With vehicle prices higher than ever, consumers expect the vehicles they purchase to be safe. They rarely expect manufacturing or design defects to deem the vehicle hazardous. When issues creep up during the first two years after the vehicle is manufactured, the state’s Lemon law may become relevant to a motorist’s situation. Unfortunately, individuals who own Toyota and Lexus vehicles have experienced quite a shakeup recently, as these companies have issued two separate recalls covering issues that could be considerable safety hazards. A fix is ready for one issue, but not the other. Rear axl ..read more

Car dealerships have customers sign titles all the time, but often don’t follow the rules for titles. The federal Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act, generally known as the Odometer Act, has very specific procedures for completing a title. Procedures for Title Signing Under the Odometer Act, when a vehicle is sold, the seller must write the current mileage on the assignment portion of the title unless the vehicle is exempt from mileage disclosure. The seller must sign to certify that the mileage is accurate to the best of its knowledge, that the mileage exceeds the mechanical limit ..read more

The West Virginia Lemon Law says that purchased vehicles are covered but makes no mention of leases. Does that mean that leased vehicles are not protected under the Lemon Law in WV? Leased vehicles are not transferred In addition to owners of purchased vehicles, the WV Lemon Law includes anyone to whom a vehicle under warranty is transferred to and anyone entitled to enforce a vehicle warranty. For the provision for transferred vehicles, the owner of a leased vehicle is usually a lease trust and not the person who signed the lease the vehicle. The person leasing the vehicle has authority to dr ..read more

A used car purchase typically starts with an ad from the internet. The potential buyer goes to the dealership expecting to purchase the vehicle described in the ad. The problem is that the car on the lot may not be what was described in the ad. It may have more miles than in the ad. The engine could be a replacement when advertised as original. The car may have had multiple owners when represented as one owner. If the buyer finds out after purchase that the car is not what was advertised, a comparison of the car with the ad should quickly show that the dealer lied, but this is much harder to p ..read more

Many people associate debt collectors with aggressive business practices. Creditors may make repeated calls, affect people’s stress levels by making threats, and even trick them into paying bills in some cases. While there are numerous federal laws limiting how businesses can go about collecting on their accounts, a number of businesses bend and break those laws in their efforts to collect outstanding amounts owed by consumers. A recent enforcement effort by a federal regulatory agency helps call attention to common abuses that occur in the debt collection space. What happened? The Consumer Fi ..read more

Midsize SUVs are some of the most popular vehicles in the United States. Many people often purchase them to fit their growing family. They also assume that the larger size means that they are safe. There’s something to be said about size, but one study has found that these SUVs are actually not nearly as safe as one would think, especially for passengers in the back seat. According to a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), a passenger in the backseat of a midsize SUV was 46% more likely to die than someone who was sitting in the front of the vehicle during a front-e ..read more

Two Korean car manufacturers have just issued a massive recall alert, while simultaneously urging the owners of over half a million vehicles to park their cars and minivans outside, well away from any buildings. The reason for the recall is a fear that the vehicles could catch fire, even when switched off. Which vehicles does the recall affect? The recall covers the following Hyundai vehicles: 2019 to 2023 Santa Fe 2021 to 2023 Santa Fe Hybrid 2022 and 2023 Santa Fe Plug-in hybrid 2022 and 2023 Santa Cruz It also covers all 2022 and 2023 Kia Carnival minivans.  What’s the problem leading ..read more

The bankruptcy filing by Pink Energy has left homeowners without warranty support for faulty solar energy systems. To make matters worse, some subcontractors who performed warranty work on solar energy systems have threatened to file mechanics’ liens against homeowners. What is a mechanic’s lien? A mechanic’s lien is a lien placed on property for a claim of unpaid bills. A subcontractor who is not paid by a contractor for work performed can file a lien on a property even if the owner had fully paid the contractor. A mechanic’s lien will essentially prevent a property from being sold or refinan ..read more

If you are behind on your payments and concerned that your car may be repossessed, there are some steps to take that can help protect your potential rights after repossession. Start by taking the vehicle purchase agreement out of the car. The finance or purchase agreement is critical in determining whether the vehicle was legally repossessed and how much was owed. If the finance agreement is in the glovebox, it will be gone if the vehicle is towed. It might be possible to get the documents back from the repo yard, but items in repossessed vehicles, including documents, tend to disappear. The l ..read more

Since launching its first vehicle, Elon Musk’s Tesla has found itself in perpetual damage control over his company’s continuing barrage of vehicle defects described by critics as everything from minor to life-ending. Recently, more legal action joined the onslaught of other lawsuits against the controversial car company. Rushed into the market? The recently filed class action lawsuit against the manufacturer revealed “phantom braking,” where Tesla cars would suffer unexpected and arbitrary stops. The issue is also the subject of a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investig ..read more