Lemon Law for California

Build Dates : April 30, 2007 - November 30, 2007

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 08V441000

Date Owner’s Notified: 20080912 Date Received by ODI: 20080828 Date Added to Databse: 20080828

Manufacturer’s Involved: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Manufacturer’s Responsible for the Recall: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Manufacturer Campaign Number: 08048

Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Potential Number Of Units Affected : 857735

Summary: 

GM is recalling 857,735 MY2006-2008 Buick Lucerne; Cadillac DTS; Hummer H2; MY 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT; Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado, Suburban,Tahoe; GMC Acadia, Sierra, Yukon, Yukon XL, Saturn Outlook; and MY 2008 buick enclave vehicles equipped with a heated wiper washer fluid system. A short circuit on the printed circuit board for the washer fluid heater may overheat the control-circuit ground wire.

Consequence: 

This may cause other electrical features to malfunction, create an odor, or cause smoke increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: 

Dealers will install a wire harness with an in-line fuse free of charge. The recall began on september 12, 2008. 

Uneven bumper height between cars and sport utility vehicles contributes to many injuries and deaths. Federal standards require car bumpers to match up within a few inches. Because there are no bumper requirements for SUVs and vans, many dont have bumpers at all or have inadequate bumpers.

In addition, many underride accidents occur with tractor trailers in a scenario where passenger vehicles can rear end an 18 wheeler and “submarine” under the back of the trailer. These types of accidents are often fatal. There are laws in place to prevent such bumper height and underride accidents. Forget about the 1993 regulation that trucks must have reflective tape on the rear and sides of the trailer. More important to the safety of drivers is the 1996 regulation that big-rig trucks must have an underride guard at the rear of the trailer. This guard extends down from the trailer down to just 22 inches above the ground. The problem is that many tractor trailers have not been retrofitted. Many tractor trailer trucks made before the 1996 regulation are still on the road without this important safety feature.

One of the most common vehicle defect issues faced by the public is that of safety recalls of a motor vehicle. Safety recalls are usually instigated by either the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or the vehicle manufacturers themselves, in response to a discovered defect in a vehicle or a component of that vehicle. So it is important to understand the procedure that is followed in vehicle recalls, and the respective responsibilities of those involved.

Whether a safety recall is conducted by the vehicle’s manufacturer or is ordered by the NHTSA, the manufacturer must file a public report describing:

* The safety related defect or noncompliance with a Federal motor vehicle safety standard;

* The involved vehicle/equipment population;

* The major events that resulted in the recall determination;

* A description of the remedy; and

Federal law, * A schedule for the recall.

Motor vehicle manufacturers have a duty to attempt to notify owners of recalled vehicles or vehicle equipment. For vehicle recalls, this means that manufacturers merge their own records of vehicle purchasers with current state vehicle registration information. And for equipment recalls, in situations where state registration records do not exist, manufacturers are obligated to notify their distribution chain and known purchasers of the recalled equipment. Importantly, even if you do not receive a notification of a recall, if your vehicle, or other item of equipment such as a child seat, is the subject of a safety recall, the manufacturer is obligated to provide a free remedy.

Under Federal law, safety problems must be remedied without cost to consumers. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) monitors each safety recall to ensure the manufacturers provide owners safe, free, and effective remedies according to the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966, and federal regulations. The NHTSA also releases monthly lists of motor vehicle safety recalls. These lists identify the make and model of the vehicle or equipment involved, with a brief description of the safety problem. The NHTSA publicizes the recalls to alert consumers about safety problems and encourages them to take action. However, the agency urges owners to wait until they receive notification from the manufacturer before contacting their dealers to schedule any necessary repair work. This is because not all vehicles of a particular make and model may be subject to the recall.