Anyone successful with a Lemon Law buyback?

[saintyohann]

So I guess I'm looking for any advice for how to get a car manufacture to take my issues seriously.

Right now we're afraid to drive the car or even have it at our house because we're afraid it might catch on fire. It's an electric car and it failed to stop charging when it reached 100% and the battery got pretty hot, if I hadn't noticed and manually stopped it, it could have gotten bad (think Sony laptop battery bad).

Any advice?

More detail here if you want: http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?t=9833

[hal]

you might try one of those 'consumer' news writers at a local TV news bureau.... and suggest that when dealing with local dealers. I suspect that consumer newies would be all over this...

[M A V I C]

Look up your state laws. A friend of mine was able to get his car taken back under the lemon law. One tip: If the state has requirements like "three unsuccessful repairs of a safety item" you have to be careful of the games dealerships play. For example, they may fix it then give it back to you but not close out the case. That way you can keep bringing it back for the same issue but it only counts as one occurrence.

[Carm]

What he said. Get documentation in order. Three times seems to be the rule.

[bruceko]

I had a Lexus replaced under the Washington state lemon law

[willmill]

The lemon law worked extremely well for me in Florida. You have to take the car to the dealer 3 times for the same problem, have it documented, and show that the problem was not fixed. I went before a three person panel and they not only got me out of the lease, but refunded all the previous year's payments. All I originally wanted was to get out of the lease.

[space-time]

you should also contact Consumer Product Safety Commission and file a report.

The forum you linked to is from Sept 2011. So they have been having these issues for a year now?

what would happen if you plug it in and let it unattended but far away from house? if it blows up, then they have to do something about it. Still under warranty, right?

[bruceko]

what was the result of your arbitration?

[samintx]

I do autoline arbitrations for the BBB. We do buybacks, repair, new car, money back (less mileage). Whatever the customer submits in the ATA and then the decision we render.

There are certain rules you have to go buy for Lemon Law cars. States set rules and so do the car companies state by state.

[saintyohann]

The arbitrator we got was pretty confused at the topic and my wife thought he was falling asleep during the proceedings. Since he didn't understand some of the technical issues, he requested an inspection. But he only requested it on two of my issues, overlooking the others (including the safety issues). So now I'm waiting for an inspection, where they cannot look for most of my issues because he didn't request it. I also doubt they'll be instructed in how to rep it.