DEAR SUZANNE
By Suzanne Henderson
LETTER 111 – April 2023 | Uninterested
Dear Suzanne,
I always thought that you can’t go wrong with a Jeep, but my experience with my 2022 Jeep Gladiator has proven otherwise. If I could take back my decision to lease this car, I would do it without hesitation.
I leased my car brand new last year, and it now has 27,556 miles on it. But even with this low mileage, I have taken my car to the Jeep dealership about 6 times for the same engine issues.
The last time I took my car in for repairs, it spent over 2 months at the dealership. I had to fix the broken engine that caused the car to break down on the freeway. But it seemed the dealership couldn’t figure out what was wrong, so they kept my car for that long. Here’s what happened:
On the day it happened, I planned to go on a much-needed vacation. I packed my things, got in the car, and heard a weird knocking sound from the engine. I decided to take it to the dealership for a quick check. They looked at it and said the car was alright.
I set out for my trip, but the noise got louder and the car began to jerk violently. I had to pull over by the roadside, frustrated and confused. I called the dealership to tow my car to the repair shop.
I didn’t want to miss my vacation, so I took a cab to the airport. On the way, I ran into traffic and arrived late. I missed my flight and had to get another ticket for the next day.
When I got back from vacation, I went to the dealership to check on my car. They hadn’t done any repairs and said they were still figuring out the problem. I told them about a recall notification I received, and they said all Jeep Gladiators had this recall.
During the two months without my car, I kept calling the dealership for updates. But they never seemed to know what was going on. I got frustrated, especially since I wasn’t given a rental car and was still paying for my lease.
After 2 months, I finally got my Jeep back. But less than two weeks later, it broke down again. Now I have to take it back to the dealership.
Besides the engine issues, I’ve also had problems with the axle. I had to get it replaced about 6 months ago.
The dealership once told me that I didn’t have a strong enough case for lemon law. My initial plan was to purchase the Jeep at the end of the lease, but with all that has happened, I’m not sure I’m interested anymore. I’d like to see the options I have before making a decision.
Uninterested
It Seems Like Your Dealership Wants You To Remain Stuck With A Lemon
Dear Uninterested,
Dealing with car problems on your own can be very frustrating. That’s why it’s a good idea to take advantage of the protection offered by the lemon law.
The lemon law works by requiring a minimum of two visits to the dealership for the same issue, or three or more visits for different problems, or having your car at the repair shop for over a month while under warranty, in order to qualify.
To begin the process, your attorney will need some documents. Once started, the case may take between 3 to 7 months to get settled. If other issues come up during this period, you can take your car in for repairs as many times as needed. This will help strengthen your case and increase the potential compensation at the end.
Luckily, since you got the vehicle in California, you won’t have to pay any attorney fees. Consumers of defective vehicles are highly favored in California, so lemon cases are taken on contingency, meaning the manufacturers are responsible for paying the legal fees. As a result, all of the settlement amount goes to you.
It’s important to know that your case is strong enough to file a lemon lawsuit. If you decide to go ahead with it, there are three options available to you:
- Repurchase Offer: The automaker buys back your car, paying you back for everything you’ve paid, including down payment, monthly payments, taxes, and interest. They can deduct a mileage offset, but your lawyer can argue for them to waive it.
- Cash and Keep: The manufacturer gives you cash compensation for the issues you’ve experienced. You keep your car and your warranty remains valid. You can sell your car later without calling it a lemon.
- Replacement: Jeep replaces your car with another one of the same miles, make, and value. However, there’s a chance you could get another lemon.
Remember, if you have more questions or concerns, you can always reach out to your attorney for help and clarification.
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 Gladiator 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 CA Lemon Lawyer 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:
- 2022 Jeep Gladiator ©Damian B Oh (CC BY-SA 4.0 License)
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