Lemon Law versus Jeep

[crmarczak]

In short I've owned my 2022 Gladiator for less than a year. It still has 4 months of warranty and then it's a certified pre owned with 7 more years of powertrain.

Since March it's spent 32 days in the shop arriving first for a week on a tow truck after dieing stopped on the highway. Needed new PCM. Now it's been there for over three weeks again after stability service issues. Currently a star case and still t/s with engineers and techs...

I can't trust this truck with my family in it, nor can I trust the manufacturer can fix it in a timely manner. I've reached out and started pursuing a lemon claim.

Sponsored

 

[XJhawk]

Lemon Laws are not as easy or comprehensive as we all hope.
Good luck.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

In short I've owned my 2022 Gladiator for less than a year. It still has 4 months of warranty and then it's a certified pre owned with 7 more years of powertrain.

Since March it's spent 32 days in the shop arriving first for a week on a tow truck after dieing stopped on the highway. Needed new PCM. Now it's been there for over three weeks again after stability service issues. Currently a star case and still t/s with engineers and techs...

I can't trust this truck with my family in it, nor can I trust the manufacturer can fix it in a timely manner. I've reached out and started pursuing a lemon claim.

You need to look up the laws for YOUR state. For Iowa, you'd be out of luck - it's used and it's older than 2 years or 24,000 miles.


Key aspects of the Iowa Lemon Law:

• Coverage:
  Applies to new and leased motor vehicles under 2 years old or with less than 24,000 miles, whichever comes first.
  
  
• Defects:
  The defect must be a "nonconformity" that substantially impairs the vehicle's use, market value, or safety.
  
  
• • Repairs:
    The manufacturer or its authorized service agent must make repairs necessary to conform the vehicle to the warranty, regardless of whether they can be made before the Lemon Law rights period expires.
    
  • Lemon Law Rights Period:
    This period is the shorter of two years from the date of purchase or 24,000 miles.

Even with your VA lemom laws, you may be out of luck -

In Virginia, the state's Lemon Law primarily applies to new vehicles, not used vehicles. However, if a used car was purchased within the manufacturer's original warranty period (and within 18 months of the first owner's purchase), it may still be covered. If the used car has a defect that impairs its use, market value, or safety, and the manufacturer fails to repair it after a reasonable number of attempts, the consumer might have grounds for a Lemon Law claim.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

• New Car Lemon Law:
  Virginia's Lemon Law covers new vehicles if they have a defect that significantly impairs the vehicle's use, value, or safety and cannot be repaired after a reasonable number of attempts.
  
  
• • Used Car Lemon Law:
    Virginia does not have a specific Lemon Law for used cars, but if a used car was purchased under the original manufacturer's warranty (and within the 18-month period from the first owner's purchase), it may be covered under the general Lemon Law provisions.
    
  • Conditions for Used Car Lemon Law:
    For a used car to qualify, the following conditions must be met:
    • • The vehicle is still under the original manufacturer's warranty.
        
      • The defect must significantly impair the vehicle's use, value, or safety.
        
      • The manufacturer must have failed to repair the defect after a reasonable number of attempts.

You can't get good legal advice for free on an internet forum - only opinions. Contact your state's AG, or consumer advocate.

 

[Mr._Bill]

In short I've owned my 2022 Gladiator for less than a year. It still has 4 months of warranty and then it's a certified pre owned with 7 more years of powertrain.

Since March it's spent 32 days in the shop arriving first for a week on a tow truck after dieing stopped on the highway. Needed new PCM. Now it's been there for over three weeks again after stability service issues. Currently a star case and still t/s with engineers and techs...

I can't trust this truck with my family in it, nor can I trust the manufacturer can fix it in a timely manner. I've reached out and started pursuing a lemon claim.

It's a used vehicle, Lemon Laws won't apply. You'll have to rely on the dealer and whatever warranty you have. If you don't trust the vehicle after it's repaired, trade it for something else.

 

[Great Offender]

I used the lemon law with my first new car. Jeep Wrangler. It never stopped leaking when it rained and would puddle on the passenger floor. Yes, I did remove the plugs to let the water out but it made no difference. It would flood the moment it got cloudy and looked like rain!
Dealer tried unsuccessfully to fix it and then Jeep sent its own repair crew that didn't fix it and BAM, I'm driving a new car. Not many miles on the original. Maybe I got lucky because in NJ it was easy back then. Very easy to prove with a garden hose.

 

[sharpsicle]

If the used car has a defect that impairs its use, market value, or safety, and the manufacturer fails to repair it after a reasonable number of attempts, the consumer might have grounds for a Lemon Law claim.

I bolded and underlined the big thing here. You need documented, repeated incidents that have not been resolved. 2 unrelated instances, with the first being successfully resolved and the 2nd in-progress, unfortunately won't qualify almost anywhere.

I totally get it, the time frames suck, but even if there was some kind of remediation for that, it would be buy-back territory, not lemon law.

 

[NC_Overland]

I bolded and underlined the big thing here. You need documented, repeated incidents that have not been resolved. 2 unrelated instances, with the first being successfully resolved and the 2nd in-progress, unfortunately won't qualify almost anywhere.

I totally get it, the time frames suck, but even if there was some kind of remediation for that, it would be buy-back territory, not lemon law.

It’s a used car. Lemon Law doesn’t apply period. At least not in any state I’m familiar with.

 

[sharpsicle]

It’s a used car. Lemon Law doesn’t apply period. At least not in any state I’m familiar with.

Virginia has provisions that allow used vehicles to qualify.

 

[Hootbro]

Wish you the best.

 

[Sandman 4x4]

Lemon Laws are not as easy or comprehensive as we all hope.
Good luck.

No but it will mark the vehicle as such as a warning to the next guy. The dealer might try giving you a sweet trade deal. But the next buyer suffers.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

No but it will mark the vehicle as such as a warning to the next guy. The dealer might try giving you a sweet trade deal. But the next buyer suffers.

How - if the lemon law doesn't apply as it's a used vehicle and VA says the claim has to be within 18 months of the original owner's purchase, etc. etc., how would it?

It may apply - but this one is absolutely not real straight-forward. And frankly, we know nothing of the issue. It's got some sort of issues with stability control - that's all we know.. Connection? Sensor? ABS?

The goofy thing about "lemon laws" are that it can be a perfectly fine, totally reliable vehicle that has zero problems, it just took longer than the prior owner wanted to wait to get it fixed.
I had the mystery misfire for 4 months - couldn't be tracked down. Once the issue was discovered - and resolved - it was 100% reliable and never had a misfire again. Other owners may have gotten really pissed and pursued lemon law claims. And in the end, the next owner would have gotten an extremely safe, reliable vehicle.
Similar for the original trailer brake controller issue - took months for Jeep to figure it out. Simple in the end.

It's like so many other things - I take some of these "reports" (carfax and some others) with a grain of salt. (especially after reading what a couple of state consumer groups found out about them)

This one may end up being repaired with ease once the issue is discovered - and the next person may get a hell of a great vehicle.

I guess I'm holding judgement for the most part on this one as we don't know it's truly a lemon, just that it's taking Jeep a while to figure it out.

 

[crmarczak]

Probably can't do the lemon law as i meet all criteria Sans the 18 month from original purchase, I'll look into my options. I do have 7 years on powertrain warranty so there's that. Maybe a trade in who knows. There's also a consumer protector thing to check out.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Probably can't do the lemon law as i meet all criteria Sans the 18 month from original purchase, I'll look into my options. I do have 7 years on powertrain warranty so there's that. Maybe a trade in who knows. There's also a consumer protector thing to check out.

If I recall correctly, Virginia has a consumer protection agency. You lose nothing but a few minutes of your time in contacting them. If they can help, great, if not, maybe they know who can.

 

[roger bass]

You're out of luck on the Lemon Laws in Virginia; they do not cover used cars. Your best bet is to file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.

 

[sharpsicle]

You're out of luck on the Lemon Laws in Virginia; they do not cover used cars. Your best bet is to file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.

Trick is, who do you file the complaint against? The selling dealer? The original owner? Stellantis?

Trouble with used vehicles is it's nearly impossible to prove the origin of a problem, as custody has changed a number of times. Not saying the warranty shouldn't cover it (and it is covering it apparently), but to file a business complaint on a used vehicle that is being taken care of under warranty is quite a stretch.

Sponsored