DEAR SUZANNE
By Suzanne Henderson
LETTER 108 – April 2023 | Fed Up
Dear Suzanne,
I’m a not-so-happy owner of a shiny 2020 Mercedes AMG. If a car only needed to look good to be great, then my Mercedes AMG would be perfect. But that’s not the case, and my life with this car has been tough.
My car has had so many problems, and it’s not fun anymore. The Mercedes Benz dealership hasn’t been helpful either.
I bought it brand new and have had it for just over two years. But I’m really frustrated with it. Let me tell you about some of the problems I’ve had, starting with the most recent ones.
BATTERY ISSUES
Two weeks ago, my car suddenly stopped while I was driving. I took it to the dealership, and they said the battery was bad. They replaced it for free. I thought that would fix everything, but I was wrong.
Last Wednesday, my best friend and I went on our yearly road trip. This time, we took my car. Halfway through the trip, in the middle of nowhere, the car turned off.
First, the screen went blank. Then, the backup camera stopped working, and we couldn’t listen to music. All we saw on the screen was a picture of tools. Finally, the car stopped running.
We tried to figure out what was wrong, and I thought it might be the battery. But that didn’t make sense since I just replaced it. We needed to jumpstart the car.
We were stuck in the middle of nowhere with no help. We tried calling the dealership, but there was no cell service. As it got dark, we thought about leaving the car and hiking, but the road wasn’t safe.
SAVED BY GOOD SAMARITAN
Just when we were about to give up, we saw headlights coming towards us. It was late at night, and we were scared to ask a stranger for help. But we were desperate, so we stopped the car.
Luckily, the man was kind and helped jumpstart our car with his battery. After thanking him, we finished our trip.
When I think back, I realize how risky that was. We were lucky to find someone who was willing to help us.
The next day, I called the dealership to tell them what happened. They asked me to bring the car in when I got back. I reminded them that we changed the battery recently, but it still had problems.
NO FIX IN SIGHT
They said they would look at it as soon as possible. But after five days, they called and said they hadn’t checked it yet. I was annoyed because I could have asked for a loaner car if I knew it would take so long. I think they just didn’t know what was wrong with the car.
They promised to check it the next day, but then they called again and said they still couldn’t fix it. The technician said he wouldn’t be available for the weekend, but someone else would look at it. He said I would get a call, but I haven’t heard anything.
I’ve also had problems with the car’s small tires. They’re delicate, and one time a tire went flat when I was picking up my grandson. It’s like the car was made to be pretty in a garage, not to drive.
You might be surprised to learn that my car only has 20,000 miles on it. And these are just the recent problems. I had even more issues when I first got the car.
I’m so tired of this car. I know it’s delicate, but this is too much. Now I’m wondering if I should fix it or get a new one. Maybe the lemon law can help me decide.
Fed Up
Lemon Law Provides You With Answers To Your Questions
Dear Fed Up,
Finding out your car is a lemon is tough, especially when it only has 20,000 miles on it. But don’t worry, there’s a law to protect you called the lemon law. It can help you figure out what to do next.
In California, the lemon law says your car must have at least two repair attempts for the same problem at the dealership where you bought it. Or, you need to visit the dealer three times for different problems. All of this must happen while the car is under warranty.
If your car has spent more than a month at the dealership, it might also be a lemon. If it meets any of these requirements, you can use the lemon law.
Your car’s warranty has two parts: basic and powertrain. The basic warranty covers things like bumper-to-bumper issues, electrical problems, power steering, and brakes. The powertrain warranty covers engine and transmission problems. Both warranties last for 50,000 miles or 4 years, whichever comes first.
With the lemon law, there are a few possible outcomes. You can choose the one that works best for you.
The carmaker buys your car back and pays you everything you’ve spent on it. This includes the down payment, monthly payments, taxes, and interest. In your case, you’ll get back the total purchase amount. But, the carmaker can take off some money for the miles you drove without problems. This is called the mileage offset. Your attorney might be able to get them to waive this amount since you had a defective car. Find out more about the Mercedes-Benz Lemon Law buyback process, its mechanics, qualifications, covered models, reported issues, and your legal options.
Cash and Keep
The carmaker pays you money for selling you a lemon and for the trouble you’ve had. Your warranty stays valid, and you can sell the car later without calling it a lemon.
Replacement
You get another used car with the same mileage, value, and make as your lemon car. This isn’t the best choice because the replacement car might also be a lemon.
In California, you don’t have to pay any legal fees for a lemon law case. The carmaker pays the attorney fees, and you get the whole settlement.
If you need more help, you can talk to a lemon attorney.
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 2020 Mercedes AMG 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 California 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 Lawyer to get proper legal advice about your lemon law claim.
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Featured Image:
- 2020 Mercedes AMG ©MrWalkr (CC BY-SA 4.0 License)
