Lemon Law for California

Build Dates : April 04, 2004 - September 09,2005
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 05V043000 
Date Owner’s Notified: 20050323  Date Received by ODI: 20050208  Date Added to Databse: 20050208 
Manufacturer’s Involved: GENERAL MOTORS CORP. 
Manufacturer’s Responsible for the Recall: GENERAL MOTORS CORP. 
Manufacturer Campaign Number: 05006 
Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 77411 
Summary:
Certain trucks,sport utility vehicles, and vans equipped with Bosch hydro-boost brake asseblies, the hydraulic brake booster pressure accumulator may crack and separate from the hydro-boost assembly during normal operation conditions.
Consequence:
If a separation accured and the hood of the vehicle were open, fragments from the accumulator could cause injury to people in the immediate area. The presence of this crack or fractured surface could allow the hydraulic fluid to leak from the steering and braking effort and a crash may occur without prior warning.
Remedy:
Dealers will test the hydro-boost assembly for functional operation of the two function valve. Of the hydro boost assembly fails the test, dealers will replace the assembly free of charge. The recall began on march 23, 2005. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 , GMC trucks at 1-866-996-9463 and Hummer at 1-800-732-5493
    

Once you have reached your point of “reasonable returns for repair,” which varies with every situation, you have a right to demand that the vehicle either be repaired, replaced, or that a refund be given. You have these rights even if the vehicle is out of warranty, so long as the unrepaired defects occurred first within the warranty and continue to occur afterwards. Many unscrupulous dealers tell people that the vehicle is out of warranty and they have no rights, or they must pay for repairs themselves. This is another reason why it is important to document each occurrence of the defect and repair attempt within the warranty period. The law states that the warranty continues to protect a consumer so long as there is a record of at least one attempt to repair the problem within the warranty period.

The Lemon Law also requires the warrantor to pay for the consumer’s attorney’s fees on a meritorious claim. Therefore, anyone may bring a lawsuit under the Lemon Law regardless of their financial condition.

Lemon cars involve both safety- and non-safety-related issues. Problems related to safety include issues with:

    * Airbags
    * Steering and alignment
    * Transmission - sudden lack of acceleration, slipping, over-revving
    * Stalling or shutting off
    * Headlights
    * Brakes

Other times, the problem is not related to safety, such as a transmission noises, grinding and clunking; electrical problems with the radio, locks, windows or air conditioning; or cosmetic issues, such as defects in car molding. Contact us if you have experienced any of these problems during the warranty period of your vehicle.
The Law Protects You From Lemons

California Lemon Law and federal consumer warranty law protect people who buy or lease an automobile and experience problems during the warranty period. These laws offer the following remedies:

    * The manufacturer repurchases the car from you.
    * The manufacturer replaces your car.
    * You can receive a cash settlement, which may include repair supervised by the manufacturer’s representative.

Dealers and manufacturers will try to give you the runaround. They may try to blame outside causes or ask your insurance to cover the issue so that they do not have to pay you back.