DEAR SUZANNE
By Suzanne Henderson
LETTER 124 – July 2023 | Upset & Frustrated
Dear Suzanne,
Have you ever been so excited for something only for it to flop? That was me on my most recent birthday. I had made elaborate plans for the day and even paid to reserve a place to have it. I had no idea that something as simple as a battery issue could ruin all the plans I had made.
First Signs Go Ignored
Weeks before, my 2022 Jeep Wrangler had been showing signs of having issues. When I reported this to the Jeep dealership, they were a little dismissive about it. They told me there was a recall order for this issue, but stopped short of saying they would fix the problem. I ended up leaving the dealership with my Jeep.
Only a few days later my car broke down on the freeway – this was the first of many. When I took the car back to the dealership for inspection, they said it broke down because I was low on fuel. This seemed ridiculous to me considering I still had half a tank.
The Big Day
Fast forward to last weekend – the big day. I had hoped that nothing would go wrong. The Jeep was in yesterday for an inspection and everything looked good. What could possibly go wrong?
All dressed up and ready to go, I hopped in the Jeep and started towards the venue. I was driving on the freeway when all of the sudden, the car shuts off. “Not now!” I yelled over the sound of cars passing me by. I tried restarting the car over and over, but nothing. I called the dealership and they said they were sending someone to tow my Jeep back to their service center.
Two hours after I called them, they were nowhere to be found. I ended up calling a nearby tow company to help me out instead. Since then, they have been the ones towing my car each time it has broken down on the freeway.
Nothing I Could Do
While all this is going on my friends were still waiting for me at the venue. I called them to explain my predicament and told them that I might not be able to make it. They offered to come pick me up, but I had to direct the tow crew and make sure the dealership knew what was going on, so I had to decline.
The venue was already paid for and I didn’t want the money to go to waste, so I told them to have fun without me. All the things I had planned I never even got to see, and my big day ended up being a huge drag. I was upset and wanted to fix this whole situation, but there was nothing I could do.
Found Nothing Wrong!
On getting to the dealership, they checked through my car and finally told me what was wrong with it. Nothing. What do you mean nothing was wrong?! I just forfeited money and time with friends and family because of this junk Jeep and you have the audacity to tell me nothing was wrong? Lol. I was steamed, but again there seemingly was nothing I could do, and eventually I got over it.
On top of everything the dealership has not been making things easy for me. My work demands that I work 10 to 12 hour shifts so I barely have time to take my car in. Whenever I’m free to take it in, they would tell me they’re unavailable or something. I was forced to bring it in a couple time when I should have been catching up on sleep!
Everyone in my house is steering clear of the Jeep. It’s just more trouble than it’s worth. My wife is scared to death of it and my oldest daughter would rather walk than get a ride. This Jeep is basically a piece of garbage at this point – a piece of garbage with a little over 50,000 miles on it. And what do you do with garbage? Dispose of it, which is what I’m looking to do.
Upset And Frustrated
Sounds Like You Have A Lemon On Your Hands
Dear Upset and Frustrated,
I’m so sorry to hear about your not-so-happy birthday. It’s even more of a let down when we’re excited to see friends and family only to end up back at the dealership. Unfortunately you’re not the first to be stranded on the side of the highway waiting for the dealership to come through.
I understand how upsetting it is to work with a dealership that is not taking you seriously. Some have been known to engage in tactics to delay responses or services in order to exceed the warranty period, forcing you to pay for repairs. These tactics often target customers who may not be familiar with lemon law. Kudos to you for being smart enough to stay persistent and not fall for their tricks.
It sounds like you are still covered under your warranty. Your basic warranty covers bumper-to-bumper issues and lasts for 3 years or 36,000 miles. However, your powertrain warranty, which includes the engine and transmission, is valid for 5 years or 60,000 miles.
A Quick Fix Turns To Frustration
The issues you have been experiencing with your vehicle are unfortunately common for this model. Even so it is concerning that you have visited the dealership several times for the same issue. While it’s hard to blame them for your long working hours, a good dealership will work with you. It does not sound like that was the case here.
The dealership seems unable to identify the root cause of the problems. Often it’s hard to tell if that’s due to their incompetency or because the manufacturer delivered a defective vehicle. This back and forth between the dealer and manufacturer can add to the frustration. Deciding between staying home or packing the family in to an unsafe vehicle is not a fair position to be in for any length of time.
Lemon Law Qualifications
To pursue a lemon law claim in California you need at least two visits to the dealership for the same issue. Three visits for different problems within your warranty period also qualifies. Fortunately, It sounds like your case meets these requirements, and it’s now time to reach out to a lemon law attorney to go over your case.
Given your low mileage, there is potential for significant compensation. However, it is important to start your case as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary pushback from the automakers. There are a few options available to you as a lemon owner.
Compensation For Lemon Owners
One option is a buyback, where the manufacturer repurchases the vehicle from you. They reimburse you for any payments made on the car, including down payments, taxes, and even loans. They may deduct a mileage offset, which represents the miles you drove the car before the first issue arose. Since you took your car in around 11,000 miles, there won’t be a significant deduction, and your lawyer may be able to waive most or all of it.
Another option is called the cash and keep, where you receive cash compensation while keeping the vehicle. Your warranty remains active and is not voided. In the future, if you decide to sell the car, you are not obligated to disclose that it was labeled as defective.
Do Your Due Diligence
To build a strong case, make sure to collect repair orders for any visits to the dealership. These records will strengthen your lawsuit. The more visits you have, the stronger your case becomes and the higher your chances of success. Make sure you also have the purchase agreement and manufacturers warranty.
In California lemon law cases are filed on a contingency basis. This means you will not have to pay any attorney fees, win or lose. The manufacturers will cover the costs, and any settlements won will be entirely yours. To get further clarification, reach out to an attorney.
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 Wrangler 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 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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- Lost My Faith In Jeep After Purchasing My 2021 Wrangler
- Flames and Frustration From My 2021 Jeep Wrangler
Featured Image:
- 2022 Jeep Wrangler ©Elise240SX (CC BY-SA 4.0 License)
