Volkswagen of America, Inc. Recalls 150,000 Vehicles Due to Stalling Defect

Volkswagen of America, Inc. has recalled over 150,000 model year 2009-2014 Tiguan vehicles manufactured July 2007 to June 2014.

According to Volkswagen of America, Inc., when using winterized fuel in certain conditions, bubbles may form in the fuel system which could result in the vehicle stalling and increase the risk of a crash.

To see the two (2) documents associated with this recall, click here and scroll down to the accessible PDF files.

According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration ("NHTSA"), Volkswagen of America, Inc. will notify vehicle owners directly, and its authorized dealers will update the vehicle’s software to increase the fuel pump pressure free of charge.  Owners may also contact Volkswagen of America, Inc. direct at 1-888-327-4236.  

Do you have a 2009-2014 Tiguan that stalled while driving,

has been to an authorized Volkswagen of America, Inc. dealer for repairs under the Volkswagen of America, Inc. warranty, but is still not fixed?  If the vehicle was purchased or repaired in Ohio or Kentucky, then you can call Burdge Law Office on our Toll Free Hotline, 1.888.331.6422, to see if we can help you out of your "lemon" vehicle.

Beth Wells

www.OhioLemonLaw.com

www.KentuckyLemonLaw.com

www.BurdgeLaw.com

Helping Consumers Get Rid of Lemons, 10 Years Running

Evenflo Recalls Certain Convertible Car Seats & Harness Booster Seats

Evenflo Company, Inc. is recalling the following convertible and harnessed child restraints:

Momentum 65 (LX and DLX), Chase (LX, DLX, and Select), Maestro (Performance), Symphony (65, LX, 65 E3, and DLX), Snugli All-In-One, Snugli Booster, Titan 65, SureRide DLX, and Secure Kid (LX, DLX, 100, 300, and 400).  The affected car seats have model number prefixes of 306, 308, 310, 329, 345, 346, 371, and 385.

According to Evenflo, the affected car seats have buckles that may become stuck in a latched condition so that they cannot be opened by depressing the buckle’s release button.  As such, it may be difficult to remove the child from the restraint, which could increase the risk of injury in instances where a quick exit from the vehicle is required.

To see the four (4) documents associated with this recall, click here and scroll down to the accessible PDF files.

According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration ("NHTSA"), Evenflo will notify registered car seat owners in April 2014, and will provide replacement buckles along with installation instructions.  Owners may contact Evenflo at 1-800-490-7591 or online at www.buckle.evenflo.com.

Do you have a car seat that you think may be included in this recall?  If so, contact Evenflo with your car seat model number and date of manufacture to confirm that your child’s car seat is included in this recall. 

Beth Wells

www.OhioLemonLaw.com

www.KentuckyLemonLaw.com

www.BurdgeLaw.com

Helping Consumers Get Rid of Lemons, 10 Years Running

Chrysler Recalls Vehicles for Improper Brake Pedal Operation

Chrysler Group LLC has recalled over 18,690 model year 2012-2013 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured October 1, 2011 through October 1, 2012

According to Chrysler Group LLC, under certain breaking events, the Ready Alert Braking System (RAB) may result in the driver experiencing a hard brake pedal feel.  Chrysler admits that this may cause the driver not to push the brake pedal as intended, lengthening the distance needed to stop and increasing the risk of a crash.  

To see the two (4) documents associated with this recall, click here and scroll down to the accessible PDF files.

According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration ("NHTSA"), Chrysler Group LLC will notify vehicle owners directly, and its authorized dealers will update the ABS module software free of charge.  Owners may also contact Chrysler Group LLC direct at 1-800-853-1403.  

Do you have a 2012-2013 Dodge Durango or Jeep Grand Cherokee that experienced a brake problem, but is still not fixed?  If the vehicle was purchased or repaired in Ohio or Kentucky, then you can call Burdge Law Office on our Toll Free Hotline, 1.888.331.6422, to see if we can help you out of your "lemon" vehicle.

Beth Wells

www.OhioLemonLaw.com

www.KentuckyLemonLaw.com

www.BurdgeLaw.com

Helping Consumers Get Rid of Lemons, 10 Years Running

Kawasaki Issues Safety Recall for Police Motorcycles

Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. has recalled all model year 2012-2013 Kawasaki Concours 14 police motorcycles. According to Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A., the additional police accessories installed on the motorcycle, such as emergency lighting, radios, and other gear powered by a second battery, may cause the 30-amp main fuse to blow, and the additional police wiring harness may chafe leading to a short which may blow the main fuse. In either circumstance, if the fuse blows, the engine may stall, and the vehicle could crash. This is obviously a safety concern for the men and women who protect and serve.

According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration ("NHTSA"), Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. will notify vehicle owners directly, and its authorized dealers will correct the electrical system problems free of charge. Owners may also contact Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. direct at 1-866-802-9381. Owners may also contact the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safecar.gov.

To read more about the recall, and to read additional recall documentation, click here.

If your police department has a Kawasaki Concours 14, make sure to get it into a Kawasaki authorized dealer right away.  To find a dealer near you, click here.

Beth Wells

www.BurdgeLaw.com

www.OhioLemonLaw.com

www.KentuckyLemonLaw.com

Helping Consumers Get Rid of Lemons, 9 Years Running

New Rule Makes Motor Vehicle Recalls Easily Accessible

The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ("NHTSA") announced on August 14, 2013 that it will now require automakers and motorcycle manufacturers to provide consumers with a free online tool enabling them to search recall information for individual vehicles by Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).  To read NHTSA's Press Release, click here.   

This online feature will allow consumers to instantly determine whether action is required to address an uncompleted safety recall that affects their personal vehicle, or a used vehicle which they are considering purchasing. The information must be updated weekly, at minimum, and automakers and motorcycle manufacturers have one year to comply with the new rule.

The goal of the new rule is to increase recall completion rates (reportedly at about 70%) through greater consumer awareness.  The new rule also requires automakers and motorcycle manufacturers to use the Department of Transportation’s logo on recall letters sent to owners.  It is hoped that this will further emphasize the importance of the communication.  The new rule also requires automakers and motorcycle manufacturers to inform NHTSA what type of propulsion system and crash avoidance technologies their vehicles have.  It is expected that this information will assist NHTSA in its efforts to spot "defect trends related to these systems and technologies". 

Many automakers already have this feature for consumers on their own sites. In fact, the Center for Auto Safety has a recall section that links to the sites of all automakers that already provide consumers with recall searches. For a link to the site, click here.

One thing is for sure-- this new rule will allow consumer to be better informed before purchasing a used car, truck, or motorcycle.

Beth Wells

www.BurdgeLaw.com

www.CarSalesFraud.com

Helping Consumers Get Rid of Lemons, 9 Years Running

Keeping Kids Safe Around Motor Vehicles

Believe it or not, 3 out of every 4 car seats is used incorrectly. As a result, one of the leading causes of death for children 1-13 is vehicle crashes.  

In order to help keep kids safe, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ("NHTSA") has released a booklet, "A Parent's Guide to Playing it Safe with Kids and Cars".  This booklet is designed to equip parents with easy-to-understand information about today’s vehicle safety features, car seats and how to keep kids safe in and around vehicles.

According to NHTSA, the top 4 things that you should always remember about kids and cars is:

(1) Use a car seat for every trip, even when you're just going down the street;

(2) Select a car seat based on your child’s age and size, and always follow the manufacturer's directions;

(3) Make sure your car seat is compatible with your vehicle by checking the car seat manufacturer’s instructions;

(4) Keep kids in the back seat at least through age 12.

 

So, keep your kids safe!  To read the complete booklet, click here, then click on the PDF link for the booklet.

Beth Wells

www.BurdgeLaw.com

www.CarSalesFraud.com

Helping Consumers Get Rid of Lemons, 9 Years Running

Spartan Industries, Inc. recalls commercial truck due to "inadvertent engine shutdown"

 

Spartan Industries, Inc. has recalled about 330 model year 2012-2013 Utilimaster Reach commercial trucks.  According to Spartan Industries, Inc., the vehicles have a software problem that may cause them to have inadvertent engine shutdown without warning, and possibly resulting in a crash.
 
According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration ("NHTSA") Spartan Industries, Inc. will notify vehicle owners directly, and its authorized dealers will replace the control modules in the affected vehicles free of charge.  Owners may also contact Spartan Industries, Inc. direct at 1-800-582-3454.

According to the Utilimaster website, the "aerodynamic" body of the Utilimaster Reach is built on an Isuzu diesel chassis with a 4JJI-TC 3.0 liter turbocharged four cylinder diesel engine, and offers 35% better fuel economy than traditional walk-in vans.  The Reach is available in lengths of 12' or 14' and provides 540 or 630 feet of storage, plus up to 27 inches more headroom than a conventional cargo van.   

 

Do you have a 2012-2013 Utilimaster Reach that experienced the engine shutdown, has been in the shop for repairs, but is still not fixed?  If the vehicle was purchased or repaired in Ohio or Kentucky, then you can call Burdge Law Office on our Toll Free Hotline, 1.888.331.6422, to see if we can help you out of your "lemon" Utilimaster Reach.

Beth Wells

www.OhioLemonLaw.com

www.KentuckyLemonLaw.com

www.BurdgeLaw.com

Helping Consumers Get Rid of Lemons, 9 Years Running

    

Ford's F150 Ecoboost Engine Under Federal Investigation

The pride and joy of Ford Motor Company-- the F150 pickup with Ecoboost engine-- is under investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ("NHTSA").  According to the complaints filed by consumers with NHTSA, and the various lawsuits filed against Ford Motor Company, the trucks stumble and stall on hard acceleration.

According to NHTSA, the investigation involves about 400,000 2011-2013 Ford F150 trucks with Ecoboost engines.  The 3.5 liter Ecoboost V-6 engine is in about 40% of Ford F150 trucks.  The Engine uses a combination of turbocharging and direct injection to boost power from a relatively small engine.

The NHTSA defect investigation was preceded by 2 separate technical service bulletins issued by Ford Motor Company itself.  In Ford Technical Service Bulletin ASI-32166, Ford advises that some 2011-2013 Ford F150 trucks with the 3.2 liter Ecoboost engine will exhibit a flashing malfunction indicator light and intermittent stumble or misfire during hard acceleration under extreme humid or damp conditions.  Similarly, according to Ford Technical Service Bulletin 13-1-10, some 2012-2013 Ford F150 trucks with the 3.2 liter Ecoboost engine will buck and jerk after startup with a cold engine and Ford instructs its dealers that the Powertrain Control Modules for these vehicles should be reprogrammed to a higher calibration.

 

To read more about the defect investigation, the consumer complaints submitted to NHTSA, and Ford's technical service bulletins on the vehicle, click here.

Do you own a 2011-2013 Ford F150 with a 3.2 liter Ecoboost engine? Has the truck hesitated, stumbled, jerked, or stalled on hard acceleration? Has the vehicle been in the shop repeatedly for repairs but it is still not fixed?  If you have taken your truck back to the shop repeatedly but the dealer hasn't fixed your truck within 3 attempts, you may have a lemon.

Take the Ohio Lemon Law Test at www.OhioLemonLaw.com, or in Kentucky at www.KentuckyLemonLaw.com to see if you are entitled to get a new truck or your money back.  If so, call us on our Toll Free Hotline at 1-888-331-6471.  And, if you are thinking about getting a new 2013 Ford F150 with a 3.2 liter Ecoboost engine, then you may want to hold off until Ford figures out how to fix the current models under investigation.

Beth Wells

www.BurdgeLaw.com

www.OhioLemonLaw.com

www.KentuckyLemonLaw.com

Helping Consumers Get Rid of Lemons, 9 Years Running

Buying A Used Car - STEP 2

STEP 2 - Research Vehicles and Inventory Online

Once you have settled on one or more local dealers that you can trust, go online to view their inventory.  The used vehicle inventory for most dealerships can easily be accessed online.  And, accessing the inventory online allows you time to look at the vehicles and research them without a high pressured salesman "breathing down your throat".

Once you have found one or more vehicles that you are interested in, research online vehicle reliability reports for the different models you are interested in.  Both Consumer Reports and Edmunds publish owner surveys and reviews and are good sources for finding out about troublesome vehicles.  Look online to see what others say about the year, make, and model of the vehicles that you are interested in.

You should also go online to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ("NHTSA") website to see if the vehicle(s) have any recalls or known defects.  You will need to enter the year, make, and model of the vehicle(s).  Once you have done this, you will have access to all applicable recalls, technical service bulletins, consumer complaints, and defect investigations.  Service bulletins are notices that the manufacturer sends out to their dealerships to warn them about problems that have been discovered in particular model vehicles and how to try and fix them. The only way to know if your vehicle was repaired for any recalls or service bulletins is to check with your local dealer’s service department and get a vehicle repair history from them.

Once you have narrowed down your list of vehicles through research on NHTSA and online consumer reliability reports, you should obtain a vehicle history report online for the used vehicle(s) you are most interested in.  Most dealers will list the VIN of the vehicles in their inventory online.  There are three main sources of vehicle history reports online: Carfax, AutoCheck, and NMVTIS.  You should run all 3. 

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 history 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, CarMax, 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 government. 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.

Finally, if your state provides title history searches online to the public, then you should take advantage of this free service.  To access the Ohio BMV Online Title Inquiry, click here.

Beth Wells

www.BurdgeLaw.com
www.CarSalesFraud.com

Helping Consumers Get Rid of Lemons, 9 Years Running

Chrysler Reconsiders NHTSA Request to Recall Vehicles

On Tuesday, June 18, 2013, just hours before its deadline to reconsider NHTSA's recall request, Chrysler agreed to recall 1.56 million 1993-1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2002-2007 Jeep Liberty SUVs.  

After 2 years of research, NHTSA recently requested that Chrysler recall 2.7 million vehicles, due to an alleged safety defect relating to the placement of the fuel tank on 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 rupture of the fuel tank and an increased risk of fire during severe rear end collisions.  In response, Chrysler claimed that the vehicles in question are safe and not any more unsafe than any other vehicle of that era. 

2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee

NHTSA originally requested a recall of 2.7 vehicles, 1993-2004 model year Jeep Grand Cherokees and 2002-2007 model year Jeep Liberties.  However, in a deal apparently struck in a phone conversation between Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne and NHTSA administrator David Strickland, Chrysler is only being required to recall about 1.56 million vehicles.  So which vehicles were excluded from the recall?  About 1.1 million 1999-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokees, which are a different design that the earlier models.  And the deal gets better for Chrysler-- they don't even have to say in their recall that the vehicles are defective and they need only say that the modifications being made are effective for "low-speed impacts", not high speed ones.  

But the 1.1 million 1999-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokees will not completely be left out.  Instead, Chrysler has agreed to perform a "customer service action" for these vehicles.  They will get similar treatment as the recalled vehicles, but Chrysler will not have to include them in its recall numbers.


Has Chrysler finally "seen the light"?  Not likely.  Chrysler seems to have an unshakable attitude that it never builds vehicles wrong.  So why the change in position?  By striking this deal, Chrysler will avoid the bad publicity brought on by public hearings and their ongoing battle with NHTSA.  And, the move apparently was not too late, because according to Kelley Blue Book, "shopper interest has been unaffected" by Chrysler's standoff with NHTSA.


Own a Jeep Grand Cherokee or Jeep Liberty included in the recall?  Click here for more information from NHTSA on the upcoming recall.

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

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

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