Fifteen
tips for putting the squeeze on auto lemons (continued):
14. Keep in mind that when you use the lemon law, you are doing the responsible thing. You are helping keep defective vehicles from being resold again and again, and menacing everyone who shares the roads. California law requires manufacturers to fix lemons before they are resold, send the titles to be permanently branded "lemon law buyback," affix a sticker to the driver door jamb indicating the vehicle's title is branded a "lemon law buyback," and disclose the problems that made it a lemon. By helping yourself, you also help protect future car buyers, and the public at large.
15. If your vehicle has a safety defect, be sure to report it to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov. This federal agency has the authority to investigate safety defects, and if it gathers enough evidence a problem exists, it can pressure the manufacturer to perform a safety recall and fix the problem. The process leading up to a safety recall sometimes drags on for years, so it is not a substitute for getting the manufacturer to buy back your lemon, but it can help make vehicles safer in the long run.
Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety (CARS) and CARS Founders are nationally known for initiating California's auto lemon law, that became the model for state lemon laws in all 50 states. For over 23 years, we have led the movement to strengthen and preserve lemon law protection for all car buyers–both new and used.
You can help strengthen and improve lemon laws by contributing to CARS. Please send your contribution to:
CARS
926 J Street, Suite 522, Sacramento, CA 95814
All donations
are deeply appreciated. CARS depends on voluntary contributions from the
public to continue to win battles on behalf of car owners. Thank you for
helping put the squeeze on auto lemons!
Note: While CARS is a non-profit public benefit organization,
contributions to CARS are not tax-deductible, due to CARS' advocacy work
on behalf of vehicle owners.
