DEAR SUZANNE
By Suzanne Henderson
LETTER 113 – May 2023 | Uncomfortable
Dear Suzanne,
I’ve always been a huge admirer of Jeep vehicles, particularly the Jeep Wrangler. This admiration led me to purchase a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. However, my experience with this car has been far from what I imagined. I don’t know if this is the case for all Wrangler owners, but my car has had several issues, despite having only 19,330 miles on it.
I’ve had to take the car in for repairs more than three times, dealing with problems such as a faulty backup camera, screeching engine, jerky transmission, and defective electrical system/battery. Let me break down each issue for you.
The first problem, the faulty backup camera, appeared when I was close to hitting the 100-mile mark on the odometer. Since I leased this car brand new, I didn’t expect any issues so soon. The camera often failed to provide a correct view of what was behind the car, forcing me to twist my head to avoid obstacles. Sometimes, the screen would go blank, displaying only a black screen. The only solution was to turn off the engine and restart the car. The Jeep dealership couldn’t find a permanent solution, so the issue persists intermittently.
The second issue, the screeching engine noise, has attracted unwanted attention and caused me embarrassment. The engine also occasionally experiences delayed acceleration, stuttering and losing speed regardless of how hard I press the gas pedal.
The transmission issue involves sputtering and rattling when changing gears. This, combined with the screeching engine, affects my concentration while driving and makes me feel stressed.
Lastly, the auto on/off feature has been problematic, with random notifications stating that the feature is unavailable. The dealership initially thought it was due to a faulty battery or electrical system. After a week of trying to fix it, they discovered that some wires near the battery had fused, causing the malfunction.
Considering all these issues, it’s understandable that I no longer feel comfortable driving this car. I’m constantly worried that something else might go wrong. This is why I need to seek relief through lemon law as soon as possible. Please let me know what I need to know about the law.
Uncomfortable
Flex Your Lemon Rights And Get Compensated
Dear Uncomfortable,
Before diving into the details of lemon law, it’s important to know that lemon lawsuits in California are usually taken on contingency. This means that your attorney won’t charge you for anything related to your case, as the manufacturers are responsible for paying the legal fees associated with filing a claim. This is a benefit of purchasing your Jeep in California.
The issues you’ve been experiencing with your vehicle are quite common for this model, which is unacceptable given that your car’s warranty is still valid. Warranties typically come in two forms: basic and powertrain. The basic warranty covers issues like electrical, brake, and steering problems, and it expires after 3 years or 36,000 miles. The powertrain warranty, which covers engine and transmission issues, lasts for 5 years or 60,000 miles.
Lemon law generally requires at least two visits to the dealership for the same issues, or three visits for different problems, all within your warranty. Fortunately, your case meets these basic requirements, so your attorney can proceed with the lawsuit.
Since your car has low mileage, there’s flexibility in the type of compensation you might receive. However, it’s important to start your case as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary pushback from the automakers.
Once your case qualifies for lemon law, you have three options to choose from. The first is a buyback, where the manufacturer pays back everything you’ve paid towards the vehicle, including monthly payments, down payment, taxes, and interest. If you took out a loan, the finance company gets reimbursed, so your credit won’t be negatively affected. The only deduction manufacturers can take is the mileage offset, which is based on the miles driven before the first issue. Since your car had issues around 100 miles, there’s almost nothing they can charge you for, and your lawyer may even be able to waive this offset partially or completely.
If you prefer to keep your car, there’s a second option called “cash and keep.” The manufacturer would give you cash compensation for the issues you’ve had with the car, without canceling your warranty. You can also sell your car without deeming it a lemon to the next owner. The amount you receive depends on factors such as the number of visits, duration of dealership stays, and the types of issues you faced.
Lastly, there’s the replacement or trade-in option, where you receive another Jeep Wrangler with the same year, mileage, and market value as your current vehicle. However, there’s a risk that you might get another lemon as a replacement.
Lemon law lawsuits typically take 3 to 7 months, so you don’t need to make a decision immediately. The duration of your case depends on how quickly your attorney wants to resolve it. If you have any questions or need clarification during this time, don’t hesitate to reach out to your 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 2021 Jeep Wrangler 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 [email protected]. 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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- My 2019 Jeep Wrangler Sensors are Ridden With Problems
Featured Image:
- 2021 Jeep Wrangler ©Alexander Migl (CC BY-SA 4.0 License)
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