DEAR SUZANNE
By Suzanne Henderson
LETTER 211 – Dennis D. from Shreveport, LA
Dear Suzanne,
When it comes to vehicles, I don’t ask for much. All I need is for it to take me from point A to point B without breaking down or putting me in dangerous situations. I enjoy the occasional night drive, just to relax after a busy day, but apparently, even that’s too much to expect from my 2024 Dodge Hornet.
Here’s the story of how my car, which was running perfectly fine one day, suddenly became a complete disaster—after a simple battery swap.
The Battery Swap That Ruined Everything
Back in August, my car’s original battery died. I’ll admit, I didn’t exactly help by letting it sit in my garage for about a month while I went on a business trip, but I didn’t think that would cause the battery to completely fail. Regardless, when I finally replaced it, I thought I was doing the responsible thing.
But instead of smooth sailing, I ended up triggering a full-blown vehicle meltdown. The Dodge dealership put in a brand-new battery, and I thought everything was fine. But then, every warning light on the dashboard lit up the moment I started the car. The car wouldn’t shift out of park, and the screen started flashing a list of error messages: Service Parking Brake, Performance Shifting Unavailable, LaneSense Unavailable, Adaptive Cruise Unavailable, and Collision Warning Unavailable. Essentially, all of the car’s important safety features stopped working.
A Completely Immobilized Car
When I say the car was bricked, I mean it. I could start the engine, but it wouldn’t shift out of park because of the electronic shifting system. Even worse, thanks to the “Performance Shifting Unavailable” error, the car stayed stuck in neutral no matter what I did with the gear shift dial.
There were times when I couldn’t turn off the car because I couldn’t get it into park. Have you ever had to wonder if you might have to sleep in your car because it won’t turn off? Well, that happened to me more than once.
I even tried disconnecting the battery for hours, hoping it would reset everything. But no luck. The only improvement was that the car eventually started shutting off when I pushed the ignition button. But still, I kept asking myself, “How could a car go from perfectly fine to completely immobilized just by replacing the battery?”
The Dealership’s “Fix” That Didn’t Work
After trying everything I could think of, I finally had the car towed to a Dodge dealership. Their solution was to run a realignment command in the TCM (Transmission Control Module). That was it. Apparently, a simple computer glitch turned my perfectly functioning vehicle into a useless pile of junk.
Unexplained Grinding and Jumping
After dealing with the battery issue, I became very proactive about taking care of my car. In fact, I went to the shop a month earlier than scheduled for new tires, an oil change, and brake fluid topping. Despite that, the car started acting up again, this time making strange noises.
Every time I came to a stop, the car would make a noticeable jump, not violent but definitely there. It felt like the car was trying to break free from my control. Then, I started hearing a low grinding noise whenever I accelerated at slow speeds, especially in parking lots. It wasn’t loud, but it was unsettling, like the car was mocking me—telling me that it was falling apart, and there was nothing I could do about it. Thankfully, the sound didn’t show up when driving on the highway or just idling.
Transmission Issues
Just when I thought things couldn’t get worse, they did. While cruising through a parking lot at no more than 10 mph, a warning popped up on the screen: “Transmission failing. Pull over and stop as soon as possible. Contact dealership for assistance.” Right after that, the gear popped into neutral all by itself. I shut the car off, restarted it, and the message disappeared, but the issue wasn’t over.
I also noticed that when I manually changed gears, it would take a second or two before there was any response. It was like the transmission was slipping or slow to shift. I booked another visit to the dealership, but they couldn’t duplicate the issue and just sent me on my way.
Airbag Recall Situation
As if all of that wasn’t bad enough, I recently received a letter stating my car is on the recall list for a driver-side airbag issue. Great, right? Well, here’s the catch—the passenger seat airbag had already been replaced, thanks to another issue that required me to have it checked out earlier.
Now, I’m stuck with a car that might not protect me in an accident. Dodge says the replacement part for the driver-side airbag won’t be available until July. Until then, I’m supposed to just keep driving it around, hoping nothing happens. Renting a car for months is out of the question, and the dealership told me it’s not considered a “mainstream recall” yet, so they can’t do anything for me.
What Are My Options?
At this point, I’m emotionally drained from all these issues, and my Dodge is in terrible shape. I’m really looking for a solution, and I’d love to get my money back for this car. Do I have a chance to win under the Lemon Law? If so, what does the process look like?
Dennis D.
Shreveport, LA
Editor’s Note: This letter has been edited for clarity, and personally identifiable details like names and actual locations have been changed to protect the letter sender’s privacy.
From Transmission to Airbags: Louisiana Lemon Law’s Potential for Your 2024 Dodge Hornet
Hi Dennis,
I’m really sorry to hear about all the troubles you’ve been facing with your 2024 Dodge Hornet. It sounds like you’ve been through a lot—from the frustrating battery issue that started the whole mess to the continued transmission problems, airbag recall, and more. It’s clear that your car is no longer providing the reliable transportation you expected, and I can understand how stressful and overwhelming this situation must be for you.
What Are Your Options Under Louisiana Lemon Law?
It sounds like you’re dealing with multiple serious issues that have rendered your car nearly undriveable, and you’re wondering whether Louisiana’s Lemon Law can help you get your money back for the vehicle. Based on what you’ve shared, you may have a solid case under the state’s Lemon Law. To qualify for relief under the Louisiana Lemon Law, a vehicle needs to have significant defects or conditions that impair its use, safety, or value—and it seems like your car has experienced exactly this.
First, Louisiana Lemon Law requires that you allow the manufacturer or its authorized dealer at least 30 days to fix the problem after you’ve reported it. Since your car’s issues have persisted after multiple repairs, you may meet the necessary requirements. If the car is still defective after a reasonable number of repair attempts, then the manufacturer might be obligated to either replace the vehicle or refund your money.
Consult a Lemon Law Attorney
To move forward, I strongly recommend consulting a Lemon Law attorney who is experienced in handling cases like yours. These legal experts can provide specific guidance on the details of your case, such as whether your repair attempts meet the required threshold and how to proceed with filing a claim. A knowledgeable attorney can also help you gather the necessary evidence and handle the legal aspects of your claim, which can significantly improve your chances of success.
This Doesn’t Have to Drag On Any Longer
Dennis, and I’m sorry you’re going through this never-ending cycle of frustration. But the good news is that Louisiana’s Lemon Law may be the answer you need. With the help of a Lemon Law attorney, you’ll be in a much stronger position to get a fair resolution to your case. Don’t let this drag on any longer—getting the right legal help will make all the difference.
Suzanne
Your 2024 Dodge Hornet Lemon Car Solution Awaits!
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 Louisiana Lemon Law or how to file a claim, 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 Louisiana Lemon Law Attorney to get proper legal advice about your lemon law claim.
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Featured Images:
- 2024 Dodge Hornet ©Elise240SX (CC BY-SA 4.0)
