Is Your Car A Lemon Among Lemons?

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 related).

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”). A Recall 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 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.

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 times, problems are specific to individual vehicles.