DEAR SUZANNE
By Suzanne Henderson
LETTER 18 – May 2022 | Stalled Out in Sacramento
2019 Jeep Cherokee In For Repairs 10 or 12 Times Since Purchase
Dear Suzanne,
I have a 2019 Jeep Cherokee that I bought new in California; currently, it has 52,200 miles on it. Unfortunately, I’ve had to take it into the dealership about 10 or 12 times since I purchased it. The first time I took it in for repairs it had less than 3000 miles; the doors and windows would either not lock when they should or unlock when they shouldn’t. And to make things weirder, the windows would go up or down randomly on their own – they still do this despite all the repairs attempted. In that first year, I had to take it to the dealership five times.
Jeep Denied My Lemon Law Claim
I filed a lemon law claim myself through the manufacturer, but it was declined. They stated that the issues with the doors and windows were not significant enough for the Jeep to be considered a lemon. I tried to explain that I drive my 6 year old daughter to school every day and having windows that decide to roll down on their own or doors that will not lock properly is definitely what I would consider a safety issue.
Not to mention how unenjoyable it is when the windows roll down in the middle of winter and we just have to deal with the cold until they arbitrarily decide it’s time to roll back up. I should be in charge of my car, not the other way around.
Then to add on to that, the electrical systems are a mess. The dealer has had to switch out the radio system six times; I can’t even use the hands free phone system because it has never worked.
Jeep Cherokee Stalls Above 40 Miles Per Hour
After all those visits I had to bring it in again at 32,000 miles for a new issue. The Jeep began stalling whenever I went above 40 miles per hour. Driving in the mountains, going through an intersection, traveling on the highway, anything like that and the engine stalls. I lose all power steering and have no control over the vehicle. When I took it in for repairs, the technicians determined it was a mechanical problem where the coolant was mixing with the oil causing the Jeep to stall. They’ve attempted to fix that problem twice, but it’s still not operating correctly.
This Jeep has caused so many problems for me. My wife refuses to drive it altogether, and I feel anxious anytime I need to take my daughter anywhere in case this is the day it stalls in the wrong place at the wrong time. I know the manufacturer said they don’t believe it’s a lemon, but I disagree. Is there anything I can do even though I’ve tried to file a claim already?
Stalled Out in Sacramento
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Arbitration Not The Best Option To Get Compensation For A Lemon
Dear Stalled,
Oh my, that’s quite a lot of issues, no wonder you’re feeling anxious! I’m honestly surprised the manufacturer wasn’t willing to offer you some sort of settlement earlier on, it would likely have been cheaper for them in the long run.
Cases like these are exactly why we urge vehicle owners to work with a skilled lemon law attorney rather than pursuing arbitration themselves, because the manufacturer will take advantage of their greater resources to try and deny your claim, even if it is a valid one. Luckily, the arbitration decision is not the be all and end all for you. If you disagree with the arbitration decision (which, in this case, it’s obvious why you would), you still have the right to file a claim in a court of law. The only downside to already going through the process with the manufacturer is that the decision there can be used as evidence against you in a new claim. In any case, if you want to proceed with a formal complaint, here are the steps on how to file a Lemon Law claim in California.
However, based on the numerous failed attempts to fix these persistent issues in the time since the claim was denied, it’s likely that the court would side with you, if the manufacturer even lets it get that far before settling.
Don’t make the same mistake twice. Contact a knowledgeable lemon law attorney today. They will help guide you through the process, identify the essential documents needed to build up your case, and ensure that the manufacturer is held accountable for selling you a defective vehicle, as well as denying your initial claim out of hand.
Suzanne
Free Legal Advice About Your 2019 Jeep Cherokee 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.
Related Articles:
- 7 Mistakes You Don’t Want To Make When Filing A Lemon Law Case
- Eight Things You Need To Know About California Lemon Law
- How To Avoid Buying A Lemon & What To Do If You Already Bought One
Featured Image: 2019 Jeep Cherokee © Alexander Migl (CC BY-SA 4.0 License)
