Did you ever wonder whether other people who own the same year, make, model car as you are having the same problem(s) you are encountering? If you did, there are ways to find out.

One of the possible tell-tale signs that your car may be a lemon, is if the manufacturer has issued a Technical Service Bulletin (”TSB”) concerning the problem you are having with your car. A TSB is an advisory or procedure recommended by the manufacturers to its repair facilities which addresses remedy to a known problem (it does not have to be safety realted).

Keep in mind the “fix” set out in the TSB may (or may not fix) you car, but it is evidence showing that your car may have a defect. (This is especially true if you take your car or truck in for repair and the service people say they cannot find [or cannot duplicate] the problem you are having.)

If the problem is serious enough to be a safety concern, a “Recall” may be issued. A Recall is issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (”NHTSA”). The easiest way to think about a Recall is that it is usually related to a design or parts flaws which could impact the safety of the vehicle. (For example, braking problems, steering problems, stalling, fire hazard etc.) These flaws may be discovered by drivers or manufacturer itself. (As new cars get designed and built in shorter and shorter periods and there is less and less time for testing. They essentially get tested on the street. Problems may not show up for months or even a year or more after they are put out for sale.) NHTSA will investigate the problem and if warranted will issue a Recall which requires the manufacturer to notify purchases of the vehicles affect by the Recall of the problem and what to do to get it repaired.

You can find out about TSBs and Recalls by going to the Website of NHTSA

You can also find out if others owners have lodged any complaints even though no TSBs or Recalls were issued by going to the NTSHA website.

The are also many websites on the Internet devoted to discussions of specific vehicle where you can leave messages and get responses from other people who own or know about your vehicle. You can go to a search engine and type in keyword related to your car or truck and it’s problems and you may find one that is helpful.

BUT KEEP IN MIND THAT JUST BECAUSE THERE ARE NO TSBS, RECALLS OR COMPLAINTS, CONCERNING THE PROBLEMS YOU ARE EXPERIENCING DOESN’T MEAN THAT YOUR CAR IS NOT A LEMON. MANY TIME PROBLEMS ARE JUST WITH SPECIFIC INDIVIDUAL VEHICLES.

Law & Kolakowski http://www.california-lemonlawyer.com/ Your California Lemon Law Attorneys.

California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act aka “The Lemon Law”, provides purchasers of vehicles covered by a warranty with strong protection should your new vehicle turn out to be a lemon.  But what can you do to avoid purchasing a lemon?  There are several important things to consider.

First, check Consumer Reports’ April Car Buying Issue and check on the reliability of the make and model vehicle you are considering purchasing.  Consumer Reports contains detailed information regarding a vehicle’s features, safety and reliability, as well as cost.  You can also compare competing models.

If the vehicle has been out for awhile, you can also check the Department of Transportation’s NHTSA website.  It will have complaints by consumers and recalls listed so that you can tell if a particular model is already plagued with problems and how serious any reported problems are.

If you are buying a used car, you can always have the vehicle checked out by an independent mechanic.  An experienced mechanic can spot red flags on a used vehicle quickly and at very little cost to you.  CARFAX reports can also identify major problems in some cases.

After you purchase your vehicle, be diligent in servicing it and reporting to an authorized dealership any problems you have.  California Lemon law rights are based upon a sufficient number of reported complaints to authorized repair facilities.  Also, keep good records:  A dealership is required to provide you with invoices for warranty work performed on a vehicle.

If a dealership fails to resolve a problem or problems keep occurring, contact the manufacturer and inform them of the issues.   This kind of communication can sometimes resolve the problem by getting a manufacturer’s technical specialist involved with the vehicle prior to numerous unsuccessful repair attempts by the dealership.

If problems persist and you believe legal action is necessary contact an experienced attorney.  Many lawyers take these type of cases on a contingency at little or no cost to you.  A person’s car is typically second in expense only to one’s home and deserves protection.