Tag Archives: Automobile industry in California

California Lemon Law Buybacks

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Here at the Law Offices of Delsack & Associates, we represent our clients to the highest legal standards. In over 23 years of helping California consumers, we have successfully represented thousands of clients throughout the state in all types of lemon law cases, with all vehicle manufacturers. We are especially proud of the fact that in more than 9 out of 10 of these cases we are able to reach satisfactory settlements without litigation, making the settlements fast and stress free for our clients. The high standards we have set to represent only those clients with legitimate lemon law claims means that we do not compromise our integrity or reputation. Our goal is not to be the “largest” lemon law firm in California, but to continue to be the best.
Below is a list of some of our most recent success stories where we helped consumers get settlements for their lemons:

  • 1. 2007 GMC Yukon: Full buyback – Garden Grove, CA – 18,166 miles
  • 2. 2007 BMW X5: Full buyback – Sylmar, CA – 59,952 miles
  • 3. 2008 Dodge Ram: Full buy back – Bakersfield, CA – 31,192 miles
  • 4. 2009 Honda CR-V: Full buyback – Alameda, CA – 14,242 miles
  • 5. 2009 Nissan 370Z: Full buyback – Carson, CA – 22,858 miles
  • 6. 2007 Jeep Wrangler: Full buyback – Durham, CA – 37,032 miles
  • 7. 2007 Cadillac Escalade: Cash and Keep – El Dorado Hills, CA – 42,329 miles
  • 8. 2009 BMW 335i: Full buyback – Huntington Beach, CA – 22,084 miles
  • 9. 2010 Audi Q7: Full buyback – Yorba Linda, CA – 7,357 miles
  • 10. 2010 Mini Cooper: Full buyback – San Jose, CA – 1,831 miles
  • 11. 2006 Jaguar S-type: Cash and Keep – Duarte, CA – 66,195 miles
  • 12. 2010 BMW 535i: Full buyback – Long Beach, CA – 17,577 miles
  • 13. 2010 Chevrolet Malibu: Cash and Keep – Riverside, CA – 11,462 miles
  • 14. 2007 Saab 9-3: Full buyback – Tarzana, CA – 25,269 miles
  • 15. 2008 BMW 550i: Full buyback – Orange, CA – 19,919 miles

If you are in California and feel that you may have a lemon, contact our lemon law offices, or fill out our Lemon Law Case Review, for a FREE consultation.

Anywhere in California (free call): 1.888.ExLemon (395.3666)

  • California Lemon Law in Los Angeles: 310-475-1700
  • California Lemon Law in San Francisco: 415-285-5366
  • California Lemon Law in San Diego: 619-229-6900
  • California Lemon Law in Orange County: 949-856-4333
  • California Lemon Law in Palm Springs: 760-395-1000
  • California Lemon Law in San Fernando Valley: 818-837-0500

Auto Shortage Problems Worsen

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Disruption in the auto industry because of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan last month have been minimal so far, but the continued aftershocks and impending nuclear meltdown causing roaming power shortages is starting to take it’s toll. Shortages of vehicles built in Japan are starting to be noticed around the world, and the lack of parts is making it difficult for other auto manufacturers to run their assembly lines. Auto analysts predict that Japans auto industry may not hit it’s full manufacturing potential until late this summer. This uncertainly has suppliers, automakers and dealers scrambling.

Car buyers are already having difficulty finding models they want in certain colors, and auto plant workers are expecting they will soon be told to stay home. The complexity of the auto supply chain shows just how vulnerable the industry can be. With over 3,000 parts going into a single car or truck, one missing part means the vehicle cannot be built. Customers not only notice auto shortages, but rising prices, especially on fuel efficient hybrids as gas prices rise.

IHS Automotive predicts that one-third of daily global automotive production will be cut because of supply chain disruptions. That means about 5 million vehicles worldwide won’t be built, out of the 72 million vehicles planned for production in 2011. In the U.S., some car manufacturers are considering shifting part manufacturing operations to local companies, but stringent safety requirements and exacting high tech specifications will limit a company’s flexibility. For now car executives are allocating certain parts to build the more popular and profitable vehicles.

California Automobile Rental Recall Bill

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California lawmakers are one step closer to passing a bill that will force automobile rental companies to immediately pull recalled vehicles from their fleet until the problem has been fixed. Carol Houck has been fighting for this bill since 2004 when her two daughters died in a rented PT Cruiser accident caused by a recall. Assemblyman Bill Monning, who presented the bill said, “Consumers need to know that when they rent these cars, that the cars are safe. Auto dealers can’t sell or lease cars that have been recalled, and this bill would close the loophole that allows rental car companies to continue doing so.”

Rental company representatives argue that 90 percent of vehicles are repaired withing 30 days of receiving a recall notice, making the bill unnecessary. They feel that the bill targets their industry unfairly and ignores other vehicle fleets, like taxi, limousine and shuttle bus services, private companies and governments.

TSB Copyrights Hurt The Consumer

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A Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) is a bulletin issued by an automobile manufacturer to an auto dealer notifying them about warranty extensions and fixes for known repeated problems. Because it is not a recall, the dealer is under no obligation to make the repair or to even notify customers of the problem. The publication of these TSB’s gives information that could save consumers large amounts of money on repairs, but still the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has declined to post these reports on their web site. The reason: The NHTSA has been warned that the TSB’s are copyrighted.

According to NHTSA spokeswoman, Karen Aldana, “Many manufacturers say that technical service bulletin information is copyrighted, and therefore the NHTSA has a legal obligation to leave them “off” their site.” These manufacturers believe that the bulletins should not be published because they show how to make repairs that “should not be performed by do-it-yourselfers. These bulletins, however, can be obtained through commercial services which sell the information to repair shops as well as individuals.

But not all automakers copyright their bulletins. Automakers like BMW, Chrysler, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Subaru and Volvo all say they would not object to publication by the agency. Some say that failing to do so could be seen as the agency being more concerned about catering to the auto industry instead of helping consumers.

Traffic Fatalities Down But Education Still Needed

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According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) statistics, traffic fatalities for 2010 have hit an all time low despite the increase in amount of miles driven by Americans. This three percent drop from 2009 reflects a steady declining trend since the middle of the last decade. The greatest drop in fatalities occurred in Washington State, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska, where they fell by 12 percent, with Arizona, California and Hawaii having a decline of almost 11 percent.

Transportation officials say that the 2009 statistics may have been affected by the downturn of the economy, and that more unemployed youth results in less higher risk drivers on the road. The 2010 statistics, however, show that even though there is an increase in traffic on the roads, fatalities continue to decline. This decrease can be attributed to increased seat belt use, changes in vehicle safety systems, and campaigns addressing drunk driving and distracted drivers. According to U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood, “Even though we have had good results for this year, they are not good enough. Our goal is to reduce deaths to zero if that is at all possible.” The next step is to reduce fatalities by educating drivers of the latest threats on the road. Distractions while driving, such as talking on the phone and texting have proven to be deadly and can be avoided by educating drivers..

Part Shortages Slowing Down Auto Production

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As automobile manufacturers and part suppliers continue to experience delays in reopening factories in Japan after last weeks earthquake and tsunami, part shortages are starting to slow automobile production world wide. Toyota, Lexus, Honda, and Mazda have extended shutdowns in most of their Japanese factories, and the ones that have been reopened are not working at full capacity. According to analysts, auto makers will feel the worst of the shortages by early may and as many as five million vehicles will end up not being built because of it. It is estimated that about 13% of the world’s automotive production is out of commission.

The components most affected include semi-conductors, integrated circuits, sensors and LCD displays, but it won’t be long before shortages will also be seen in resins and synthetic rubber, power train parts, specialty materials such as silicon and certain types of glass and metals. General Motors announced that they will be suspending production of the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon pickup trucks in their Louisiana factory and plants near Buffalo, New York that makes engines for those trucks. Other automobile manufacturers, are expected to suspend building in some of their U.S. factories as parts continue to become more scarce.

DIY California Lemon Law

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do it yourself california lemon law attorneyWe live in a “Do It Yourself” society. With the internet at our finger tips, we can find information that instructs us on how to get rid of a stain from a favorite shirt all the way up to doing major renovations on a home. But, just because the information is out there doesn’t mean that the outcome of your DIY project is going to have the success you intended. When it comes to the Lemon Law, it is best to leave it to the professionals.

Lemon Laws differ from state to state, and while the information is out there, the legal “jargon” can be misleading and confusing if you do not have legal experience. Most automobile manufacturers have a team of attorneys who fight lemon law claims every day. They will use all the loop holes and strategies they know to ensure that the consumer claims are dismissed. The fact that a consumer has gone out and hired a lawyer for their claim, shows the car companies they mean business. Even if the automobile turns out to not qualify as a lemon, an attorney can work with the manufacturer to offer compensation and get the vehicle repaired.

The main reason a consumer may not use an attorney for a lemon law claim is to prevent paying legal fees. Most state lemon laws say that in a successful l lemon law claim, the vehicle manufacturer pays all attorney fees. An experienced lemon law lawyer will be able let you know if the claim is worth pursuing and can offer a no cost, no obligation case evaluation. If the case has merit, they will represent you knowing that the chances of a buyback or settlement are good and that their fees will be paid by the car manufacturer.

Based on our experience, attorney negotiated settlements have a higher success rate than one’s negotiated by consumer’s alone, and many times cases are resolved without going to court. The time and frustration of fighting a lemon law case on your own is not guaranteed and not worth it. You have nothing to lose by consulting a Lemon Law attorney before you try to “do it yourself.”

Automobiles More Reliable According To J.D. Power

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You wouldn’t know it from all the recalls making the headlines lately, but according to J.D. Power and Associates, vehicle dependability has improved since last year. According to the report, automakers have been successful in reducing problems in traditional areas but have had a rise in issues with newer technologies and features. Today’s automobiles have less engine, transmission, steering and braking problems, but new features like entertainment, navigation and tire pressure monitoring systems still have many bugs that need to be worked out. Between 2009 and 2011, annual improvement for the industry has averaged 6 percent, which is slightly lower than historical rates of 8 percent each year.

The Vehicle Dependability Study is used by vehicle manufacturers to help design and build better vehicles. It also helps consumers make informed choices when purchasing a new or used vehicle. Click on the graph below to see the automakers ranking of problems per 100 vehicles.

automobile dependibility report