DEAR SUZANNE
By Suzanne Henderson
LETTER 16 – May 2022 | Shaking with Regret in Santa Clarita
Pretty Sure I’m Dealing with the Dreaded Chevy Shake
Dear Suzanne,
I purchased a brand new 2019 Chevrolet Silverado not too long ago; it only has 15,000 miles on it. Friends had warned me about Chevrolet’s having issues with the transmission, but I didn’t put much stock in them, but now I’m pretty sure I’m dealing with the dreaded Chevy Shake. Whenever I shift from reverse to drive, or vice versa, the transmission slips, jerks, and hesitates. Then, when I’m driving on the highway, the whole truck shakes.
THEY SAID I WAS JUST IMAGINING THESE ISSUES
Twice I’ve taken it back to the dealership so their technicians could look at the transmission. Both times they told me it was perfectly fine, that I must be imagining it, and that there was nothing they could do. Yet, I could still feel it jerking and shaking as I left the car lot.
WILL THE LEMON LAW HELP ME?
I don’t know anything about lemon law, but since my friends had mentioned Chevy having common transmission problems, I began to do some research. I’ve found so many people experiencing the same thing I am with their Silverados. After reading some of the horror stories I’ve found online, I’m scared to drive my truck now, but I didn’t buy a truck just to leave it parked in the driveway. Since these problems are so common is there anything I can do to make the dealership acknowledge it? Will the lemon law help me?
Shaking with Regret in Santa Clarita
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Transmission Issues and Chevrolet
Dear Shaking,
There’s nothing worse than investing so much money into a new vehicle, just to find out it’s a defective lemon. While every manufacturer is likely to produce a percentage of lemons each year, your friends were right to warn you against buying a Silverado. Unfortunately, transmission issues are so common with Chevrolet vehicles that the Chevy Shake earned its nickname.
Luckily, because these issues are so common, a skilled lemon law attorney would be able to take on your claim since you fall within the qualifying requirements. For lemon law, you need to have at least two or more documented repair visits for a single issue, such as the transmission, while still under the manufacturer’s warranty. Should you decide to move forward with your case, here are the steps on how to file a Lemon Law claim.
LEMON LAW LEGAL PRESUMPTION
Where you have two visits in such a low mileage, it may even fall under the lemon law presumption period, which states that if a vehicle needs two or more repairs within the first 18 months or 18,000 miles of ownership (whichever comes first), it can be presumed to be a lemon. This puts the onus on the manufacturer to prove that it isn’t, rather than you to prove that it is. A knowledgeable lemon law attorney will be able to review your case to determine which eligibility period your Silverado falls under.
BUILD UP YOUR LEMON LAW CASE
Either way, you meet the minimum requirements to file a lemon law claim. And as it is likely that you will continue to have issues with the transmission, you can strengthen your case by continuing to bring the vehicle into the dealership for repairs during the process. Your repair documents are the best ammunition for your case, and the more of them, the better.
I would recommend contacting a lemon law attorney as soon as you can to get the process started. The good news is that, in California, the manufacturer is responsible for any attorney’s fees, so you won’t be paying for anything out of pocket. In addition, the settlement your attorney negotiates is 100% yours.
LEMON LAW SETTLEMENT OPTIONS
There are three typical outcomes in these cases: a vehicle repurchase, a cash compensation to keep the vehicle, and a replacement vehicle. Since these transmission issues are so common among Chevrolet vehicles, I would only recommend accepting the buyback option. With this, the manufacturer will repurchase the truck from you, reimbursing you for the down payment, monthly payments, and other fees – they’ll even pay off any loan you took out for the vehicle in full, which in turn increases your credit!
So, don’t fret and call a skilled lemon law attorney today. It will definitely be a decision that you won’t regret.
Suzanne
Free Legal Advice About Your 2019 Chevy Silverado 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 Law or how to file a claim in California, please write to dearsuzanne@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 California lemon lawyer to get proper legal advice about your lemon law claim.
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Featured Image: 2019 Chevrolet Silverado by Bull-Doser (CC Public Domain)