Car Repair for the Female Consumer- Part 7: Contacting an Attorney

Get Beth Wells for Your Lemon Law Case
And Get Justice

If you have repeatedly taken your vehicle in for repair like we talked about before, but the defect has still not been fixed, then you may want to consider contacting an attorney who specializes in new and used motor vehicle lemon law in your state. 

For a nationwide listing of consumer law attorneys by state, click here.

If you bought your car in Ohio, click here and let me know about it - I'll get right to work to help you get rid of your lemon!

Beth Wells

www.BurdgeLaw.com

Helping Consumers Get Rid of Lemons, 9 Years Running

Car Repair for the Female Consumer- Part 6: Returning for Repair

Step 6: Returning for Repair

When you return to the dealership for your next appointment, again follow the steps outlined in parts 2, 3, 4, and 5.   If you did any internet research on the NHTSA website, bring that with you, too. Make sure that the repair order references the previous repair attempt for the same defect, and any online research material which you have presented to the dealership.

Beth Wells

www.BurdgeLaw.com

Helping Consumers Get Rid of Lemons, 9 Years Running

Car Repair for the Female Consumer- Part 5: Continuing to Document the Unrepaired Defect

Step 5: Continuing to Document the Unrepaired Defect

If the defect is not fixed, call the dealer right back and make another appointment. In the meantime, continue to document the defect in your defect diary, and in photographs or videos.

You may also want to go online to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ("NHTSA") website to search for any service bulletins, safety recalls, defect investigations, or consumer complaints that are similar to the defect or defects which you are experiencing.


A service bulletin is a manufacturer’s repair for a known defect in a vehicle line which is issued to the manufacturer’s authorized dealers. 

A safety recall is a notice issued to a consumer by a manufacturer for repair of a safety defect in a particular line of vehicles. Consumer complaints can be initiated by other consumers to NHTSA regarding a defect or problem that the consumer is having with their vehicle. 

A defect investigation is initiated by NHTSA when it receives repeated consumer complaints regarding the same defect or problem which is considered a safety risk.

Once you are on the NHTSA website, you can search by year, make, and model of vehicle, or make a consumer complaint.

Beth Wells

www.BurdgeLaw.com

Helping Consumers Get Rid of Lemons, 9 Years Running

Car Repair for the Female Consumer - Part 4: Picking up the Vehicle & Verifying Repairs

Step 4: Picking up the Vehicle & Verifying Repairs

When you pick up the vehicle, you will be asked to sign a repair invoice at the time of payment. Look carefully over the invoice– the mechanic’s notes should be included below each defect listed, explaining what repairs were done, if any. 

 If you have any questions, ask to speak with the service advisor or the mechanic. And, if the mechanic notes state either "no problem found" (NPF) or "could not duplicate" (CND) and the mechanic has not listed any repairs performed, but you provided a video or photograph verifying the defect, ask to speak with the service advisor and insist that the dealer keep the vehicle and perform repairs.  

After picking the vehicle up, drive the vehicle under the circumstances which the defect or defects have previously occurred. If the defect is fixed, then congratulations! If not, then continue to the next step below and take the vehicle back to the dealer for repair.

Beth Wells

www.BurdgeLaw.com

Helping Consumers Get Rid of Lemons, 9 Years Running

Car Repair for the Female Consumer- Part 3: Dropping the Vehicle off for Repair

Step 3: Dropping the Vehicle off for Repair

On the day of the appointment, make sure to bring your defect diary with you to the dealer, as well as any photographs or videos. When you arrive at the dealer, the service advisor greeting you will most likely have a repair order ready for you to sign based on the information you previously provided by telephone.   

Whether the repair order is already complete or is completed at the time of your arrival, read it over carefully to make sure that every defect and every circumstance is listed before signing it. If you have a photograph or video, make sure that it is referenced on the repair order as well. Take your time and don’t let the service advisor rush you. If there is anything missing, ask the service advisor to add that information and reprint the repair order. Remember, the repair order is your only direct contact with the mechanic, and the more information you give the mechanic, the more likely the repairs will be successful.

Beth Wells

www.BurdgeLaw.com

Helping Consumers Get Rid of Lemons, 9 Years Running

Car Repair for the Female Consumer - Part 2: Making the Appointment

Step 1: Making the Appointment

Most dealers won’t accept your vehicle for repair if you just stop by the shop expecting to drop your vehicle off. Instead, you will need to call your local dealer beforehand in order to set up an appointment. When you call, have your diary with you so that you can best explain the symptoms that you are experiencing and the circumstances under which the defect or defects most often occur. And, if you have any photographs or videos, then mention those to the individual that you speak with at the dealer. 

Some manufacturers will not allow dealers to make repairs under warranty unless they can verify the defect, so providing a photograph or video to the mechanic will help to verify the defect for the mechanic and for that reason should be noted on the repair order.

Beth Wells

www.BurdgeLaw.com

Helping Consumers Get Rid of Lemons, 9 Years Running