My 2021 Chevy Traverse Is A Big Burden

DEAR SUZANNE

By Suzanne Henderson
LETTER 51 – October 2022 | Burdened And Concerned

Dear Suzanne, 

My car, which I purchased brand new from a Chevrolet dealership in California, is a 2021 Chevy Traverse. It currently has about 14,000 miles on it and I have taken it for repairs twice in the past two months. I am very concerned about these issues especially because the dealer seems to be downplaying the urgency. 

So, my first visit to the dealer happened about two months ago and the mileage was about 12,000 or less; I’m not so sure. This particular issue keeps coming up and the problem is that the vehicle sometimes loses power and fails to accelerate. So I took it to the dealer and they were like nothing was wrong with my car. I had to emphasize that there was something actually wrong with the car before they took a closer look at it. Fortunately, I had video proof of the car malfunctioning so I showed that to them. 

The car would sometimes lose power and this made me concerned because what if this happens on the freeway, what then?! Also, sometimes when I rev up the car, it fails to respond so it’s more like there is a delay in the acceleration. The last time this happened, my wife was behind the wheel and she had to put it in Park. Moreover, the Reverse gear was not engaging when this happened. 

On my second visit, I complained that the car sometimes shook and jerked. I had no electrical problems to complain about this time. However, there was some constant spinning noise coming from the front of the vehicle which I told the dealer. 

The dealer keeps saying nothing is wrong with the vehicle probably because nothing is popping up on the computer scanner used for diagnosis. They later said they were going to get a specialist – whatever that means – to detect what exactly was wrong. However, they haven’t gotten back to me ever since.

They have never charged me for any of these visits. During the last visit, however, I requested proof that my car was there with them, but they didn’t give me anything. Now, the vehicle is with me currently and I’m experiencing a little heaviness with the transmission whenever I shift gears. 

My wife and I are both the registered owners of the car and she’s fine with me proceeding with a lemon case if it would qualify. I would appreciate any help that would allow me to get rid of this burden. 

Burdened And Concerned. 

For Its Very Low Mileage, Your Car Sure Has Many Defects

Dear Burdened And Concerned,

It’s clear that you’re having issues with the vehicle even if the dealership is unable to replicate the problems while you’re there. Taking the vehicle to the dealer for these sorts of serious problems at only 14,000 miles is really outrageous and it points to the fact that the car is defective. Also, they should have every one of these visits in the system for you especially since you took the car in for those specific problems. 

Now, getting your lemon case started as soon as possible while you’re still on low miles is important. This is to avoid any form of deductions from the settlement and also to prevent the dealership from countering the issues on ground. Also, if you are having these kinds of issues this early on, it is usually best to do away with the vehicle because it gets worse down the line. And this would pose a problem when the vehicle is no longer within the warranty period. 

So, typically with lemon law, there are a couple of options for you since you are on very low miles. The first option is the buyback which is basically where the manufacturers buy back the vehicle from you and pay back all you have spent on the vehicle. With this option, any down payment, monthly payments, taxes, and interest will be refunded to you. In addition, any loans taken out on the vehicle will be reimbursed by the automakers and with that, your credit goes up. 

The only deduction that they can take is the mileage offset. This means that the manufacturers reserve the right to charge you for the number of miles you drove the car without any issues. It will be based on your mileage on your first visit which you estimated to be no more than 12,000 miles. However, regardless of your mileage, your attorney should be able to waive this mileage offset in full or half because the main goal is to get as much money as possible. 

The second option is the cash and keep. The cash and keep is simply you receiving cash compensation for all the inconveniences you’ve experienced with the vehicle. This option means you get to keep the vehicle and your warranty will not be voided or canceled. Moreover, if you wish to sell your vehicle later, you can do so without having to deem it a lemon to the next owner.

As for your law attorney bills, you have nothing to worry about. This is because since you purchased your car in California, a very customer-friendly state, all lemon law cases are taken on contingency. This means that you will not be charged any bills as they are all settled by the automakers. As a result, the total settlement received will be going over to you.

Suzanne

Free Legal Advice About Your 2021 Chevrolet Traverse 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 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 CA Lemon Law Attorney to get proper legal advice about your lemon law claim.

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Featured Image:

• 2021 Chevrolet Traverse ©WaddlesJP13 (CC BY-SA 4.0 License)