My 2021 Jeep Wrangler is Problematic

DEAR SUZANNE

By Suzanne Henderson
LETTER 43 – September 2022 | Stressed Out

Dear Suzanne, 

To be honest with you, owning a vehicle should not be as stressful as this. It gets worse when there’s no particularly obvious reason as I have had no accident with the car. So here’s my backstory to my complaints. 

I own a 2021 Jeep Wrangler which I purchased brand new. It has just 19,000 miles on it and I have taken it to the Jeep dealership two times already. Each time I did, the issues were hardly fixed properly. 

For my first visit to the dealer, I think the car had a mileage of about 18,000. I took it in because my car’s sensor for the engine overheating came on. I don’t really recall the details of the first visit, but I know that I woke up one day to discover coolant leaking all over my driveway. Not long after, the overheating sensor began to go off so I took the vehicle to the dealership. 

The dealer’s diagnosis was that the issue was an engine part turned bad which they replaced. There was also a really loud engine noise that made my car sound like a semi-truck. I mentioned this issue to them also the first time I went in but there was no fix for this problem. 

The second time I took the car to the dealer, it was still having the same issues where the engine noise was extremely loud and still sounded like a semi-truck. I discovered this usually happened anytime I turned on the AC. I explained this to the service provider at the dealership and he had the vehicle for like 3 days. 

After three days, he claimed the problem was not what I thought it was. So they changed attention from the AC to the fan but still, there was no solution to the incessant irritating noise. I then began to wonder, what exactly were they up to for 3 whole days?! 

The reason I am so interested in lemon law cases now is that I noticed that there was a lot in my Jeep that kept on going wrong. From the engine temperature to burning oil, it’s constantly giving me issues that I’m getting concerned about. I haven’t had the opportunity to mention these new issues to the dealership because it happened right after the second visit and I haven’t gone there since then. 

And every time I try to get a hold of the dealership, they claim they cannot come and pick up my car. As a result, I have to drive it down myself to the shop which is what I did the first two times. But nowadays, I barely have time to do that anymore seeing as I’m so busy.

Also, they claim I have to make an appointment and when I called them to do that, no one picked up the phone, and neither did they get back to me. Another problem is that since I can’t take it to another dealership, I have to stick with the ones that repaired the car in the first place. I contacted the manufacturer at some point because I was so desperate, but they dismissed the issue as if it was nothing. So sad! 

I think I am a little familiar with how lemon law works, but I don’t mind getting more information about it. I also think I’m more inclined to keep the vehicle because, besides these issues, I actually like the car. And also, I have spent much on the car seeing as I changed the interior and also it’s a leased vehicle. So yeah, I guess I wanna keep it. 

Stressed Out. 

It Seems Your Vehicle Is Not Built Right

Dear Stressed Out, 

First off, let me say that I’m sorry you were treated that way by the manufacturers. They behave that way sometimes, I don’t know why. Now, to how lemon law works. Lemon law works in a way that depends on the number of times you have visited the dealership. 

It could be twice due to the same issues or thrice for different issues. Just as long as you meet any of these criteria, you are eligible for a lemon lawsuit. And since you meet the criteria, it means you qualify.

Also, since your car has relatively low mileage on it, it means you can keep taking the car for repairs at the dealer. This makes your case more solid and increases the chances of getting a high cash settlement offer at the end of your lemon law case as well. Another good thing about your case is that you’re still on very low mileage so there is a little wiggle room regarding what your lawyer can do for you. But it’s better to begin your case ASAP while you’re still at low mileage to avoid any pushback from the manufacturers, as well as deductions. 

And since you said you already contacted the automakers and they denied responsibility, your lawyer can use that to your advantage. But we don’t want them to come back to you with an offer that seems too good to be true since you’d already be on their radar. This is because it just isn’t worth the effort and stress that the future problems of the car will demand. 

Also, the case is against the manufacturer, not the dealership because the culprits here are the ones who built the vehicle in the first place. The dealership can only do so much in trying to fix or replace the defective car parts, especially if the car is defective, to begin with. 

Additionally, depending on whether you want to get rid of the vehicle or keep it, there are two options available to you. The first option is called a buyback. Here, the automakers are simply buying the vehicle back from you and paying back all that you have spent on the car. This includes your monthly payments, your down payment along with taxes and interests. 

Also, loans taken on the vehicle will be paid off and with this, your credit score goes up. Your credit goes up because, in the eyes of your financing company, you just leased or bought the vehicle in full. Other than this, it doesn’t affect your score in any negative way. 

The only deduction that can be taken from the Jeep buyback is known as the mileage offset. It means that the automakers retain the discretion to charge you for the period you drove the Jeep without any issues. And this will be based on your first visit to the dealer which you said was around 18,000 miles and that is very small. Regardless of this initial mileage, your lawyer could always try to waive the fee in full or half. 

The second option is known as cash and keep. This is just cash compensation for the issues you were having while you still keep the vehicle. With this option, your warranty is not canceled or voided and if you later want to sell this vehicle and purchase another, you do not have to deem it a lemon to the next owner. Or you could just turn it in to the dealership after the lease if there’s no physical damage to it.  

With the cash and keep option, the manufacturing company is not reimbursing you anything. Rather, it’s just a cash compensation saying “we are sorry for the issues you have experienced with your car, take this compensation and don’t file a lawsuit against us again.” That’s what it simply means. Also, they take a couple of factors into account like your mileage, the number of visits to the dealer, and the type of issues you’ve been having. 

Additionally, while your lawsuit is in progress, you can take the car back to the dealership for repairs. All your lawyer has to do is add every additional repair order to your case file. Also, your dealer saying that you can only repair your vehicle at the shop you purchased it, is false. You could always take it to any other Jeep dealer near you for repairs and also get a rental from them. 

As for the lawyer’s fees, you have nothing to worry about because you won’t be the one paying them. Since you bought your Jeep in California which is a very consumer-friendly state, any lemon law case is taken fully on contingency. So your law firm will be paid by the manufacturers and the total settlement will be going over to you as well. Thus, you alone are the sole owner of whatever reimbursement you get.

Suzanne

Free Legal Advice About Your 2021 Jeep Wrangler 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 Jeep Wrangler ©Alexander Migl (CC BY-SA 4.0 License)