Is My Dealer Incompetent Or Is My 2019 Camaro Just Too Broken?

DEAR SUZANNE

By Suzanne Henderson
LETTER 35 – August 2022 | Overwhelmed

Dear Suzanne,

I always thought owning a car would be a big flex of its own. I never thought it would be a liability, which is what my car has become. Let me give you a backstory so you can properly understand where I’m coming from. 

I own a 2019 Chevrolet Camaro which I purchased at almost $40,000 over a year ago after first making a down payment of $7,000. Ever since it has been complaints upon complaints. And all these issues stem from the fact that my vehicle’s electrical system is defective. Sadly, my dealership has been unable to provide absolute solutions to any of my car’s electrical troubles. 

It all began some weeks after purchasing the vehicle when the rear camera suddenly went blank while the car was in reverse. Fortunately, this occurred during the day so I could still see clearly. I took it to the Chevrolet dealership who said the camera was broken and needed to be replaced alongside the wirings in the car. A car I just bought?!

I bought this car at a mileage of about 28,000 and I had not used it much by this time. So why was I hearing that I needed to replace some faulty parts? I remember reading somewhere that Camaro cars usually have electrical issues. but I never thought it could happen to me. That incident came and went. 

Then came the issues with the convertible top and the defective exhaust. On reaching the dealer, they were able to fix the exhaust but couldn’t repair the convertible top. It was then I began to notice the trend in electrical problems where the dealership was incapable. Since then, I have taken the car back to them multiple times for several electrical issues but with the same results – no repairs. 

The most recent event that cost me my car for three weeks and counting occurred when the car refused to switch gears. Obviously, my first impression was that it was a problem with the transmission until I took the vehicle to the dealership. Once again, they said the problem was electrical and not the powertrain. The diagnosis was that the main wire harness on the car was defective and also needed replacements. 

At this point, I think the car itself needs a replacement as I am not sure it is safe to keep repairing the vehicle. Now, the car has been sitting at the dealer’s shop for over three weeks with just 35,800 miles on it. This is too much of a problem for a car that I haven’t driven for up to 8,000 miles since its purchase. 

What’s more, there is no certain arrival date for the replacements. It seems like GM has forgotten all about my car parts that need to be shipped. So my car would probably be kept at the shop till kingdom come. So much for having a car that should be a flex. 

Currently, I’m just looking for a way to get out of this predicament. I’m tired of jumping from one car trouble to the other. Is there a way around this? What would you advise me to do?

Overwhelmed. 

You May Not Be Dealing With An Incompetent Dealer But Rather An Unreliable Manufacturer

Dear Overwhelmed, 

Sometimes, it may not be the dealer’s fault just as in your case. It could simply be a case of pure negligence on the part of the manufacturer. However, you will be glad to hear that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. What if I tell you that you can get rid of your lemon vehicle and in the process, bring Chevrolet to book? 

This can be done by taking it up with a lemon lawyer. Since you keep returning to the dealership for multiple repairs, your car is eligible for a lemon case. Get in touch with a lemon law attorney today to get you familiar with all that you need to know. The possible options available to you as a lemon owner could be one of two things. 

First of all, the manufacturer could either refund your money back for everything you’ve spent on the car. This would include everything from your monthly payments to any outstanding car loans and the interest accumulated on them. All these would be paid in full by Chevrolet. So in your case, you’ll be getting one year’s worth of payment, your down payment of $7,000, and your multi-payment back. 

The manufacturers would however deduct the mileage used before your first complaint from the down payment before they reimburse you. This is known as the mileage offset. Also, any third-party purchase you made like car insurance, LoJack, or extended warranty would be deducted from the refund. So theoretically, from a refund of $7k down payment, you may be getting back just 5k. You can then use this $5k as a down payment to get a new vehicle. 

However, if there’s negative equity on your vehicle, then it means you would still be indebted to the dealership depending on how much it has depreciated compared to when you got it. Hence, this negative equity would be rolled over to your new vehicle. So the amount you will pay for the new car would include the spread of the previous car’s negative equity. 

If the automakers agree on the same terms as your attorney, the case could get resolved in as fast as 2 to 4 months. But if they refuse to release the funds for the reimbursement, the case may take about 1 to 2 years to resolve. 

The other option to go for is cash compensation. That is, they pay you for all the inconveniences you’ve experienced while taking the car to the dealership. In simple terms, they are willing to give you a particular sum of money for your troubles if you wish to collect. 

If you prefer this, you are required to sign a release form saying you will drop the case and won’t follow up on it in the future. It’s essentially a settlement offer. And it could take between 2 to 6 months to resolve, which is usually how long the cases last.

Also, you are not bound by law to foot the attorney bills regardless of whether the case works out or not. It will all be handled by Chevrolet. If the case goes to trial, you may as well file for extra damages which increases the amount of compensation you will get.

Additionally, you do not need to be present during any legal proceedings. All you have to do is keep using the car as normal to prevent the dealer from being suspicious. Also, if they tell you the car is due for pick up, do so and if there are any problems, take it to the dealership for repairs. Just ensure they do the necessary documentation and paperwork which is the evidence of your defective car. 

Do not forget to reach out to a reputable lemon law attorney. They are your best bet at getting the proper compensation you deserve. 

Good luck!

Suzanne

Free Legal Advice About Your 2019 Chevrolet Camaro 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 CA Lemon Law Attorney to get proper legal advice about your lemon law claim.

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Featured Image:

• 2019 Chevrolet Camaro ©Kevauto (CC BY-SA 4.0 License)