DEAR SUZANNE
By Suzanne Henderson
LETTER 38 – September 2022 | Stuck And Fed Up
Dear Suzanne,
After using about four generations of Ford vehicles, I can say that this is the worst so far. I own a 2019 Ford Ranger Raptor which I’m still making payments on and it is certified pre-owned. I purchased it used, and it had 8,686 miles on it when I got it.
When I got this vehicle, the dealer gave me the information of the previous owner of the car who traded it in for another. I contacted the guy and asked him about any underlying problems he may have dealt with when he owned it. However, he said he just wanted a different vehicle because this one was too small for him, but my experience with it tells me otherwise – I believe he also faced issues with it.
MILEAGE DISCREPANCY
The very first problem I had with the truck happened right after its purchase. When I received the purchase order, I discovered some discrepancies in the MSRP (manufacturer’s suggested retail price). The issue was that the mileage recorded on the purchase document is quite different from the actual mileage on the car. I pointed this out at the Ford dealership, but they brushed my complaint aside.
I have heard several complaints from other Ford Ranger owners regarding this, but I never put it much to heart until the same happened to me. I also heard some firms have tried to bring Ford to book on this but for some reason, Ford is still perpetuating this act. There hasn’t even been as much as a court case going on to understand why Ford lies about the mileage. This is just wrong!
IT’S A GAS GUZZLER!
Another issue is that the car claims more gallons per mile than advertised. I mean, how is it that the manufacturers are so willing to lie to their customers about many of this vehicle’s features? It just does not sit well with me! But since there was nothing I could do about it, I had to live with it.
Furthermore, ever since I bought the truck, I have been having issues with it, but every time I take it to the dealer, they deny it and claim nothing is wrong. I have taken it a bunch of times to different dealerships, but the story remained the same. Not until I found a good dealer where repairs are currently being done on the truck. The vehicle is still at a mileage of 36,000 and so the warranty covers these repairs.
DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION
The main problem with the truck is the defective transmission which I have tried to fix at the dealership about 3 times. But each time, they come back to give the same report – “cannot replicate the problem.” So what they did the last time was to “reset the vehicle,” whatever that means.
I even spoke with the service manager and he said it might take about 3 weeks to a month before I can have my vehicle back. My car has been there for about two weeks now. They said I’d have to wait a little bit longer since they’re replacing the transmission and are just ordering new parts. What troubles me most is that I can’t work without my truck as my truck is basically my work. They put me in a different truck as a rental but it’s just not the same.
OUT OF POCKET REPAIR EXPENSES
Also, even though the warranty is still in place, I still had to pay for some of these repairs from my pocket. I do this because I don’t like leaving the burden solely on the insurance company. So that in case of any eventualities, the insurance company would not have any excuses about my insurance. I also once paid about $350 for insurance on the rental car and I’m currently paying about $60 weekly tax on the rental.
Moreover, I have invested a lot of money into this vehicle. I paid for a lot of equipment to be installed into the truck to make it more efficient. For instance, I put in new rims on the sides to make it better. In total, I have spent about $7,000 on the vehicle upgrades alone, but it still turned out to be crap.
AM I STUCK WITH THIS LEMON?
My main fear now is if the transmission goes wrong once again, what next? Do I keep on fixing it even after there’s no warranty? Also, there is a probability that the transmission might have affected some other system in the vehicle, how would I resolve that? All these and more are the thoughts going on in my head that strengthen my resolve to get rid of this vehicle.
Right now, I would really appreciate any opportunity I get to do away with this truck. Now, I would like to know how lemon cases work and also how to go about them. My question is, will it be a class action lawsuit or individual law case?
Stuck And Fed Up
Your 2019 Ford Ranger May Be Eligible For A Lemon Law Case
Dear Stuck And Fed Up,
Before we discuss your vehicle further, you must first understand the difference between a class action suit and a lemon law case. A class-action suit is a general law case involving every owner of the model in question. As such, you would have to split the settlement with the other owners. However, lemon law cases are individual and the settlement is meant for you and you alone.
REQUIRED NUMBER OF REPAIR VISITS
That said, let’s now talk about the way forward regarding your defective vehicle. Firstly, in order to qualify for a lemon law case, you must have made at least two visits to the dealership for the same issue. Or three times for different issues, all during your manufacturer warranty. You must also have purchased your vehicle from a Ford dealership.
Fortunately, you meet both of these conditions. Regardless of whether they fix the vehicle or not, your car is already considered a lemon. Moreover, they are already replacing the transmission while the mileage is not so high which means there most likely will be another serious issue as time goes on. And this time, your warranty might just have expired.
And so what happens in a lemon law case is to ensure you don’t spend money frequently on unnecessary repairs after the warranty expires. A lemon case helps you so you don’t remain stuck with a defective vehicle. So in a lemon law case, there are usually three options for you, the lemon owner, which we shall discuss as we go on.
LEMON LAW BUYBACK
The first is the buyback option which involves a process where the automakers buy back the vehicle from you. In addition, they refund you all that you have spent on the vehicle. This involves monthly payments, down payments, as well as the taxes accrued on the vehicle. Also, if you are owing the vehicle, they pay off the bank or the finance company so your credit does not get damaged and it consequently goes up.
Unfortunately, you do not get paid back for any installations you have done into the vehicle. However, we could fight to get you additional compensation since your vehicle is still at the dealership. If it remains there for up to a month, you are guaranteed this additional compensation.
Now, the way the manufacturers try to influence this pay-off is by using what is called mileage offset. This is the miles you drove before the vehicle had its first issue and it will be based on your first visit to the dealership. So check through your repair order documents to confirm your mileage during your first visit.
CASH AND KEEP
However, there’s a second option for you if you decide that you have spent too much on the vehicle and are not willing to sell it to the manufacturers. Option number two is called Cash and Keep. Here, the manufacturers give you cash compensation for all the issues the car has had, the number of times you’ve taken it in, and for how long the car has been at the dealership.
You will also be keeping the vehicle and the warranty. Also, if you decide to sell the vehicle in the future, you do not have to deem it a lemon to the next owner. As such, you can receive compensation and then resell the vehicle if the problems become too much for you. Currently, the resale value of used cars is higher than before which means you won’t be at a loss.
VEHICLE REPLACEMENT
Finally, there is a third option, which is not so advisable but it is still an option nonetheless. With this option, the manufacturer will trade your vehicle for another used car with almost the same mileage and value as yours. The problem with this option is that you run the risk of getting another lemon which is quite common with Ford cars that are highly defective.
To get your case started, you must submit the necessary documents to your attorney such as your purchase contract, receipt, repair order, etc. A good thing about lemon law cases in California is that you as a client do not have to pay any fees as it comes free to you. The law company will be paid by the manufacturers; Ford Motoring Company. Also, lemon law cases may take as long as 2 to 8 months to get settled so you’ll have to sit tight.
However, during this period, ensure you continue to drive the vehicle just as normal. And when you eventually get your vehicle back, if it has any further issues, return it to the dealership. The more times you visit the dealer, the more proof the vehicle is defective, and the more money for you.
So your lemon law case does not affect you driving the vehicle nor does it affect you taking it to the dealership. As long as you keep collecting the repair order from the dealer every time you go there. If the dealer refuses to give you the repair documentation, simply contact your attorney to know the next step.
Reference: Ford Lemon Law Buyback Program Information
Suzanne
Free Legal Advice About Your 2019 Ford Ranger Raptor 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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- Ford is Ghosting Me For My 2019 Ford Raptor Buyback
- Can’t Travel With Peace Of Mind In My 2019 Ford Fusion
- 2020 Ford F-150 Transmission Problems Has Owner Losing Their Cool
Featured Image:
- 2019 Ford Ranger ©Ovejochurro (CC BY-SA 4.0 License)
