Vehicle Maintenance Issues And The San Diego Lemon Law
The last thing you want to hear as the owner of a new vehicle still under contract is that your warranty is voided due to poor vehicle maintenance. Nobody enjoys having to pay a lot of money to fix their car, but it’s even worse when you shouldn’t have to in the first place.
You need your car, so if a maker is holding you hostage like this, you will have no choice but to cave in. This article will explain how these types of maintenance issues can lead to a Lemon Law case in San Diego and provide advice about how to prevent them.
You should follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for regular maintenance on your car. You ask for trouble if you go one day or one mile past the maintenance guideline in your owner’s manual before getting an oil change. We all have busy daily lives, and it’s easy to forget about things that need to be done.
On the other hand, your car is likely one of your most significant investments, so it’s worth spending the time to get it right. The good news is that a manufacturer is unlikely to scrutinize your repair procedures for minor problems. Unfortunately, if you need a significant repair, the vehicle’s manufacturer will want to double-check all.
Replacement of an engine or transmission will cost thousands of dollars, and although certain manufacturers are better than others, they all search for ways to avoid having to pay. However, if you can’t prove it, having all repairs done promptly won’t help you much.
Thus, you must keep track of your repairs. Producing such documents is the perfect rebuttal to a charge that you failed to keep up with your maintenance obligations. Gas receipts, for example, would be considered a maintenance record by me. Manufacturers have refused to respect warranties because of “poor gas.”
BMW used this argument a lot before actually admitting that their fuel pump problems were their own. If this is an issue, many jurisdictions will analyze fuel samples at a gas station. It may be precious to be able to show where you got your fuel.
Surprisingly, I’ve seen a few instances where the manufacturer wanted to claim that you had improperly handled the vehicle after fixing it. When you file a Lemon Law lawsuit, this almost always happens. The manufacturer would argue that the dealership made a mistake by setting the car and that the dealership should have recognized that the vehicle’s problem causes poor maintenance.
Finally, making your oil changes is not a good idea from a legal standpoint. Keep your oil and oil filter receipts if you really must. However, it is preferable to hire a professional company to do it for you. If you end up in a San Diego Lemon Law lawsuit, being able to show that your oil adjustments happened can mean the difference between winning and losing.
If you need a professional lemon lawyer for your case, contact us right away!
(619) 345-5599
