Has anyone here sucessfully "lemon lawed" a vehicle?

[akakiller]

If so, did you go through an attorney or the manufacturer?

Thanks
Jason

this would be for my wifes Audi.. if it matters any.

 

[TPC]

You're better off using an atty.
It's free and it works.
You can just about Lemon Law anything, ya just have to keep your receipts.
You can murder them with paper.

We used:
http://www.normantaylor.com/

Our family lemon lawed a few Fords and if you try it yourself you'll really be put in the sweat box by the dealer.

They'll stonewall you,
Then offer a slight cash settlement for you to just go away, then a little more $$.
Just get the atty and get all your money back.
You get every dime.
Registration, sales tax, interest paid on the loan, everything

 

[River918]

If so, did you go through an attorney or the manufacturer?

Thanks
Jason

this would be for my wifes Audi.. if it matters any.

I have done the Lemon Law on two vehicles and a Toy Hauler. I used Norman Taylor for the first vehicle and was not happy with them. The process took over 6 months and their customer service stunk. They also required a retainer for them to get the case going. A majority of that cost was ultimately paid by the car manufacturer, but I was out of pocket for some of the attorney's fees. There was also some shady stuff going on at their office that I would be more than happy to discuss with you. PM me if you're interested...

On the second vehicle I simply filed a complaint with the BBB and within a week I had someone from Chevy calling me. They made an offer of an extended warranty, which I refused. The BBB then set up a hearing for the case which was scheduled two weeks out. Over that time, Chevy made many other offers, non of which entailed replacing the car. I stood my ground and the day before the hearing they called to offer replacement of the car. The entire process took less than a month and was a hell of a lot easier than my first vehicle. As long as you vehicle has been in to the shop for the required repair attempts within the time window outlined in the law, the car manufacturer knows they have to recourse except to replace the car. They will do what they can to get out of it, but if you stand your ground it will get handled. Ultimately, if a lawyer is needed (if you have a case that is not clear cut), the BBB will refer one to you.

As far as the Toy Hauler, I handled everything myself and Fleetwood reimbursed all costs including tax, license, etc... (I didn't want another one)..

Good Luck and hope everything works out.

 

[akakiller]

thanks for the info!

I did a search on here and saw some one used this guy:
http://www.brennanlaw.com/index.html

Our regular attorney had good things to say about them too.

River918, sent you a PM.

Thanks again!

 

[That Guy]

I have done the Lemon Law on two vehicles and a Toy Hauler. I used Norman Taylor for the first vehicle and was not happy with them. The process took over 6 months and their customer service stunk. They also required a retainer for them to get the case going. A majority of that cost was ultimately paid by the car manufacturer, but I was out of pocket for some of the attorney's fees. There was also some shady stuff going on at their office that I would be more than happy to discuss with you. PM me if you're interested...

On the second vehicle I simply filed a complaint with the BBB and within a week I had someone from Chevy calling me. They made an offer of an extended warranty, which I refused. The BBB then set up a hearing for the case which was scheduled two weeks out. Over that time, Chevy made many other offers, non of which entailed replacing the car. I stood my ground and the day before the hearing they called to offer replacement of the car. The entire process took less than a month and was a hell of a lot easier than my first vehicle. As long as you vehicle has been in to the shop for the required repair attempts within the time window outlined in the law, the car manufacturer knows they have to recourse except to replace the car. They will do what they can to get out of it, but if you stand your ground it will get handled. Ultimately, if a lawyer is needed (if you have a case that is not clear cut), the BBB will refer one to you.

As far as the Toy Hauler, I handled everything myself and Fleetwood reimbursed all costs including tax, license, etc... (I didn't want another one)..

Good Luck and hope everything works out.

I see a disturbing pattern here of operator error.....arty2::champagne: Call me about DS....

 

[Long Way Home]

I had a 2003 F150 with about 2000 miles on it when a noise started coming from the differential unit. I went to two local dealers in OC for the differential unit repairs, they tried but could not fix/stop the noise so I took it back to the Van Nuys dealer were I had purchase it for repairs , after checking it out they told me to take it back to the OC dealer as they believe the differential unit was installed incorrectly. This getting to be a pain now. The OC dealer did a re-check and said the differential unit was installed properly and they did not have any more suggestions as what to do. I have about 20,000 miles on it after one year.

I called a lawyer a friend recommended and (I can't remember the office name). They did not require any money up front. The process took 12 months, the truck had to sit in the driveway during this time. We had three meeting with Ford , the first meeting they offered a small amount of money for my troubles, about 6 months later we had the second meeting and they offered to replace the truck with a new F150 and the final meeting before going to court they offered to reimburse me for cost of the truck, extended warranty, sales tax, etc plus extra $9000 for my troubles and pay all the lawyer's cost..
If I had to do it again I should have taken the new truck after the second meeting just to end this thing but the lawyer said to hang on.
The thing that saved me was the documenting, I had my work days lost, rental cars , dates & names of the people I talk to at the dealership and any suggestions on how/what to repair on truck was place on work sheet.

A friend did the LL with his truck and it was quicker time to settle the problems than mine. He went through the "BBB" Better Business Bureau because he did not want to use a lawyer.
Best of luck...

 

[TPC]

I have done the Lemon Law on two vehicles and a Toy Hauler. I used Norman Taylor for the first vehicle and was not happy with them. The process took over 6 months and their customer service stunk.

Yeah, Taylor was kinda tricky.
Seemed they kept telling me their para legals were out having babies was why the service was goofy,, then it seemed like it was all rehearsed.
But they did get the job done.

Lawyers and their staffs are always a bubble off plumb.

 

[TITTIES AND BEER]

Yes in 1988

 

[Wicky]

If so, did you go through an attorney or the manufacturer?

Thanks
Jason

this would be for my wifes Audi.. if it matters any.

My Dodge was in the shop 20 times in the first year after buying it. I won't get into what issues were at hand. After the dealer told me to basically fuck off after they replaced a door plug with duct tape, I told them to fuck off.
I got a white shoe polish marker and wrote, "Peterson Dodge sold me a LEMON" all over my camper shell windows and drove around their lot for 3 hours on Mothers Day weekend.
Well, by the 4th hour they said they were giving me a new truck. Needless to say, I traded in that Dodge and got a GMC. End of story. I never bought another Dodge after that.

 

[OCMerrill]

I tried this with our HHR SS and found out that the new GM had their ass covered as I would have had to claim it in BK Court and get nothing.

Audi is not having those troubles I would think.

 

[No Butt No Putt]

My mom's 07 SS Trailblazer had been in the shop about 12 times and she brought up the "lemon law" words to the sales manager at Bradley Chevy in Havasu and they worked a deal with GM. They gave her $10K back since she paid cash for the car and gave her a warranty for as long as she owns the truck. GM would not give her a new car, something out she paid cash and they only made a certain amount of the SS Trailblazers. I wanted one until I saw the headache she had.

 

[Paul65k]

I have also heard that certain manufacturer's are so anti-lemon law that they will spend almost any amount of $$ to not have to replace the car. I understand that Mercedes Benz in particular is in this category. A friend of mine was seated on a jury for a civil trial against the local dealer and MBUSA as the car in question was in many, many times for the same issue and MBZ could not fix the issue. The car was certainly qualified under the terms that we all know define the "Lemon Law".

After the trial when I queried him in the "Lemon Law" issue he stated that he found out in court that this was a voluntary program that MOST manufacturers participated in but was actually not a law that must be complied with by the MFG. I had never heard this before and I can;t say for sure if this is true but this was the position MBZ took in court.

In the end MBZ prevailed even though it was clear that they had not solved the issue......apparently they were not found liable as they had made their "Best effort" to solve the problem. It was not a safety issue but instead an issue with the electric windows not operating properly in the auto up mode.....but could be made to work properly if the switch was held down completely.....most of the time!

Weird.....has anyone else heard of anything like this???

 

[xyz]

YES,

I used this firm. http://www.rosnerandmansfield.com/

I sued Ford for a bad 04 6.0 Diesel. They took very good care of me. It was about a 5 month process, Just make sure you have good receipts and documentaion of your problem.

Good luck

 

[lebel409]

Honda is in the MBZ camp...will NOT admit fault.

Some manufacturers will do the Ford style delay tactics, just to be sure you are serious. Others like Honda will go to court with 3 lawyers (obviously well fed lawyers), fight until the last moment, and settle out of court with a non disclosure agreement. I was a juror on a trial like that...PITA, but the lady that won (settled) had a smile on her face.

 

[akakiller]

from what I understand, the Lemon Law only covers safety items... so the power window deal wouldn't apply.

Thanks a ton for all the info!

 

[akakiller]

BTW, the dealership has been awesome. They even gave me copies of the service orders for every time its been in. Wouldn't give me copies of the TSB's though... whos got AllData??!!

Just tired of the headache. She's got 5k left on the warranty... and its been in every 10k for repairs. The same problem each time...

 

[Ziggy]

I have also heard that certain manufacturer's are so anti-lemon law that they will spend almost any amount of $$ to not have to replace the car. I understand that Mercedes Benz in particular is in this category. A friend of mine was seated on a jury for a civil trial against the local dealer and MBUSA as the car in question was in many, many times for the same issue and MBZ could not fix the issue. The car was certainly qualified under the terms that we all know define the "Lemon Law".

After the trial when I queried him in the "Lemon Law" issue he stated that he found out in court that this was a voluntary program that MOST manufacturers participated in but was actually not a law that must be complied with by the MFG. I had never heard this before and I can;t say for sure if this is true but this was the position MBZ took in court.

In the end MBZ prevailed even though it was clear that they had not solved the issue......apparently they were not found liable as they had made their "Best effort" to solve the problem. It was not a safety issue but instead an issue with the electric windows not operating properly in the auto up mode.....but could be made to work properly if the switch was held down completely.....most of the time!

Weird.....has anyone else heard of anything like this???

The experiences I've had were much the opposite.....if your claim is truly legitimate and not a stretch. Many manufacturers will buy back the car to avoid costly litigation. But if its a ticky-tack claim they will defend it vehemently(poor economy tends to bring out ticky-tack claims).

 

[akakiller]

contacted a couple attorneys and it looks like we have a case.

thanks again for the help.

 

[76 Hondo]

I Lemon-Lawed a 2000 S-10 Blazer, the wife wanted to down-size from the Tahoe, third time in the shop for injector issues I contacted GM, they made a couple of offers, up grade to new injector system, new Blazer. Then the day before the hearing they called me, all your money back, including registration fees, then made me a great deal on a 2001 Tahoe.
No attorneys just BBB, nocomplaints with GM over it now.

 

[E4L]

Yes I have done 3 in a row some people have all the luck. I used a firm called Delsack and associates if you need any help pm me whats going on I might be able to give you some advice.

 

[E4L]

YES,

I used this firm. http://www.rosnerandmansfield.com/

I sued Ford for a bad 04 6.0 Diesel. They took very good care of me. It was about a 5 month process, Just make sure you have good receipts and documentaion of your problem.

Good luck

I had a bad 2004 6.0 myself

 

[akakiller]

Looks like the manufacturer doesn't want to go to court. We have an offer from them to buy it back and a little cash, more cash and keep the car, or they give us a new car and we have to pony up a couple bucks... last offer is a "no way!" from Mama...

My next question.... most times first offers are low right? Is it worth it to haggle a bit? I don't wanna take advantage of the situation but I do want to get a nice down payment on the next car out of the deal.

Thanks again!

 

[RogerThat99]

Looks like the manufacturer doesn't want to go to court. We have an offer from them to buy it back and a little cash, more cash and keep the car, or they give us a new car and we have to pony up a couple bucks... last offer is a "no way!" from Mama...

My next question.... most times first offers are low right? Is it worth it to haggle a bit? I don't wanna take advantage of the situation but I do want to get a nice down payment on the next car out of the deal.

Thanks again!

The first offer is usually low. If you don't feel you are getting a fair amount, keep haggling. Most of the manufactures don't want to go to court, but you don't want to go to court either. When in court, you always have a chance to lose. Ford had been having some success in winning cases in court due to lack of maintenance. What did your Attorney advise you to do?

 

[riverroyal]

not just safety, not even just for vehicles. You can lemon law a toaster if its not fixed in 3 tries. The manufacture will offer you less at 1st, but you dont have to accept. But be prepaired, it will take at LEAST 6 months,closer to a year to finish the entire process.
Lemon law attorneys are free too you, they get paid by the manufacture, they put their cost on top of the "lawsuit". It cost you 0, dont pay any firm or attorney anything. A lawer/firm will spend 30 days reviewing your case/claim. If they feel that can win, they take it. If not you go on your way. They are typically 300hr or 3000$ min, which ever is more. Once a lawyer accepts the case it takes another 30 days to process and draw up the case, then its sent to the manufacture, they then have 30 days to contact the lawyer with a responce. Always a buy-back/trade/low ball offer. This then buys them another 30 days. This bounces back and forth until you accept something.
You never see the money, the pay-off goes straight to the lawyer, and they pay off a loan if you have one, then give you the balance. Their fees are added to the amount..
IF the manu doesnt want to settle it goes to court,this adds months. But if you WIN in court you can now sue them for up to 3 times the amount. 50K car =150K lawsuit. This is why most manu will give you back your money, they dont want to take that chance.
It a VERY long exhausting process, not always worth it.
I Lemoned a Weekend Warrior 5th wheel, and won. It was worth it.