DEAR SUZANNE
By Suzanne Henderson
LETTER 249 – William T. from Springfield, MO
Dear Suzanne,
Dealing with car troubles is never fun, and after all these years, I’m still not used to it. Honestly, I wish I could be, but I’m not. That’s probably why I felt completely defeated when my 2024 Cadillac XT5, which I bought brand-new, started having issues. The car’s problems came out of nowhere and just haven’t gone away. If I had known what I was in for, I might have stuck with my old beater.
Engine Misfires and Hesitates
The first issue I noticed was the engine misfiring. At first, I thought it was a bad tank of gas, but the problem kept getting worse. I realized it only happens when the fuel tank drops below a quarter, and once I refuel, the problem disappears. This didn’t make any sense to me, so I took it to the mechanic. They ran diagnostics, and sure enough, the codes showed misfires on multiple cylinders. One time, I even saw a P0172 code pop up, but it went away as quickly as it showed up. Despite seeing these error codes, the dealer was stumped and told me to bring the car in when the issue happened. How am I supposed to do that when it fixes itself every time I fill up the tank?
A friend of mine, a local mechanic, suggested it could be an issue with the fuel injectors or the evaporative system. I mentioned this to the dealer, and they cleaned the mass airflow sensor and swapped out the air filter. For a while, the misfiring stopped, and I thought the issue was resolved—but it came back again.
Check Engine Light That Disappears
The next strange issue was the check engine light. One morning, I started the car and saw it on. I immediately scheduled an appointment with the dealer, thinking that at least this time they’d see the problem. But when they pulled the car into the service bay, the light disappeared. How does that even happen?
The technician ran some tests anyway and found that the water pump was acting up, sticking about half the time. He warned me that if I didn’t replace it soon, it could cause total engine failure. But then, he did something odd—he tried to convince me to trade the car in. He said, “We’ve got some great deals right now.” Wait a minute—so you’re telling me my engine is on the verge of failure, but my car is also in great condition for a trade-in? That doesn’t add up, so I walked out. Since then, the check engine light hasn’t come back on, and the temperature gauge has remained normal. It’s almost like the problem fixed itself.
The Turn Signal That Won’t Blink
Another issue, although minor, has been incredibly frustrating. The front right turn signal has decided it only wants to work when it feels like it. The first time I noticed it, the blinker inside the car started flashing rapidly. When I checked outside, I saw that the rear and side signals were working fine, but the front wasn’t. If I wiggle the socket in the wheel well, the light comes back on for a while, but eventually, it goes out again.
I took the car to the dealer, and they pulled out the bulb and socket. Both looked fine—no corrosion or damage. They even replaced the bulb, but the problem still persists. It’s like Cadillac is messing with me at this point.
The Final Straw: Car Won’t Start
The final straw came when my Cadillac simply refused to start. One minute, it was running just fine, and the next, it was dead. There were no signs, no slow cranking, nothing. I tried jump-starting it, but all I heard was the fuel pump turning on.
I figured it was the battery, so I removed it and put it in my husband’s truck. It worked fine in his truck, so I knew the battery wasn’t the problem. I put it back in the XT5, cleaned the terminals, and tightened everything, but still nothing. I hooked up my OBD2 scanner, but it didn’t show any error codes. After exhausting all my options, I had no choice but to leave it with the Cadillac dealership. It’s been at the shop ever since.
Now, What Do I Do?
I’m really at a crossroads here. Should I just keep throwing money at this car, hoping it will eventually get fixed, or should I cut my losses and get something more reliable? If I do decide to part ways with it, can the Lemon Law help me? Do I even meet the criteria?
I’m a bit overwhelmed and, frankly, pretty busy. I’m wondering if I should handle this claim on my own, or if you can guide me through the process. What do you recommend?
William T.
Springfield, MO
Here’s How Missouri Lemon Law Might Help Fix Your 2024 Cadillac XT5 Issues
Hi William,
I totally get how frustrating this must be for you. Buying a new car should feel like a fresh start, not the beginning of a string of issues. From engine misfires and a disappearing check engine light to a tricky blinker and now your car failing to start—it’s a lot to deal with. It sounds like your 2024 Cadillac XT5 has really tested your patience, and I’m genuinely sorry you’re going through all of this. You’re absolutely right to be concerned, and I’m here to walk you through your options, particularly with Missouri Lemon Law, so you can take the next steps with confidence.
Can Lemon Law Help? Do I Meet the Criteria?
Under Missouri’s Lemon Law, you have the right to seek a remedy for defects or conditions that significantly impair the use, value, or safety of your vehicle. Since you’ve had multiple attempts to fix these recurring issues (engine misfires, check engine light disappearing, and the car not starting), you may be eligible for a claim. The law requires that a reasonable number of repair attempts be made within the first year or 12,000 miles (whichever comes first). Since you’ve had several visits to the dealership with no permanent solution, this may meet the criteria for a lemon law claim.
Here’s the important part: you’ll need to document all your repair visits, including any failed attempts to fix the issues. If the car has been in the shop for 30 days or more (whether consecutive or cumulative), that’s another strong point in your favor for a lemon law case.
What Should I Do Next?
As for whether you should keep spending money on repairs or move on, I understand the hesitation. If the car is still under warranty and you believe that the issues might be resolved with one last fix, you could give it one more shot.
However, considering how many problems have been cropping up and how many visits you’ve already made to the dealership, it may be time to cut your losses.
I recommend you reach out to a Missouri Lemon Law attorney to see if you qualify for a refund, replacement vehicle, or even a cash settlement. They can handle the paperwork and negotiations for you, so you won’t have to deal with the hassle of filing the claim on your own.
Get in Touch With an Attorney
I know this situation is stressful, and I can see how much time and effort you’ve already invested in trying to make the car work. It might be time to take a step back and let the Missouri Lemon Law work for you.
I suggest you get in touch with a qualified Lemon Law attorney as soon as possible. They’ll be able to help you get the compensation or replacement you deserve, so you can move forward and stop wasting time on a car that just isn’t cutting it.
Take care, and I hope you get the resolution you need soon. If you have any more questions, feel free to reach out.
Suzanne
Editor’s Note: The letter above has been edited for clarity, and personally identifiable details like names and actual locations have been changed to protect the letter sender’s privacy.
Resolve your 2024 Cadillac XT5 Lemon Car problem today!
Dear reader, are your vehicle problems ruining your life? Confused about what legal route to take? We’re here to help! Find information about Texas’ lemon law protections here, fill out the form on this page, or give us a call at (833) 743-1990 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 Missouri Lemon Law or how to file a claim, please write to [email protected]. 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 Missouri Lemon Law Attorney to get proper legal advice about your lemon law claim.
Related Articles:
- Faulty 2021 Cadillac Escalade Embarrasses Owner
- How One Faulty 2022 Cadillac XT6 Window Cost Me Big Time
- 2021 Cadillac Escalade Wrecks Anniversary Surprise
Featured Images:
- 2024 Cadillac XT5 ©Dinkun Chen (CC BY-SA 4.0)
.jpg){kind=link}