People who buy a brand-new car don’t anticipate they will have problems in the first few years. Also, once they start having issues, they often don’t recognize the signs and symptoms that may qualify as a lemon. More surprising, is when these defective vehicles happen to also be expensive luxury brands such as Mercedes, Tesla and Volvo. A recent survey … Read More
Hyundai Accent, Elantra Recall for Potential Exploding Seat Belt Pretensioners
Hyundai is recalling 239,000 cars in the United States following an investigation into reports that three people were injured when the mechanism in the seat belt pretensioners for their Hyundai Accent and Hyundai Elantra cars suddenly exploded. These pretensioners are designed to tighten the belts if a car suddenly brakes or crashes. An investigation into the explosions determined that certain … Read More
Recall: 2021 Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator Due to Fire Risk
Ford Motor Co. is recalling some 2021 Ford Expedition and 2021 Lincoln Navigator SUVs due to a fire risk present in roughly 39,000 vehicles that may occur while driving, parked or even while the engine is off. Owners of these vehicles should park them outside and away from any structures or buildings, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. … Read More
Ford Escape SUV, Hybrid Recalls: Oil Leaks, Brakes, High Voltage Battery
Ford Motor Company (Ford) issued a recall March 25th for more than 345,000 vehicles including the Ford Escape SUV to fix oil leaks that could lead to an engine fire. However, the recall is not an isolated case. It’s the latest of multiple recalls for the popular Ford Escape SUVs, one of the automaker’s top-selling vehicles, according to the National … Read More
Manufacturer Warranty Doesn’t Extend to Buyers of Used Cars Under California Lemon Law
California Lemon Law Only Applies to Buyers of New Vehicles A recent state appellate court ruling on April 7, 2022, upheld a lower court’s decision that a manufacturer’s warranty does not carry over to the second owner of a vehicle purchased used. Therefore, the second owner is not protected under California lemon law. Everardo Rodriguez and Judith Arellano found this out … Read More
Is Your Ford EcoSport a Lemon? A Recall, Service Bulletin and Other Problems
Owners of the Ford EcoSport chose the sub-compact SUV because they thought it would be fun to drive, wouldn’t break the bank and it wasn’t a lemon. However, some owners are having buyer’s remorse as they grapple with breakdowns and other problems. Reports from consumers made to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration discuss various problems in 2019 to 2021 … Read More
Tesla Model 3 Stuck at 83 MPH, Onboard Computer Frozen on Freeway
After his main on board computer screen suddenly froze, Javier Rodriguez’s Tesla Model 3 was stuck at 83 mph as he traveled on the Interstate 10 Freeway. The vehicle became hot and there was a weird smell, he said. All of the buttons and switches, including turn signals and hazard lights, stopped working. Even the accelerator was frozen, according to … Read More
Electric Vehicle Battery Investigation, Fires and Recalls; NHTSA Alerts Automakers
Recent auto recalls tied to defective electric vehicle batteries, have led to a federal investigation into a high-voltage Korean battery manufacturer that supplies multiple automakers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s investigation aims to alert other automakers about potentially defective and dangerous batteries, according to Reuters. The federal agency wants to ensure all manufacturers installing these batteries are aware of … Read More
Chrysler Pacifica Hybrids Fire Risk, Recalls, Class Action Lawsuit
Owners of 2017, 2018 Chrysler Pacifica hybrid minivans cannot park or recharge the vehicle near their home due to a fire risk — and there’s no remedy in sight. The immediate risk of these minivans catching fire prompted Stellantis NV, the parent company of the Chrysler brand, to issue a recall on Feb. 11th. The recall covers 2017 and 2018 … Read More
Tesla ‘Phantom Braking’ Investigation Conducted by NHTSA
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened a preliminary investigation into Tesla’s “phantom braking” issue after drivers complained about sudden braking in models equipped with Autopilot. Tesla vehicles with the Autopilot or advanced driver-assistance system are reportedly braking suddenly without warning at highway speeds. There are at least 354 phantom braking complaints to the NHTSA by Tesla owners. The NHTSA … Read More
Jeep Wrangler “Death Wobble” Still Problematic in 2021 Models
Owners of Jeep Wranglers are familiar with the infamous term “Death Wobble,” and yet despite repeated complaints over the years to Chrysler, the problem continues in 2021 models. First, let’s take a look at what the death wobble or speed wobble is. Drivers report it’s almost impossible to control the steering wheel in a Jeep Wrangler when the death wobble … Read More
Labor and Parts shortages: Millions of defective cars remain on the roads
Millions of dangerous vehicles remain a safety threat on roads throughout the United States due to labor shortages and because parts are not available to fix them. Some car owners may not even know there is a government or manufacturer recall for their vehicle. Those who find out they need a repair, aren’t likely to get it done quickly due … Read More