DEAR SUZANNE
By Suzanne Henderson
LETTER 139 – October 2023 | Cherokee Owner
Dear Suzanne,
I never knew owning a vehicle could be this stressful. I mean, I know it’s not automatic and requires maintenance and all that, but I did not expect things to be this difficult.
I own a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee that I purchased brand spanking new. Since then I’ve racked up 53,000 miles on it, though they haven’t all been pleasant. Ever since the issues began, my Jeep’s overall performance has taken a dive. I’ve had to take it to the Jeep dealership twice so they could attempt to fix it.
MY JEEP TURNED INTO A JERK
The main problem I was struggling with had to do with the car’s transmission and engine. Whenever I start my car I would feel a violent jerking and shaking for a few seconds, but it didn’t end there. Every time I changed gears it would take a while for the car to respond.
When I first took the car to the dealership for repairs they told me they couldn’t look at it right away, so I would need to leave my car with them for a while. They said they would take it for a test drive in order to check out the problem.
By the time I went back, they told me the transmission fluid was low; it was at 44% and it’s supposed to be at 80% or more. They couldn’t say why it was so low but I asked them to make sure that’s all it was. I just wanted my car defect free.
ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, AND FUEL CONSUMPTION OH MY!
Unfortunately, this wasn’t everything my car needed, because when I got it back it was having the same issue. In fact, they seemed to be getting worse. When I reported this to the dealership, they said they would check through the car, but it may cost me some money.
With everything going on, it seemed like the engine and transmission issues were beginning to affect my car’s fuel consumption. I say this because the amount of fuel I went through on a normal day had doubled. I am positive this was related to the engine problems.
It’s not a great time to have a car that guzzles fuel since gas prices have increased dramatically. Due to this, I’ve been driving much less than I would like to.
As if these issues are not enough, every time I change gears I can feel the stress of the defective part acting on other components. I’ve been around cars enough to know that once a part is defective, it increases the chances of other parts wearing out.
WARRANTY WOES
The main problem now is that I’ve almost exceeded the warranty period. If any other transmission or engine part wears out and they can’t fix it in time, then I would have to pay out of pocket. I’m not sure I’m willing to put any more money into this clunker of a Jeep.
I don’t like that they’re trying to charge me when I’m still under the warranty. Admittedly I’m not an expert in warranty law so I hope I’m not misunderstanding, but I feel like the warranty should cover this engine or transmission problem. It’s still not clear to me why they want me to pay for this repair.
The other day I was ranting about my car problems to a friend, and he advised me to check out your blog. I don’t know anything about lemon law so any advice you can give is much appreciated.
Cherokee Owner
I’M SORRY YOUR 2021 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE IS SUCH A JERK
Dear Cherokee Owner,
I’m sorry your Jeep journey didn’t end up being everything you hoped. Engine and transmission problems are bad enough, but consuming extra fuel at these unprecedented prices is just not fair. Don’t worry about being clueless about lemon law, most people are, and that’s why I love talking about it!
KNOW YOUR WARRANTY
First off, note that lemon law only covers manufacturing issues under warranty, nothing more. There are two types of manufacturer’s warranties, the basic and the powertrain. Basic covers anything bumper to bumper such as electrical issues, brakes, power, etc. It usually lasts for about 3 years or 36,000 miles.
Anything engine or transmission related is covered by the powertrain warranty, which lasts for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Since your issue seems to involve the powertrain, there’s no reason they should charge you for any diagnosis or repair. This means you may be dealing with a shady dealer and manufacturer. Worry not, because lemon law is here to save the day.
Lemon law requires at least two visits to the dealer for a single issue or 3 or more visits concerning different issues. Each repair attempt must happen within the warranty period. Considering these factors, your vehicle sounds like it qualifies as a lemon law case.
SETTLEMENT OPTIONS
Once your case is settled you’ll have a few different choices for compensation. Fortunately, since you contacted the manufacturer early on, there is very limited room for pushback from them. You can opt for either:
- The Buyback, or
- The Cash and keep
The buyback option means that the manufacturer buys the vehicle back from you. Then they pay back all that you have spent on the vehicle. This includes your down payment, monthly payments, taxes accrued on the car, as well as interest.
Even if you took out a loan to purchase the vehicle, the manufacturers would pay that off for you as well. The good thing about this is that your credit goes up.
With this option there is a possibility the manufacturers can deduct from your settlement. This is known as the mileage offset, and Chrysler may charge you for the miles used during which there were no issues. They base this on the number of miles you were at during your first visit.
Regardless of the mileage you were at, it is possible to get the offset waived in half or in full. This is because they sold a defective vehicle and you deserve to get back all that you have lost. If you hope to get the most from lemon law, it is important you contact an attorney as soon as possible.
There is also a second option called cash and keep. What you’ll get here is cash as compensation for the issues experienced while also keeping the vehicle. With this your warranty doesn’t get canceled, and you don’t have to term the vehicle as a lemon to the next owner.
In addition to all this, since you purchased this vehicle in California, your attorney will take your case on contingency. That means you will not be charged any fees win or lose. The manufacturers are responsible for settling any attorney bills accrued during the case. As a result, the original settlement from the manufacturer goes directly to you.
LEMON LAW TIPS
A typical lemon case takes between 3 to 7 months to get settled, depending on how fast your documents are processed. The required documents you’ll want to have include all the repair orders, the purchase contract and original warranty. Any other information will only help your lawyer fight your case.
Note that your job isn’t quite done just yet. While your attorney does all the legal legwork, you must keep making your monthly payments. In addition, take the car to the dealer for repairs whenever there are issues with it. Any extra repair orders strengthen your case, just ensure you are not charged for it.
Be sure to get the necessary documentation regardless of whether they can replicate the issues or not. In your case I might think twice about driving it as much as you normally would. This is because once you go over 60,000 miles, you will be responsible for the repair costs. Since we know your Jeep is already prone to issues, I would try to stay under that threshold.
Whatever you decide, I hope your attorney is able to get you the compensation you deserve. If you have any other questions be sure to refer to them. Good luck in your quest for justice!
Suzanne
PS. If you think your vehicle sucks and want to actually do something about it, you definitely can! Find out quickly if you have a case by visiting www.yourvehiclesucks.com right now. This website is owned by our partner law firm Quill & Arrow LLP, California’s #1 “settled” Lemon Law attorneys.
Free Legal Advice About Your 2021 Jeep Grand 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 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 California Lemon Law Attorney to get proper legal advice about your lemon law claim.
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- My Trade-in 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Is Giving Me Lemon Vibes
Featured Image:
- 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee ©DestinationFearFan (CC BY-SA 4.0 License)
