As we’ve discussed previously, the Texas Lemon Law is one of the laws established to protect the rights of vehicle owners in the Lone Star State. Every year, hundreds of defective vehicle complaints are filed against automobile manufacturers through the TxDMV. Some of these complaints prove fruitful resulting in a repair, replacement, or repurchase of the defective vehicle, while others are unable to obtain relief. Hiring an attorney before you file a lemon law claim can help you prevent your claim from being invalidated or dismissed. Furthermore, an attorney can handle any necessary negotiations with the manufacturer on your behalf.
In part one of this two-part article, we discussed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Lemon Law Annual Report that was published by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles’ (TxDMV) Lemon Law Section and the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH). We focussed on the general facts and figures and year-to-year changes from 2016 to 2018. Now, we will consult this report again focusing on the specific manufacturers and models that accounted for the most lemon law complaints in 2018. If you suspect that the new vehicle you purchased is defective, consult a Texas Lemon Law attorney from The Law Office of Darin Siefkes, PLLC, to see if you qualify for relief under the Texas Lemon Law or other statutes.
Chevrolet
The number of lemon law complaints filed in relation to Chevrolet vehicles has increased steadily over the last three years. In 2016, 42 complaints were filed with the TxDMV. In 2017 that number rose to 47 before jumping to 73 complaints in 2018. In the report, which identified 45 specific automobile manufacturers, Chevrolet had the second highest total percentage share of complaints at 12.87 percent. The issues centered primarily around the Camaro, Malibu, Silverado, and Traverse. If you suspect that your Chevrolet qualifies for potential relief under the Texas Lemon Law, consult a Texas Lemon Law attorney.
Ford
Ford had yearly increases in the number of lemon law complaints filed against them from 2016 to 2018. 64 complaints were filed in 2016, followed by 74 in 2017 and 87 in 2018. Ford was responsible for 15.34 percent of all complaints filed in 2018, largely due to issues with their F-Series of light-duty and medium-duty trucks, which accounted for 6.53 percent of all lemon law complaints in Texas in 2018.
Jeep
Although the number of Jeep-related complaints in Texas has decreased marginally since 2016, they still average just over 36 complaints per year. In 2018, Jeep vehicles accounted for 6.53 percent of all complaints, giving them the third largest share overall. Our Texas Lemon Law attorney may be able to assist you if you believe there’s an issue with your Jeep.
Is your new vehicle spending more and more time in the repair shop? If you would like to speak with one of our Texas Lemon Law attorney, please submit our free case evaluation form today.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.