Illinois Lemon Law Blog

An impressive car costs more than it should despite its age. By taking good care of your car you not only are increasing its resale value, saving on bigger repairs but you are also extending its youth. Meanwhile if you had lost your heart to a newer edition or other brand you might consider selling it as a used car. Your old car fetches you a very good price because it is in a top condition. The young drivers in your family can also contribute to the health of your car. They can be proactive and practice the maintenance program routine. They have greater responsibility in keeping themselves safe and the others, on the road.

Here are some useful tips that will help you keep your car looking new:

The best course of action against rust is to prevent its formation.

• If you find any damage or rust fix it promptly:
• Even minor chips or scrapes make the finish susceptible to rust
• Inspect your vehicle every season to find any corrosion and to fix it
• The longer you let rust stay, the more complicated and expensive it gets to fix

The rust-removal job consists of:

• Grinding off existing rust
• Smoothing surfaces
• Priming bare metal for applying a new coat of paint

The precautions you can take against rust:

• Store your car in a warm, well-ventilated and dry garage
• If your garage is small and damp, you’d better store your car out
• Protect your car from road salt. Salt catalyzes the electrochemical reaction in rusting

Wash your car frequently:

• Wash the exterior and under-carriage of your car at least once every two weeks and more often in winter
• Hand wax your car’s finish with a high quality product at least twice a year

Check drainage holes:

• Most cars have drainage holes at the bottom of the doors and rocker panels
• Do not let the holes become clogged with debris as moisture in the debris causes premature rusting

Check your car for any weak spots:

• These weak spots are vulnerable to premature rusting due to moisture build up

Preventive maintenance against rust:

• Prevention of rust forming is better than removing it
• Protect your car from moisture and salt
• Attend to the smallest patch of rust immediately

The directives given above are not intended as legal advice. You may pursue your lemon law claim or any other dispute with your automobiles by being in communication with Illinois lemon law attorneys of Krohn & Moss Ltd., or Call 1-800 US LEMON® (800-875-3666) toll free, to reach Krohn & Moss for your FREE initial consultation.

The Illinois lemon law protects consumers in Illinois from being saddled with an Illinois lemon vehicle. Lemon laws vary with individual state, and the Illinois lemon law only protects new vehicle purchases that meet certain requirements. Determining whether a vehicle is a lemon or not is a very daunting task and the owners of the Illinois lemons should consider seeking out expert Illinois lemon law attorney for knowledgeable advice. If the vehicle is a lemon, an expert Illinois lemon law attorney can skillfully negotiate your case in your favor.

Following are the guidelines from the Illinois lemon law to help you identify if your vehicle is a lemon. You may consider hiring an expert Illinois lemon law attorney to help evaluate your case and seek Illinois lemon law protection.

The Illinois Lemon law covers:

• Only new cars that are purchased or leased
• Light trucks and vans less than 8,000 pounds
• Recreational vehicles Law
• Vehicles in their first 12 months or 12,000 miles
• vehicles purchased in Illinois

The Illinois Lemon law covers states that the vehicle

• Must have a nonconformity that both substantially impairs the use, market value or safety of the vehicle
• Is not repairable by the dealer or manufacturer in at least four attempts for the same repair
• Be out of service for a total of 30 or more business days

Vehicles not covered by the Illinois lemon law

There are four kinds of vehicles not covered by the Illinois lemon law:

• Used Cars
• Altered or Modified Vehicles
• Motorcycles
• Boats

If you think you own an Illinois lemon vehicle you should consider contacting an Illinois lemon law attorney.

• if a problem persists after multiple repair attempts by the dealer or manufacturer
• The Illinois lemon law requires at least 4 repair attempts by the dealer or manufacturer to repair the same problem

keep good records of any and all repairs made by the mechanic.

Hire an Illinois lemon law attorney

Illinois lemon law attorney are skilled in protecting consumer interests under state and federal laws, and many offer free consultations. They can help identify and determine if a vehicle is a lemon, and whether or not a settlement can be negotiated with the manufacturer. Hiring a lawyer shows the manufacturer that the owner of the vehicle is serious about receiving compensation.

Illinois Lemon Law Compensation

The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act: If the defects with your vehicle do not meet the requirements of the Illinois lemon law, you may still claim under other state and federal laws that the Illinois lemon law protection for your new vehicles.

The Magnuson-Moss Warranty act is a Federal Law that protects you if your vehicle is defective and has an express written warranty. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty act applies to your defective vehicle that does not perform as it should. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty act greatly affects the rights of car buyers. a vehicle manufacturer cannot void the warranty on a vehicle due to an after market part unless he can prove that the after market part caused or contributed to the failure in the vehicle as per the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act -15 U.S.C. 2302(C). If your car is a lemon and has a written warranty, the warranter must permit you the choice of either a refund or replacement of the defective car.

The directives given above are not intended as legal advice. You may pursue your lemon law claim or any other dispute with your automobiles by being in communication with Illinois lemon law attorneys of Krohn & Moss Ltd., or Call 1-800 US LEMON® (800-875-3666) toll free, to reach Krohn & Moss for your FREE initial consultation.

The General Motors (GM) announces a recall of 192,676 Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon and compact pickups over an improperly designed child restraint top tether anchor. According to the car manufacturer, the number of models affected by the recall is 192,676. The models affected by the recall are Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon regular cab and extended cab pickup trucks manufactured between 2004 and 2011. An unspecified number of Isuzu i280 and i370 vehicles equipped with a front 60/40 split bench seat that were manufactured between 2007 and 2008, are also subject to the same recall. The Isuzus were built by the GM at its factory in Shreveport, La.

The initial findings by the GM show that:

• The child restraint top tether anchor for the front center seat position fails to meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards set in the US regarding accessibility
• Without the top tether anchor, the child restraint may not be properly secured
• The lack of access to the top tether increases the risk of injury or death to the child in the seat during a crash

The safety standards require the presence of a tether anchorage and the GM strongly discourages the use of the center seat position for a child seat because of its proximity to the air bag in a crash. However, for an immediate relief, the GM recommends using the child seat on the right of passenger seat for the purpose of anchoring it.

Pickup trucks manufactured between 2004 and 2011

According to the NHTSA, the pickup trucks manufactured between 2004 and 2011 that are affected by the recall have benches for front seats and they lack in rear seats which is why the consumers are advised to put a child in a safety seat in the front-center seating position. Both the NHTSA and the GM discourage people from using child seats in the front seats of vehicles. The owner’s manual has no instructions as to how the top anchor of a child seat is used, as a result of which owners can’t get to the top child seat anchor in the center of the front seat. Fortunately, there have been no accidents or injuries reported.

According to the NHTSA the automakers will provide the owners with information as to how the seats can be properly secured. The dealers will cut a hole in the back panel to open access to the anchor if the owners approach them with the problem.

The GM dealers will be inspecting the vehicles regardless of the mileage, age of vehicle or ownership. The fix, if required will be made free of cost.

Information given above is not intended as legal advice. You may continue your lemon law claim or any other contention with your automobiles by contacting Illinois lemon law attorneys of Krohn & Moss Ltd., or Call 1-800 US LEMON® (800-875-3666) toll free, to reach Krohn & Moss for your FREE initial consultation.

The sticker prices of cars to own do not tell the full story of how much they cost. If you are going shopping for a car, do not just consider its sticker price or monthly lease rate. Measure ownership costs over time.

If you have set your heart on buying a car, especially a luxury model, do not think of making it a good deal by looking at the handful of dollars you can save on the spot. Cars you choose reflect your personality. Of course everybody would like to get a good deal. To get a good deal out of a purchase, it is important to weigh the total cost of ownership over a period. A vehicle with a low sticker price may be very tempting but would prove to be more expensive than most of the expensive cars in the long run.

Compare the total cost of ownership for various cars by including the costs for 15,000 miles per year for:

• Fuel
• Insurance
• Maintenance and repair bills: Maintenance and repairs can start to add up, especially in the fourth or fifth year, after a warranty expires
• Depreciation: Depreciation is the biggest single item affecting cost of ownership
• Interest, taxes and fees

Lets us consider the case of

• The Mercedes GLK
• The Lexus RX 350

The Mercedes GLK is the lowest-priced midsize luxury crossover. The Mercedes has an average market price of $33,709. The Lexus RX 350 sells for an average $35,542. Factor in the five-year cost of ownership for both vehicles and you will be surprised to know that the Lexus is a better bargain. The Lexus RX 350 will cost $52,381 to own it over five years and the Mercedes GLK, $53,361. You may consider buying the Infiniti EX 35. Infiniti EX 35 sells for an average of $33,854. This price is just a bit more than the Mercedes. The good news is the Infiniti EX 35 has the lowest cost of ownership in the segment at $50,704.

The Sticker Price – Less is Expensive

The sticker price of the Land Rover LR4 is the lowest-priced midsize luxury SUV. It cost $51,008. Its cost of ownership is around $73,472 which is higher than that of Toyota Land Cruiser. The Toyota Land Cruiser has a sticker price that is almost $10,500 more than that of the Land Rover LR4. After five years of ownership the Land Cruiser would cost you $71,507 which is apparently much less than owning a Land Rover LR4.

Let us now look at Audi A6. The Audi A6 would cost you as much as the Mercedes E-class with $49,577 for the Audi and $50,019 for the Mercedes. The A6 ownership over five years will cost you $3,779 less to operate over time. The A6 will cost $70,808 while the E-class, $74,587 over the same period.

The Sticker Price – The best luxury car value

So far, the best five-year cost of ownership to the average transaction price, is exhibited by the BMW X6 as the best luxury car value. The X6 crossover sells for $84,867 and will cost $91,396 over time. The hybrid version of the X6 sells for about $4,500 more, and has the same cost of ownership ratio.

The Sticker Price – Not always the best luxury car value

The costliest luxury car is the Lincoln MKZ, which offers a sticker price of 31,322 but would cost an ownership of $52,811 over five years.

The above instructions are not meant as legal advice. You may persist your lemon law claim or any other issue with your automobiles by contacting Illinois lemon law attorneys of Krohn & Moss Ltd., or Call 1-800 US LEMON® (800-875-3666) toll free, to reach Krohn & Moss for your FREE initial consultation.

The Detroit based American manufacturer GM has announced on Oct. 08, 2010 their second major recall of Cadillac SRX Crossovers 2010 model in less than half a year since its last recall. In May Cadillac SRX Crossovers 2010 manufactured in 2010 have been recalled because of engine pre-ignition issues.

Now, GM cautions that the power steering fluid of the Cadillac SRX Crossovers 2010 could leak and lead to a fire in the engine compartment. The Detroit auto maker admits to have known of one fire in an unattended Cadillac SRX Crossovers 2010. Of the 3,996 Cadillac SRX Crossovers 2010 model cars that are being recalled 3,460, have been sold in the US and 341 having exported to China.

The Cadillac SRX Crossovers 2010 model was presented last year at several auto shows in 2009. In the US, the Cadillac SRX Crossovers 2010 model is offered with a choice of two engines, a new 3.0l V6 unit and a 2.8l turbocharged V6 one.

General Motors is conducting a voluntary safety recall of 3,996 Cadillac SRX crossovers from the 2010 model year to prevent a possible damage to the power steering line. Based on their analysis, the issue is believed to exist in only two or three of the recalled Cadillac SRX Crossovers 2010 model vehicles.

Though there were no accidents or injuries were reported the car maker would not want to risk any chances. According to a report from Reuters, if the fluid from the power steering system leaks onto parts of the engine that are hot a fire could occur. GM has reacted very fast to this issue and took just two months to announce the recall after an investigation had finished.

According to GM a total of 3,996 Cadillac SRX Crossovers 2010 model year, built in December 2009 may experience unspecified damage to the power steering line. This may cause the power steering fluid to leak and if the fluid spills over the hot engine parts the engine compartment could catch a fire. Owners of the Cadillac SRX Crossovers 2010 model cars will be notified by mail. After the inspection necessary repairs will be done free of cost.

The car maker assures its consumers that the recall is more of a preemptive safety measure, as it has found that at the most two out of three vehicles recalled might be affected. Owners will be notified about the recall and their vehicles will be repaired. The recall is expected to begin soon. GM has not announced the recall schedule yet. The cars will be inspected by dealers and the power steering line will be replaced, if needed. As in any recall the fix will be provided free of charge for the customers.

This information is not intended as legal advice. If you want to pursue your lemon law claim or If you have any problem with your automobiles contact Adam J. Krohn, the Illinois lemon law attorney of Krohn & Moss, Ltd, who will handle your lemon law claims for consumers in Illinois or call 1-800 US LEMON® (800-875-3666) toll free, to reach Krohn & Moss for your FREE initial consultation.

Last Friday the Ford Motor company decided to recall 575,000 Windstar minivans. These Windstar minivans were produced during the period from September 1997 to February 2003. The Ford Motor company is going to replace axles on the Windstar minivans the company feared may crack after exposure to road salt. These fracture may lead to a crash.

Ford stated that, the Windstar minivans had their axles fractured at certain points, though in a very small number of cases. These fractures affected the right or the left side of the axles and the vehicle handling would become hazardous.

The automaker will notify the owners:

• To bring their affected vehicles to a local dealer for inspection and necessary repairs
• To allow the repairs that involve reinforcing the axle with additional parts
• For replacing the axle if it’s found that the axle can not be reinforced, as soon as parts are available
• To use rental vehicles the company provides them, until the rear axle of their vehicle is replaced

In May, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened a preliminary review into the broken rear axles on 1999-2003 Windstars. The agency received 234 complaints, two of which are reports of accidents. Production of the Windstar ceased in 2003 as a result of these complaints.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration revealed that the recall involves 462,750 Windstar models in the US. The agency indicated that the recall is expected to begin on or before Sept 27th. The recall applies to high-mileage models registered in 21 cold-weather states, the District of Columbia and Canada where road-salt corrosion is more rampant.

States affected by the Windstar minivan recall are:

Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

This information is not intended as legal advice. Please direct your specific questions to K&M attorneys and know more about your lemon law rights. If you want to pursue your lemon law claim, call 1-800 US LEMON® (800-875-3666) toll free, to reach Krohn & Moss for your FREE initial consultation. Or submit your information online for your free case evaluation.

Commonly known as the Illinois lemon law, the Illinois New Vehicle Buyer Protection Act, protects consumers who buy or lease new cars, pickup trucks, and vans in Illinois.

The Illinois lemon law has not stipulated any warranties of its own to give Illinois lemon law protection to its people. On the contrary the Illinois lemon law takes serious exception should the warranties provided by manufacturers and dealers breach. This way the Illinois lemon law offers consumers a remedy should a dealer or manufacturer fail to honor the written warranties.

Consumers buying a car must realize that it is important for them to be knowledgeable to avoid being taken out on a long ride by the dealership or for that matter, private sellers who keep trying to get rid of their lemons or used lemons. With every passing year more Illinois residents keep losing money due to car sellers’ scams. These frauds could be avoided if new car or used car consumers make informed buys. In case a car buyer had landed a lemon car or used lemon car, Illinois has lemon laws and other to protect them.

Illinois lemon laws for automobile buyer protection

A car is the second most expensive investment a consumer makes after his house. Despite the money consumers are willing to spend it would be galling to note that most of them care the least to know about the purchases they make. Today’s cars are more complex than they used to be. Modern cars offer more models and carry more technology that is computer based. If a consumer is not savvy enough he would be at the mercy of the sales man or the seller of the used car. The state of Illinois has enacted lemon laws to protect car buyers.

Vehicles covered under the Illinois lemon law:

• Purchased in Illinois
• Vans under 8,000 pounds
• New cars
• Pickup trucks
• Recreational vehicles
• New vehicles leased for at least four months
• New vehicles leased with a 40%-60% time rule for household/lease purpose

The Illinois lemon law eligibility

• Any written express warranty on the vehicle for one year or 12,000 miles driven, whichever comes first
• If the problem is reported within the warranty period, even if the warranty expires subsequently
• The dealer or manufacturer should fix the issue within a reasonable number of attempts
• The defect in the car has impaired its use and reduced its market value
• The defect in the car is likely to cause death or serious bodily harm
• The warranty repairs have put the vehicle out of service for 30 or more business days

If the defect is not fixed the buyer or the lessee must use the manufacturer’s arbitration program or go to court to seek a replacement vehicle or a full refund of the purchase or lease price.

The Illinois lemon law does not cover used cars or problems resulting from abuse, neglect, or unauthorized alterations to the car.

Illinois Used Car Warranty Law

Illinois used car warranty law covers the power train with its components on new or used vehicles.

If the defects are not due to the consumer abuse, negligence or collision, a retail automobile dealer in Illinois pays a portion of the cost of repairs on power train components for 30 days from the date of delivery

• If the cars are within two years of age, the dealer pays half of the cost of repairs
• If cars are between two years and three years the dealer pays a quarter of the cost of repairs
• If cars are between three and four years of age the dealer pays 10 percent of the cost of repairs
• If cars are older than four years they are not covered by Illinois used car warranty law

The Federal Used Motor Vehicle Trade Regulation Rule

The Federal Used Motor Vehicle Trade Regulation Rule requires a dealer to:

• Represent the condition of a used vehicle
• Represent the terms of any warranty offered
• Mark the vehicle ‘as is – no warranty’ if no warranty is offered
• Disclose the history of the vehicle before the buyer purchases it
• The Federal Used Motor Vehicle Trade Regulation Rule applies only if
• The consumer buys from a used car dealer
• The used cars seller has a license from the state
• He sells more than five used cars a year

Lemon Law for Used Car

Since the day a friend of mine has bought himself a used car it has given him nothing but trouble.

It can happen to you if you also have purchased a used car. With each passing day, you may begin to fear that your car is defective or a lemon. Do you have to endure this constant feeling of nagging? Your used car may or may not be a lemon. Even if it is one, you do not overtly have to worry about it.

Lemon Law for Used Car provides you the protection if you happen to buy used lemon car in the United States.

WHAT ARE THE CARS THAT ARE COVERED BY THE LEMON LAW?

Adam J., Krohn, The Illinois Lemon Law Attorney at Krohn & Moss, Ltd says that, the Lemon law covers only the passenger cars purchased from an authorized dealer. The Lemon law also requires used car dealers to provide their customers with guarantees, the warranty period of which depend on the miles the used car has.

• If the car has 24,000 miles or less, the dealer must provide the customer with a 90 day warranty or 3,000 miles, whichever comes first
• If the car has more than 24,000 miles but less than 60,000 miles, the dealer must provide the customer with a warranty for 60 days or 2,000 miles, whichever comes first
• If the car has between 60,000 and 100,000 miles, the dealer must provide the client with a warranty for 30 days or 1,000 miles, whichever comes first

CARS THAT ARE NOT COVERED BY THE LEMON LAW

• A used car is not covered by the lemon law if the car
• Has been sold for less than $ 3,000
• Has more than 7 model years
• Has been declared a total loss by an insurance company
• Was not purchased from an authorized dealer, or has over 100,000 miles

To negotiate a better price

• The consumer may waive his right to security
• The car must have more than 60,000 miles on the odometer
• The waiver must be in writing

ENGINE PARTS COVERED BY LEMON LAW

The lemon law requires the dealer to “correct a material defect of the used car.”
The lemon law expressly covers:

• The engine: All the internal lubricated parts, chain distribution, gears and covers, belt distribution, pulleys and cover, oil pump gears and water pump, valve covers, housing, manifolds, flywheel, balance of harmony, supports engine seals and gaskets, and turbo-charged case
• Box turbo charged and engine blocks and cylinder head under warranty if they have been damaged by a failure of an internally lubricated part
• Automatic Transmission / Transfer Box: All the internal lubricated parts, converter, modulator vacuum transmission mounts, seals and gaskets
• Transmission Manual / Transfer Box: All the internal lubricated parts, transmission mounts, seals and gaskets, but excludes clutch plate pressure, bearings, clutch general or cylinders
• Front-wheel drive: All the internal lubricated parts, handle shaft velocity joints, bearings front seals and gaskets
• Rear-wheel drive: All the internal lubricated parts, drive shaft, U-shaped supports, handle shaft and bearings, seals and gaskets

The lemon law also says that it is an acceptable defense to any claim if the material defect substantially prevents the use and lowers the value or safety of the vehicle