DEAR SUZANNE
By Suzanne Henderson
LETTER 41 – September 2022 | Frustrated
Dear Suzanne,
I have a 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee and I can say that I haven’t enjoyed it one bit. Since around 6,000 miles, I have been dealing with several electrical problems. Since it is a very recent model, it has all these updated technologies that I don’t understand very well. When I first got the vehicle, I had to deliberately take time to learn some things like Lane Departure Assist, Forward Collision Avoidance System, and other updated tech in the vehicle.
So it all started when I noticed a prompt telling me my Lane Departure Assist wasn’t working. To be honest with you, I didn’t take it seriously so I felt like it wasn’t something to worry about and take to the dealership. Then sometimes later, I started noticing several other electrical faults in the vehicle like the passenger’s screen wasn’t working and the media button went fully dysfunctional.Â
The one that got me scared was that I started hearing rattling sounds from under the vehicle whenever I cruised rough roads. At that point, I decided that it was time I visited the Jeep dealership. They took it in for a while and after their checks, they said it was fine. The rattling sound had stopped but the screen issues and media buttons were not working.Â
When I complained, they stated that I didn’t know how to operate them well. To be honest, I didn’t dispute it with them because it is a relatively new vehicle and I was still figuring it out myself. But the problem arose when I asked them to show me my way around it (after all, I am always ready to learn). The attendants stated that because they installed a recent software update, I would have to wait for their technician to arrive. I kept my cool and waited.
When the technician arrived and I explained that I wanted him to shed more light on how to activate the passenger screens, he couldn’t. After my long wait, only to hear this? I was very annoyed. He also cited the excuse of the software update — stating that he wasn’t familiar with it because it was the most recent one. It ended with them saying they will read up about it and asking me to bring it sometime later.
I didn’t have to wait so long before going for a second time because it didn’t take a week before the rattling sound came back. This time, all the screens in the car aren’t working. You should have seen the frustration written all over my face. Without hesitation, I drove it back to the dealership and it is still there till today.
Today makes it two weeks with my 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee in the dealership and I have decided that I want none of it again. What makes it worse is that for some reason, they don’t have a rental car. They referred me to the corporate office that asked me to drop some amounts for the rental. The whole process was excruciating and it is one of the things that solidified my conviction to get rid of the vehicle.
The funny thing is that I have a backstory to this problem — this 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee is a product of a trade-in for my former vehicle. My previous car had persistent engine problems and when I threatened a lemon law, I was offered this Jeep. I took it gladly because I felt that it was a very recent model; the last thing I thought of was having a fresh set of problems. So this time, I’m not ready to take any deal, I just want to get rid of it.
Frustrated.
You Can Get Rid Of Your New Lemon Permanently
Dear Frustrated,
Sorry about the trade-in predicament. On the bright side, you are lucky that it has little mileage because 6000 miles is relatively small, and that makes it a more formidable Jeep Lemon Law complaint.
The first option is what we call buyback. Since you stated that you would like to get rid of it, this option will suit you. Here, the manufacturer buys the vehicle from you at whatever cost you purchased it initially. And if you have not completed the car payment, the manufacturers are still mandated to take care of it. Whether you have paid in full, half, or you are making monthly payments, they will cover everything. If it was a loan, they are tasked with repaying the loan on your behalf.
For the other option, we call it cash and keep. In this case, you are agreeing to keep the vehicle and receive some compensation. The deal is that once you receive the monetary compensation, you agree that the vehicle is not a lemon anymore. So in a case where it starts having issues again, it is yours to bear.
The third option is a replacement vehicle, which is a bit similar to what you did with your former vehicle. And although I don’t always recommend it, it is still an option. The deal is to get another vehicle that is similar to your 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee in terms of the miles and general value. But you also risk getting another lemon which will be another pain in the neck.
The decision is yours to make but remember that amidst everything, use the best attorneys within your reach. Luckily for you, California is a customer-friendly state and the rule is that for lemon cases like this, the manufacturer must take care of all the attorney fees. So yes, it is what you think, you are paying no fees at all. And what does that mean? It means you should go all out when searching for an attorney for the case. Good luck!
Suzanne
Free Legal Advice About Your 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 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 dearsuzanne@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 Grand Cherokee ©Saggittarius A (CC BY-SA 4.0 License)
