Make Sure to Check a Used Car's Vehicle History Report Before Buying it

Are you in the market for a used car? If so, you are probably wondering whether it is worth getting a vehicle history report before making your purchase.  The answer is yes.  Getting an accurate vehicle history report online costs a few bucks initially, but it can save you money and headaches down the road.

So where do you start? There are three main sources of vehicle history reports online: Carfax, AutoCheck, and NMVTIS.

Carfax is probably the best known and most trusted of the three.  You can get a Carfax vehicle history report online for $39.99.  According to Carfax, their vehicle histort reports check for a long list of problems, including: prior accidents, mileage rollbacks or rollovers, multiple owners, structural damage, lease, taxi, or police use, salvage, rebuilt salvage, other vehicle brands, flood damage, total loss history, airbag deployment, hail damage, recall information, service and maintenance history, warranty information, and more.  Carfax claims to have the most extensive vehicle history database in North America, with over 6 billion records.  And, according to Carfax, they receive data from over 34,000 different sources.  Vehicle history reports can be viewed on your computer, tablet, or smart phone, and CarFax also offers a 100% money back guarantee.  To request a Carfax vehicle history report, click here.

AutoCheck is a slightly less well known, but widely used, competitor.  You can get an AutoCheck vehicle histort report online for $29.99.  According to AutoCheck, their database is built and maintained by Experian, who has exclusive data sharing relationships with many industry sources who provide Experian with access to exclusive data to available to AutoCheck's competitors.  AutoCheck also reports that industry leaders such as NADA guides, CarMaxx, eBay Motors, Kelly Blue Book, and Edmunds.com have chosen to provide AutoCheck vehicle history reports to their customers.  AutoCheck recommends that you obtain and AutoCheck vehicle history report in conjunction with other reports to "fill in the gaps" in other vehicle history reports for issues that other providers do not cover.  To request an AutoCheck vehicle history report, click here.  

 

NMVTIS, or the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System, was developed by the federal govenment.  A vehicle history report from NMVTIS will cost you anywhere from $0.25 to $4.95.  NMVTIS is operated and managed by the US Department of Justice.  According to NMVTIS, their database provides records relating to current and previous state of title data, title issue dates, latest odometer data, theft history (if any), any title brands, salvage history, and total loss history.  To request a NMVTIS vehicle history report for just 25 cents, click here. 

A vehicle history report can help alert you before purchasing a problem vehicle.  And, when making such a major purchase like a motor vehicle, you should be armed with vehicle history reports from all 3 of the above providers.  This way, each report can fill in the gaps that the other may have missed and work together to give you the most accurate view of the vehicle's history available. 

 

Unfortunately, while in most cases they are extremely helpful, vehicle history reports are

only as good as the information that is reported to them. So if an accident or accident repair is unreported, then it will not show up on a vehicle history report.   Likewise, if information is inaccurately reported, then that inaccurate information will likely appear on the vehicle history report. 

 

So, if you find yourself with a vehicle with a title brand or accident history that you did not know about when you purchased the vehicle, then in most states you will have legal rights against the seller for damages and maybe even be able to cancel the sale if you act quickly enough.  Click here for a free online 50 state list of consumer law attorneys.  And act quickly- because for every legal right you have there is only a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit in court before your rights expire. 

 

Good luck car hunting!

 

Beth Wells

www.BurdgeLaw.com

Helping Consumers Get Rid of Lemons, 9 Years Running

How much will that repair cost when the check engine light comes on?

You likely know the dreaded feeling.  You are driving down the road and the check engine light illuminates.  What could be the problem and what will the repair cost you?  Well, believe it or not, the cost of repair will likely vary significantly based upon the state where the repairs are performed.  And, regardless of the state that you live in, you are likely to pay about 10% more on average for the repair than you would have a year ago.

 

On June 11, 2013, CarMD released its annual state-by-state ranking of repair costs for check engine light related repairs.  According to the study, the average cost for check engine light repairs went up 10% in 2012 to $367.84.  To see CarMD's full report, click here.    

The Northeast experienced the largest increase at 11.56%, likely at least partially attributable to the damage caused by Hurrican Sandy which uncovered unrepaired problems or repairs that may have been put off longer than they should have been.  New Jersey topped the list at an average repair cost of $392.99, with an increase in labor rates from 2011 of 20.7% and an increase in parts costs from 2011 of 8.2%.  But is was not all bad news for New Jersey, who paid the least to replace a hybrid battery at $2,005.05 on average. 

 

On the lower end, Vermont drivers paid the lowest on average of $269.72 for check engine light related repairs, with labor rates up from $90.85 in 2011 to $115.90 in 2012, and parts costs at an average $153.82.  

On the higher end of labor rates, Colorado topped the list for the second year in a row, with

an average labor rate of $150.75.

Ohio weighed in at 42nd place, with an average labor rate of $128.18 and an average parts cost of $200, for a combined total of $328.18. 

Kentucky, on the other hand, weighed in a bit higher at 17th place, with an average labor rate of $138.09 and an average parts cost of $228.73.

Lesson learned?  If you live nearby, you may want to venture across state lines when that check engine warning light illuminates.

   

 

 

Beth Wells

www.BurdgeLaw.com

Helping Consumers Get Rid of Lemons, 9 Years Running

Are you still waiting for title to your used vehicle more than 40 days after purchase?

Are you having trouble getting the title to your "new to you" used car or truck?  You may not be alone.

On June 7, 2013, the Ohio Attorney General annouced that it had filed lawsuits against 2 Ohio used car dealerships, seeking $56,000 in reimbursement claims paid by the Ohio Attorney General to Ohio consumers out of the Title Defect Rescission Fund.  The lawsuits allege that the used car dealers sold used vehicles to Ohio consumers but failed to timely transfer title to those vehicles as required by Ohio law.

 

The first lawsuit, filed on June 3, 2013, alleges that Buyers Choice Cars, in Columbus, entered into multiple motor vehicle transactions with consumers and failed to timely transfer title to the vehicles to the consumers within 40 days.   According to the Ohio Attorney General, $19,415.52 has been paid to consumers from the Title Defect Rescission Fund to resolve consumer complaints made by consumers against Buyers Choice Cars. Click here to read the Buyers Choice Cars lawsuit.

The second lawsuit, filed on June 7, 2013, alleges that Boasko's Rt. 4 Automall LLC, in Sandusky, also entered into multiple motor vehicle transactions with consumers and failed to timely transfer title to the vehicles to consumers wihtin 40 days.  According to the Ohio Attorney General, $37,465 has been paid to consumers from the Title Defect Rescission Fund to resolve consumer complaints made by 17 consumers against Boasko's Rt. 4 Automall LLC.  Click here to read the Boasko's Rt. 4 Automall LLC lawsuit.

Under Ohio law, a car dealer has 40 days to transfer title into a consumer's name.  And, Ohio consumers have an unconditional right to rescind the transaction
(i.e. make the dealer take the vehicle back and get their money back) where the used car dealer fails to timely transfer title. 

Licensed used car dealers in Ohio participate in a program called the Title Defect Rescission Fund, which allows dealers to sell used vehicles to consumers before obtaining title to those vehicles.  The Title Defect Rescission Fund is maintained by the Ohio Attorney General, who administers refunds to consumers who suffer damages from motor vehicle dealers who fail to timely transfer title within 40 days of sale.  And, if the Ohio Attorney General pays a consumer from the Title Defect Rescission Fund on behalf of a used car dealer, then the used car dealer must obtain a surety bond of at least $25,000.

For more on your rights as a consumer for timely transfer of title under Ohio law, or a used car dealer's duties, click here.

If you purchased a used vehicle and the used car dealer has failed to timely transfer title into your name within 40 days, you can file a consumer complaint with the Ohio Attorney General's Office. 

Or, click here and let me know about it - I'll get right to work to help you!

Beth Wells

www.BurdgeLaw.com

Helping Consumers Get Rid of Lemons, 9 Years Running

          

Chrysler refuses to recall 2.7 million vehicles that the Federal Government has labeled unsafe

Chrysler refuses to recall 2.7 million vehicles that the Federal Government has labeled unsafe
 

After over 2 years of research and data sharing with Chrysler, NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) has requested that Chrysler recall all 1993-2004 model year Jeep Grand Cherokees and 2002-2007 model year Jeep Liberties, a total of approximately 2.7 million vehicles, due to an alleged safety defect relating to the placement of the fuel tank on the vehicles.


On June 4, 2013, in a rare, defiant response, Chrysler refused to recall the vehicles.

According to NHTSA, the design of the vehicles is defective because the fuel tanks are mounted behind the rear axle, which could lead to the rapture of the fuel tank, and an increased risk of fire during severe rear-end collisions. NHTSA claims that this defective design has resulted in 51 deaths, which is at a much higher rate of incidence than similar vehicles of that same era.

In response, Chrysler claims that the vehicles in question are safe, that they met the fuel safety standards when they were manufactured, and that they still meet the current fuel safety standards today. According to Chrysler, NHTSA’s analysis is incomplete, NHTSA uses unrepresented comparisons, and the vast majority of accidents in question involved "high energy crashes" where the injuries would have been sustained regardless of the location of the fuel tank.

So what will happen next?  NHTSA will wait until June 18, 2013 to see if Chrysler reconsiders.  If Chrysler continues to defy NHTSA’s request, NHTSA will hold a public hearing and then decide whether to issue an involuntary recall within 30-60 days.  If Chrysler still refuses, then NHTSA can request the Department of Justice to sue Chrysler on its behalf to force the recall.

Will Chrysler give in without a fight? Not likely. Although recalls like this are typically dealt with behind closed doors, and NHTSA’s authority to protect the lives of motorists is rarely questioned, Chrysler has a history of questioning NHTSA’s conclusions. In fact, in 1997, the Department of Justice sued Chrysler to force recall of 91,000 defective seatbelt anchors in Dodge Cirrus and Stratus sedans. Chrysler was forced to recall the seatbelt anchors and pay a $800,000 fine. A year later an appellate court overturned the ruling, but Chrysler had already replaced the seatbelt anchors.

So, whether it is fueled by the steep cost of instituting the recall of 2.7 million vehicles, or a strong belief that the vehicles in question are not defective, you can be sure that Chrysler is in for a fight.

Beth Wells

www.BurdgeLaw.com

Helping Consumers Get Rid of Lemons, 9 Years Running

Ready To Turn Over The Wheel To Your Car?

Are you ready to turn over the wheel, gas pedal, and brake pedal to your car?  The time to do so may be closer than you think.

On May 30, 2013, the National Highway Safety Administration (“NHTSA”) announced its new policy on automated vehicle development.  The policy outlines the types of vehicle automation that offer significant potential for reduction in highway crashes and deaths, summarizes NHTSA’s ongoing and future automated vehicle research, and outlines NHTSA's recommendations for states that have already authorized operation of self-driving vehicles for test purposes.

According to NHTSA, autonomous vehicles should only be used for testing purposes until the technology is more advanced and additional safety features are added.  But ultimately, it is expected that self driving vehicles will save thousands of lives every year, as most auto accidents are the result of human error. 

Some autonomous vehicle features include: adaptive cruise control, which allows the vehicle to adjust its speed to maintain a safe distance between vehicles, automatic braking, where the car jumps in and applies the brakes before a crash can occur, and vehicle to vehicle communications, where vehicles provide each other with safety and traffic information. 

Autonomous vehicles are now being licensed for testing purposes only in Nevada, California, and Florida.  In fact, in May, Nevada issued its first license plate to an autonomous vehicle.

Right now, Google is leading the way in the autonomous vehicle industry, but companies like GM, Audi, Toyota, and Ford are getting into the game and already have some autonomous features in their vehicles. 

Ready to turn over the wheel?  Don't get too excited-- fully self driving vehicles are not expected to be on the road and in use by the general public until 2025.

Beth Wells

www.BurdgeLaw.com

Helping Consumers Get Rid of Lemons, 9 Years Running

Are Asian Automakers Feeling the MPG Hurt?

Are Asian Automakers Feeling the MPG Hurt?


American automakers are reporting strong March sales figures.  The numbers for the "big 3" are impressive.  General Motors has reported an increase of 6.4%, followed by Ford Motor Company at 5.7%, and Chrysler Group LLC at a close 5%.

As for Asian car companies, the March sales figures are not so strong.  While Honda reported an impressive 7% increase, it all goes down hill from there.  Hyundai has reported a 2% loss, while sales are down for Kia a reported 14.6%. 

With both Kia and Hyundai's plummeting sales figures, one can't help but wonder how closely their recent announcement has played into the minds of the American consuming public.  In fact, it was just a few months ago that both Automakers announced that the reported miles per gallon for many of their 2011-2013 models were incorrect.  And the adjustments were not minor, some estimates being modified by the automakers as many as 3 miles per gallon below what was represented at the time of sale.  In their press release, the automakers claim that the incorrect fuel economy estimates were the result of incorrect testing procedures implemented at their testing plant in Korea.  However, the March sales figures coming in could indicate that American consumers are viewing the incorrect fuel economy estimates with an eye of distrust.  

Whether or not Kia and Hyundai's MPG "flop" has impacted their March 2013 sales, the outlook is not good for either automaker, as they hold a total of only 8.1% of the March 2013 market share.  This figure is abysmal when compared to the towering 44.9% of the March 2013 market share reportedly held by the "big 3". (For detailed sales figures for major automakers worldwide, click here.)

The moral of the story?  Be honest with the American public and they will spend.  

Beth Wells

www.BurdgeLaw.com

Helping Consumers Get Rid of Lemons, 9 Years Running

Selection Sunday for Motor Vehicles?

Selection Sunday for Motor Vehicles?

Selection Sunday may be one of the most exciting days in college basketball every year.  Teams nationwide hold their breath to see if they have been chosen to fill a slot on our March Madness Brackets.  As I paged through the photographs and articles tonight looking to see if my alma mater had made the cut, I had a thought.  Wouldn't it be nice if there were a Selection Sunday every year for motor vehicles?  Maybe name it Lemon Sunday?  

Instead of the NCAA Selection Committee making the decisions on what teams make the cut, we would have the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ("NHTSA") basing their decisions on their national database of Recalls, Defect Investigations, Technical Service Bulletins, and Consumer Complaints.   

Instead of stories about the top teams and the Cinderella team of the year, we would have stories about motor vehicles that had the best crash test results, had the best fuel economy, had the best "gadgets", had the best reviews, were the most reliable, or were the best "bang for the buck".  

Instead of the heartbreaking stories about the teams that didn't make the cut, we would have stories about Recalls, Defect Investigations, Technical Service Bulletins, and Consumer Complaints, or vehicles involved in a high volume of "Lemon Law" lawsuits.

For the average American, Lemon Sunday just wouldn't draw the attention and hysteria of Selection Sunday or March Madness.  But for those of you that have purchased a lemon motor vehicle in the bast, Lemon Sunday would no doubt have you glued to your seats.  Maybe, just maybe, Lemon Sunday would help you avoid the headache that a lemon motor vehicle inevitably brings you.  Or maybe you would make the mistake of choosing the #1 pick only to be let down by the hype.  

Did my alma mater make the cut this year?  No.  Will Lemon Sunday ever become a reality?  Not likely.  But in the meantime, we have the next best thing-- NHTSA.

So, if you are thinking of buying a motor vehicle, save yourself the heartache of purchasing a lemon and take a look at the NHTSA website first.  While there, you can search the Recalls, Defect Investigations, Technical Service Bulletins, and Consumer Complaints for the vehicle that you are planning on purchasing.  Just go to and enter in the year, make, and model of your vehicle.  While researching your vehicle on NHTSA may not be full proof, it is certainly the next best thing to Lemon Sunday.   

Beth Wells

www.BurdgeLaw.com

Helping Consumers Get Rid of Lemons, 9 Years Running