DEAR SUZANNE
By Suzanne Henderson
LETTER 122 – July 2023 | Uncomfortable
Dear Suzanne,
My husband and I recently bought a 2022 Jeep Compass, and contrary to its name, everything about this car has been misleading. We’ve had issues with various parts of the car.
On February 17th, we went to the Jeep dealership to buy our first car together as a couple. We had been saving for it for years, so we were really excited. But after only a few weeks of driving our brand-new car, our excitement has vanished. Instead, we feel like we bought a defective vehicle.
Our Jeep has only about 700 miles on it, but the check engine light has already become a nuisance. The light first came on just two weeks after we left the dealership. We took it back to them, and they said it was just a faulty sensor that would be easy to fix. They fixed it and promised us the issue wouldn’t come up again.
However, less than two days later, the check engine light came on again. This time, it happened while my husband was on his way to work, after dropping me off at mine. He had to turn back and return to the dealership.
Because of this, he missed work that day, and since he’s paid on an hourly/daily basis, he lost money too. So, our new car was actually costing us money instead of making our lives easier.
When my husband complained at the dealership this time, they said the issue was related to something in the motor and that they’d need to replace the faulty part. But since it’s on backorder, we don’t know when we’ll get our car back. They’re not even sure when the part will arrive, so our vehicle is still with them.
We’re worried because we haven’t even owned this car for a month, and we’re already having all these issues. What will happen when we start using it regularly and it gets older? Will everything fall apart? This question has been running through my head since the problems started.
Now, we’re in an uncomfortable position because we don’t think the vehicle is reliable. We’re not familiar with the lemon law process, so we need some guidance. Thanks.
Uncomfortable
Issues Like Yours Are Quite More Common Than You Think
Dear Uncomfortable,
I’m really sorry to hear about the issues you’ve been experiencing with your new vehicle. It’s unfortunate that even cars that are only a couple of weeks old can have problems, and it seems like this is not uncommon with Jeep vehicles. That’s why the lemon law is essential in cases like yours.
Lemon law eligibility requires that your vehicle meets certain qualifications. You must have at least two visits to the dealership for the same issue, or at least three repair attempts for different issues. Alternatively, your vehicle may have spent at least a month at the repair shop. All of these must occur while your Jeep is under warranty.
If your vehicle meets these criteria, it’s considered a lemon and eligible for lemon law protection.
It sounds like you might not want to keep the vehicle, which is understandable given the problems you’ve had. The good news is that your Jeep has low mileage and is still under the manufacturer’s warranty, which is important for lemon law coverage.
I know it’s frustrating to deal with repairs on a car that hasn’t even reached 1,000 miles, but this actually strengthens your case, giving your lawyer more options to help you. It’s best to start the process as soon as possible.
There are three options for moving forward with your case:
- The Buyback
- The Cash and Keep
- Replacement
The buyback option is probably what you’re most interested in. In this case, the manufacturer buys back the Jeep and refunds everything you’ve spent on the car, including monthly payments, down payment, taxes, and interest. You’ll also be reimbursed for additional costs like rental fees and towing fees. If you took out a loan on your Jeep, the finance company would be paid back in full, so your credit won’t be affected.
The only deduction the manufacturer can take from the buyback is the mileage offset, which means they can charge you for the time you drove the car without issues. This will be based on the mileage during your first visit to the dealership. However, with your first visit happening only two weeks after purchase, there’s not much to worry about. Your attorney can still argue to reduce that amount since the manufacturer is responsible for selling you a lemon vehicle.
The second option, cash and keep, allows you to receive cash compensation for the troubles you’ve experienced while keeping the car. Your warranty won’t be voided or canceled, and if you decide to sell the car later, you won’t have to label it as a lemon.
The third option is a replacement vehicle. The manufacturer would trade your vehicle for another with the same miles, market value, and model. However, there’s a risk that you might end up with another lemon as a replacement. You could hope for a new vehicle as a replacement and pay the small price difference, which is feasible since your Jeep’s market value is still good.
Since you purchased your vehicle in California, your case is taken on a contingency basis, meaning you won’t have to pay legal fees. The automaker is responsible for covering those costs, so you’ll receive 100% of the settlement won.
These are the options available to you, and the decision is yours. Take your time to consider the best choice for your situation, and if you have any more questions, don’t hesitate to contact your lawyer.
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 2022 Jeep Compass 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 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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Featured Image:
- 2022 Jeep Compass ©JamesYoung8167 (CC BY-SA 4.0 License)
