 Jeep Renegade Shouldn’t Leave You Stranded

Dear Alarmed, 

I’m sorry your wife had to deal with that and I understand why you’re alarmed about all these defective vehicles. In fact, you’re not alone in this because I receive a lot of vehicle complaints regularly and it makes you wonder why such cars are deemed road-worthy by the manufacturers in the first place. Complaints like these are the major reason why the lemon law exists in the first place. 

To qualify for lemon law, you need at least two visits to the dealership for the same issue for you to qualify. For different issues, three or more repair attempts can meet the requirements. These visits/repair attempts must all have occurred while under the manufacturer’s warranty. 

Terms of Warranty 

Since you’re very much still within the original warranty period, you have nothing to worry about. In general, the warranty on your vehicle comes in two forms – the basic and the powertrain. The basic warranty covers most of the vehicle including issues relating to brakes, power steering, and the electrical system. It lasts for about 3 years or 36,000 miles. As for the powertrain warranty, it covers everything related to the engine and transmission and lasts for 5 years or 60,000 miles. 

With that said, the oil leakage issue you are experiencing has to do with the engine, meaning it falls under the powertrain warranty. If not taken care of, it could lead to something much worse as time goes by. It’s best to take your car in as many times as it takes, regardless of the fact that the dealership claims they can’t duplicate the issue. 

Whether they can or cannot duplicate it isn’t important as long as you have it on record that you took your Jeep to the dealership for repairs. This will help bolster your case because the more visits you have, the stronger your claim, and the more money you stand to receive.

Settlement Options

Depending on whether you wish to dispose of the vehicle or you’re looking to keep it and receive some compensation, there are a few options to choose from. 

One of the options available is called the cash and keep, and this is probably what interests you. The cash-and-keep offer is simply cash compensation for the issues you’ve had while you get to keep your vehicle. The amount you’d get depends on factors such as the issues you were having, the number of days your vehicle was at the repair shop, and the number of repair orders you have. 

With this offer, your warranty stays intact meaning it won’t be voided or canceled. If you later wish to sell the car, you can do so without deeming it a lemon to the next owner. 

The second option is the buyback offer. This is where the automakers will buy the vehicle back from you and pay back everything that you have paid for the car. This includes your down payment, monthly payment, your taxes, and also your interest. In addition, if you took out a loan on the car, the carmakers have to pay that back in full to the finance company. 

There is a provision called the mileage offset, where the automakers can deduct from the settlement for the period you drove the car without any issues. They usually base the amount on the mileage you were at during your first visit. Since you only have 10,000 to 15,000 miles right now, there just isn’t much that the carmakers can deduct. Regardless, your lawyer could always request a waiver of this deduction either in half or in full. This is just one reason why an experienced attorney can make all the difference.

Lemon Law In California 

In addition to everything mentioned, you enjoy certain privileges based on the fact that you purchased your car in California. Being that California is a consumer-friendly state, your attorney will take your case on full contingency. This means you won’t be charged any legal fees. This is because according to state law, the automakers are the ones who have to pay the attorney bills. This means the entire original settlement goes over to you. 

If you have any more questions or need more information, please reach out to your attorney. I hope you’re able to get into a reliable vehicle soon. Best of luck!

Suzanne

Featured Image: 2023 Jeep Renegade ©HJUdall (CC0 1.0 Universal license)

Free Legal Advice About Your 2023 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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