DEAR SUZANNE
By Suzanne Henderson
LETTER 34 – August 2022 | Ripped off And Taken For Granted
Dear Suzanne,
I would like to give you a summary of my 2019 Dodge Challenger and how it is riddled with problems. Every time I take it to the Dodge dealership, it’s either one part or another being replaced. Also, it seems the manufacturers have a mind to profit from my problems. See for yourself.
So like I said before, I own a 2019 Dodge Challenger all-wheel drive which I purchased used. It had about 28,000 miles on it as of the time of purchase and now it has 35,000. I treat my car like a princess and it’s safe to say I’ve never had an accident with it. This is why I was greatly perturbed when I began having issues with the vehicle.
My first issue seemed minor at that time, but I never knew it would be the beginning of many more to come. It was a broken electric window button which occurred at about 28,500 miles. I took it back to the dealership to get the car serviced and mentioned this to them. They inspected the button and replaced it at no cost to me. I thought that was the end of my car troubles, but I guess I was just naive to expect that much from my car.
My second visit was two months after due to a defective motor mount that was leaking hydraulic fluid. I discovered this when I woke one morning to see some kind of liquid oozing all over my garage floor. I did not know what it was at the time so I went underneath the vehicle to confirm. I checked the oil pan and saw that it wasn’t the cause.
Upon taking it to the dealership, they inspected it and said the fault lay with the motor mount and would have to be replaced. So I left the vehicle there until they carried out the repairs. They ordered the parts and made the necessary adjustments. Once again, I paid nothing for this because my car warranty spans up to 100,000 miles.
The final and most recent issue was when multiple car functions began to misbehave. It first started with the transmission some months after my second visit. I took the car out, put it in gear and it suddenly jerked and lunged forward. This startled me so I paused for a moment before trying again. This time it worked normally and I drove the car home.
My daughter also experienced the same incident some days after. The issue kept on escalating until the last straw broke the camel’s back. I was driving on the freeway when the vehicle check engine light suddenly came on and the car lost engine power. The vehicle could neither move forward nor backward. I had to park the car for a few minutes before it responded, at which point I drove it straight to the dealership.
They said the car transmission was burning (I don’t know what that means) and that it needs to be replaced. I assumed that it should still be under the warranty so you can picture the shock on my face when they mentioned that it will cost me about $15,000 to $20,000. Why? How? Then they began to give flimsy excuses and explanations as to why that was so. I didn’t give it a second thought before withdrawing my vehicle.
I contacted the manufacturer directly and they said it would cost me $200 just for them to take the car in. They also said the costs of repair would come from my pocket. I was perplexed because my warranty was not going to end until the beginning of next year — I confirmed this with my dealership. Why then are the manufacturers asking me to pay for unnecessary fees?
I would really love to know how to dispose of this vehicle as I am not looking to keep it any longer than necessary. My daughter who is a cosigner too is also in support of this. We spent about $7,000 more than the normal sales price because we bought it during a period when car prices were on the high side. We paid an estimate of $45,000 for something that should cost no more than $38,000. As a result, we welcome any option that gets us back our money from Chrysler.
Ripped off And Taken For Granted
Truly, Your Car Manufacturers May Be About To Rip You Off
Dear Ripped off And Taken For Granted,
First off, note that lemon law only covers manufacturing issues, nothing more, and there are two types of manufacturer’s warranties: basic and 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.
Also, anything engine or transmission that powers the vehicle deals with the powertrain. And this lasts for 5 years or 60,000 miles. And since the third issue involves the powertrain, for no reason should they charge you for any diagnosis or repair. This means you are dealing with a shady dealer and manufacturer. And this is where lemon law comes in.
Lemon law works in a way that requires at least two visits to the dealer within your warranty period regarding the same issue or 3 or more visits concerning different issues. Thus, considering these factors, your vehicle definitely qualifies as a lemon law case. Also, since you are still in the warranty period for at least powertrain problems, you are protected by the lemon law.
That said, there are some available options for you especially since you have relatively low mileage. Fortunately, since you first contacted the manufacturer, there is very limited room for pushbacks from them. As such, you can opt either for:
- Buyback, or
- Cash and keep
The buyback option basically means that the manufacturer buys the vehicle back from you and they pay back all that has been spent on the vehicle. This includes your down payment, monthly payments, taxes accrued on the car, as well as interests even if you took out a loan to purchase the vehicle. The good thing about this is that your credit goes up.
However, the manufacturers also get a chance to manipulate how much they are expected to reimburse. And this is known as the mileage offset which involves taking a deduction from the refund. Mileage offset means Chrysler may charge you for the miles used during which there were no issues, and this would be based on the number of miles you were at during your first visit.
Since your first visit to the dealer occurred at 500 miles, this does not affect your case negatively. It means that it is possible to get the automakers to waive this offset in full or half. This is because they sold a defective vehicle and the plan is to get back all that you have lost. However, if you hope to get the most from lemon law, it is expedient you contact an attorney as soon as possible. Do this while your mileage is still at 35,000 which is within the stipulated warranty period.
Read more about the Dodge Lemon Law buyback settlement option, how it works, eligibility criteria, affected models, common defects, and case examples.
Alternatively, there is the cash and keep option which is simply cash compensation for the issues experienced while you keep the vehicle. With this, you get to keep the vehicle, your warranty doesn’t get canceled, and you do not have to term the vehicle as a lemon to the next owner.
Since you purchased this vehicle in California and it is a very consumer-friendly state, your attorney would take your case on contingency. That is, you will not be charged any consultation fees because the manufacturers are in charge of settling any attorney bills accrued during the case. Also, all cash settlement from the manufacturer goes directly to you.
Furthermore, a typical lemon case takes between 3 to 7 months to get settled depending on how fast your documents get processed. The required documents you would need include all the repair orders and the purchase contract. Any other information would be divulged to you by your lawyer.
However, note that you have a part to play in all this. 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. Just ensure you are not charged for it and get the necessary documentation regardless of whether they can replicate the issues or not. You can also keep driving the vehicle as often as you like. This is because the lower the miles and the more visits you have, the better your chances of winning.
Additionally, you do not necessarily have to reach a decision immediately on the option to go with, you can wait until you talk in detail with your attorney. Also, when you contact the manufacturer for a rental, strictly limit the discussion to how to get a rental car with no mention of lawyers or lemon law or else, they will close up and be reluctant to release the necessary paperwork. Good luck in your quest for justice!
Suzanne
PS. Ready to be done with that “lemon” of a vehicle? Well, you’re in luck! At yourvehiclesucks.com our partner Lemon Law attorneys Quill & Arrow LLP can help get the compensation you deserve for it – and they know how too; after all, their California’s #1 “settled” lawyers! Don’t wait any longer: check out the website www.yourvehiclesucks.com and start getting those wheels rolling towards justice (and some serious cash)!
Free Legal Advice About Your 2019 Dodge Challenger 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 Law 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 California Lemon Lawyer to get proper legal advice about your lemon law claim.
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Featured Image:
- 2019 Dodge Challenger ©John Bauld (CC BY 2.0 License)
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