Lemon Law for California

Build Dates : 20050901 - 20050907
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 05V552000

Date Owner’s Notified: 20060331
Date Received by ODI: 20051207
Date Added to Databse: 20051207

Manufacturer’s Involved: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Manufacturer’s Responsible for the Recall: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Manufacturer Campaign Number: 05109

Component: EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 32068

Summary:
CERTAIN TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, “TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS.¿ THESE VEHICLES WERE SHIPPED WITH TIRE AND LOADING INFORMATION LABELS LISTING AN INACCCURATE VEHICLE CAPACITY WEIGHT.

Consequence:
A MISPRINTED LABEL COULD LEAD TO IMPROPER VEHICLE LOADING SPECIFICATIONS OR TIRE INFLATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN A TIRE FAILURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy:
OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECTED LABELS AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. AT THE CUSTOMER¿S OPTION, A DEALER CAN INSTALL THE LABEL FOR THEM. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, OR ISUZU AT 1-800-255-6727.

Report Initiator: MFR Vehicles Report

Build Dates : 20050101 - 20050228
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 05V055000

Date Owner’s Notified: 20050222
Date Received by ODI: 20050214
Date Added to Databse: 20050215

Manufacturer’s Involved: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Manufacturer’s Responsible for the Recall: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Manufacturer Campaign Number: 05023

Component: POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:SHIFT PATTERN INDICATOR
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 7194

Summary:
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 102, “TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT.” UNDER CERTAIN VEHICLE STARTING CONDITIONS, THE SHIFT LEVER POSITION INDICATOR LOCATED IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER MAY NOT ILLUMINATE. IF THE SHIFT LEVER POSITION INDICATOR DOES NOT ILLUMINATE, THE DRIVER MAY NOT KNOW WHICH GEAR THE VEHICLE IS IN.

Consequence:
THE VEHICLE MAY MOVE IN AN UNINTENDED DIRECTION RESULTING IN POSSIBLE INJURY TO OTHERS OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy:
DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 14, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, AND GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.

Report Initiator: MFR Vehicles Report

Vehicle owners not familiar with the Lemon Law will often seek the help of their selling dealer in resolving their “lemon vehicle” situation, asking the dealer to “take back” their defective purchase. Here the car dealer can take potential advantage of the customer when the customer is most frustrated – and often at their weakest.
The “trade assist” facilitated by the selling dealer is typically nothing more than another vehicle purchase – that is – the consumer is simply trading in their “lemon” vehicle (often losing all earned equity) and is being sold another vehicle! The dealer resells the “lemon” vehicle and ends up selling two cars! The only way the dealer “assisted” the customer was to help him/herself to another sale!
This “assistance” by the dealer often proves financially straining or fatal to the consumer, as the practice of “over allowance” often comes into play. The consumer is “informed” that their vehicle loan is being “paid off” when being traded in, but conveniently the dealer has not mentioned the loss of the down payment, taxes, licensing fees, and monthly payments already made towards the purchase of the car being traded-in in this scenario. This “over allowance” usually shows up in the price of the new vehicle – meaning that the price is inflated, raising the payment on the new car. Remember, the dealer is not the responsible party for your “lemon” vehicle under state Lemon Laws, the automobile’s manufacturer is. There are certain exceptions to the “who is the responsible party,” and a vehicle owner should consult with a qualified Lemon Law attorney to be apprised of his/her potential rights under their state’s Lemon law and other consumer protection laws that may be applicable.

__________________________________________________

[ To Learn more our services and areas of practice, please visit our website at www.LemonLawIntel.com ]

When you purchased or leased your new vehicle, it came with a warranty book or other printed pamphlet on what steps to take in resolving complaints you have with your vehicle. These “steps” are designed to “assist” the customer in resolving their complaints. Consumers should be aware, however, that these “steps” are often what the automobile manufacturer suggests, and not necessarily what your state’s Lemon Law says you must do. Sometimes the “instructions” on “your responsibilities” were printed in these books before potential amendments to your state’s Lemon Law were enacted. Keep in mind that these warranty books are written by the automobile manufacturer to best serve the manufacturer. They are not without important content, but a consumer should get a “balanced” view of their individual procedural requirements from a legal standpoint from a Lemon Law attorney. Contacting a qualified Lemon Law attorney in your state can be of great assistance in understanding what your responsibilities are as a consumer, and what your rights are under your state’s Lemon Law.

__________________________________________________

[ To Learn more our services and areas of practice, please visit our website at www.LemonLawIntel.com ]