Owners of 2007 and 2008 model-year Acura TL sedans will soon receive a letter asking them to bring their car in for repairs to a defective steering hose. It has been found that over time, the hoses can deteriorate, which can cause the cars to leak fluid or even start a fire. In 2008, Honda recalled 273,000 Acura TLs for a similar problem.

If you are having issues with the power steering on an Acura TL or experiencing any other problems with the vehicle, please visit Krohn & Moss, Ltd. at yourlemonlawrights.com or call them toll free at 1-800-US Lemon (800-875-3666). A consumer attorney will review your submission and contact you right away to discuss your rights.

Krohn & Moss, Ltd. was founded in 1995 and has helped over 50,000 consumers nationwide to enforce their lemon law rights against automobile manufacturers and distributors of other consumer products.

Chrysler Group is recalling some 127,350 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 vehicles in the United States and Canada due to potential problems in electrical stability control and anti-lock braking systems, the company and U.S. safety regulators said.

Chrysler, majority owned by Fiat SpA, said it was not aware of any crashes, injuries or fires due to the issue.

The recall affects cars from the 2011-2012 model years and produced through Dec. 20, 2011, according to a company filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

A fuse in the power distribution center in the vehicles may overheat and cause loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash, the filing said.

Chrysler will fix the issue without charge. Recall notices will go out this month.

The problem surfaced in testing of a vehicle used as a police car in Michigan, and Chrysler then checked for the same issue with consumer-driven cars, the filing said.

The maker of the affected system is Global Automotive Systems, which is part of Dura Automotive Systems based in Rochester Hills, Mich., the filing said.

The recall affects an estimated 119,072 cars in the United States and 8,274 in Canada.

Source: Chicagotribune.com

Once you’ve made the decision to purchase a used vehicle, it’s important to know how to protect yourself under lemon law type laws. The lemon law attorneys at Krohn & Moss, Ltd. suggest the following things when selecting a used vehicle:

• BUY A “CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED” CAR!

Certified pre-owned vehicles are typically inspected to make sure they meet certain manufacturer specifications, and usually come with a warranty or guarantee that the vehicle will perform in a certain way or that the vehicle will be repaired if something is goes wrong with it.

• BUY A CAR THAT IS BETWEEN 1 AND 3 YEARS OLD!

If you can, purchase a vehicle that is still under the factory warranty—it will be cheaper than a new vehicle and you will have some peace of mind in driving it off the lot knowing that defects should be repaired under the warranty. Most cars these days come with a 3 year/36,000 mile warranty, but always check with the dealer to learn the terms of the written warranty.

• NEGOTIATE FOR A WRITTEN WARRANTY FROM THE DEALER ON YOUR OWN!

If the vehicle you’ve selected is not “certified” and is outside the manufacturer’s warranty, ask the dealership to issue a written warranty. Most aspects of a car sale are negotiable, and if you obtain a warranty on the vehicle (even if it is only 3 months long), you can rest a little easier in knowing that the dealer will stand behind its product.

The common thread here is that all of these used vehicles mentioned above come with warranties. “Lemon laws” and related laws are actually “breach of warranty” laws—

without a written warranty on your vehicle, you assume the risk of repairs and are usually not afforded protection under lemon laws.

You may have rights under other consumer protection laws if a major misrepresentation about the vehicle was made, e.g. if it was involved in an accident or has a salvage title and that information was not disclosed, even if you do not have a warranty. If you have questions about whether you have rights regarding your vehicle, you should call the experienced lemon law attorneys at Krohn & Moss, Ltd. Our lemon law attorneys will take time to talk to you about your rights and will let you know if they can help. Visit www.YOURLEMONLAWRIGHTS.com or call 1-800-US-LEMON to submit your information to see if we can help.

- Adam Maxwell, Attorney at Law

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (“Goodyear”), has announced the recall of nearly 41,000 Wrangler Silent Armor tires that were manufactured during the year 2009.  The company stated that WRANGLER SILENT ARMOR TIRES, SIZES LT235/80R17 LRE, LT325/60R18 LRE, LT275/70R18 LRE, LT265/70R17 LRE, LT245/75R17 LRE, AND LT285/70R17 LRD, produced between the 9th week of 2009, through the 22nd week of 2009 (March 31, 2009 through May 31, 2009) are being recalled due to increased warranty claims by its customers.

Goodyear stated that the tread may separate in a small number of the Silent Armor tires creating “severe conditions” that could lead to the impairment of the vehicle or an accident.  The company also noted that a partial tread separation can result in tread strikes and a tread separation can also lead to a motor vehicle crash due to a tire failure.

The automobile tire maker has stated that the initial diagnosis was performed when increased warranty claims were seen with light truck and SUV tires.  Also, Goodyear has been notified that two people in Texas died in a rollover crash where the vehicle was equipped with Silent Armor tires.

Goodyear stated that the tire had sustained external damage before the incident; and in several other cases of failure, the tires were either underinflated, overloaded or had experienced impact damage.

Nevertheless, the company decided on February 16, 2012 to move ahead with the recall process and estimates that 27,000 of the tires are still believed to be in service.  The officials at Goodyear stated that the recall notification process is planned to begin on March 22, 2012.  Goodyear has decided to replace the lemon tires with a new tire free of cost.  Car owners may contact Goodyear at 1-800-592-3267.  Also, car owners may contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”) vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or log on to SafeCar.gov.

Below is the list of tires that are scheduled for recall by Goodyear:
Tire Brand Name / Tire Line / Tire Size:
Production Dates:
GOODYEAR / WRANGLER SILENT ARMOR / LT285/70R17 LRD
MAR 01, 2009 - MAY 31, 2009
GOODYEAR / WRANGLER SILENT ARMOR / LT245/75R17 LRE
MAR 01, 2009 - MAY 31, 2009
GOODYEAR / WRANGLER SILENT ARMOR / LT275/70R18 LRE
MAR 01, 2009 - MAY 31, 2009
GOODYEAR / WRANGLER SILENT ARMOR / LT265/70R17 LRE
MAR 01, 2009 - MAY 31, 2009
GOODYEAR / WRANGLER SILENT ARMOR / LT325/60R18 LRE
MAR 01, 2009 - MAY 31, 2009
GOODYEAR / WRANGLER SILENT ARMOR / LT235/80R17 LRE
MAR 01, 2009 - MAY 31, 2009

Jeep models Wrangler and Liberty are fast earning a reputation for allowing drivers to experience the outdoors more than in any other vehicle, but not in a positive way. For the past several model years, a multitude of Jeep owners have complained of wet seats, wet headliners, standing water in the floorboards and trunk area, and even water dripping onto passengers from the roof and windshield. Unfortunately, Chrysler has yet to solve its productions issues for water intrusion into new Jeep vehicles and has thus far offered no realistic options for owners experiencing this problem. If you have a Jeep that just won’t keep the weather outside during a rain or snowstorm, you may have a lemon.

A search at the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) website reveals a multitude of similar consumer complaints regarding the Jeep Wrangler and Patriot models for water leak problems. Likewise, at Edmunds.com, with titles such as “I have lake in my Jeep” and “Drip, Drip”, 5 out of 19 owners who posted reviews of their 2011 Wranglers complained of water leaks.

Chrysler would have us believe it is addressing the issue post-production, but a review of its recommended “fixes” leaves much to be desired. Moreover, in recent technical service messages to its authorized dealers, Chrysler’s instructions suggest more of a “band-aid” approach than an actual permanent fix, much to the frustration of Wrangler and Patriot owners.

For the 2011 Jeep Wrangler, for example, Chrysler has issued at least 4 technical service bulletins (“TSBs”) on the water leak issue, 2 of them released as recently as January, 2012 (TSB 23-025-11, 23-029-10, 23-001-12, and 23-046-12). The release of multiple TSBs on the water leak issues gives the first impression of a serious response to the problem. However, a review of the technical information provided thus far recommends only a notching, cutting, gluing and/or taping of existing door and window seals, or in some cases removing and replacing seals with newer seals only slightly modified. For those with a “Lake in their Jeep” the application of duct tape or notches to existing seals brings little comfort in the struggle for dry vehicle interiors.

A recall search at the NHTSA and Safecar.gov for possible fleet wide corrective measures reveals, unfortunately, no recalls yet issued by Chrysler for this prevalent issue, showing Chrysler continues to downplay the issue and has yet to commit to serious efforts towards a cure. This is more disturbing considering that water intrusion is not only inconvenient and uncomfortable for driver and passengers, but poses the very real risk of harm to vehicle components. As your trusted family mechanic can tell you, water inside a vehicle can result in a multitude of negative consequences in the form of corroded electronics, soiled carpet and seats, mold and mildew growth and foul odors, and the corrosion of metal floors, doors, and body panels from the inside out.

As such, Wrangler and Patriot owners are left wondering when Chrysler will take these issues seriously. Judging from the material released by Chrysler so far, it shows no signs of changing its design or production to eliminate the issue in the build, or provide the parts and technical information their dealers require for a realistic chance of correction once in service.  Until Chrysler does take this issue seriously, Jeep owners will continue to lament their decisions to buy into the Jeep family of vehicles. If you own a Jeep Wrangler or Jeep Patriot and are tired of wet feet and excuses, you should contact an attorney to determine your rights. You likely have more options than the duct tape, glue and weather stripping you have been offered so far.

Buying an auto insurance that's right for you can be very frustrating, if you are a first-time buyer. You can get the most out of your money on your auto insurance if you keep your eyes open to a few basics of auto insurance shopping.

Please look at the following positive driving habits that would fetch you a relatively good saving:

If you are a safe driver you are sure to save more on insurance. Drivers with good driving records can save as much as 60 percent over drivers who are prone to getting in trouble on roads with accidents.

Maintain a good financial credit score. Majority of the insurance companies tend to give you a rate that is based on your financial credit. If you maintain your financial credit well it gets you a much lower premium. Always choose a higher deductible to pay before your insurance policy gets activated as it will give you a policy you need to pay relatively less for.

Choose a policy wisely to eliminate unnecessary coverage. If yours is a new car you would afford to get a little more generous for its protection. But then if you want insurance for an older model with a little cash value, it makes sense to curtail your expenses on it. You can eliminate the 'collision or 'comprehensive' coverage, which are mainly intended for high value cars that are prone to theft, or require radical protection from damages.

Buy from an insurance company you know and have already dealt with before. Insure your car and home with the same insurance company. You could save money if you have more than one type of insurance policy with the same insurance company, say your auto policy and a homeowners' policy. The more business you give the insurance company, the more valued you are, as a customer.

Combine your auto policy with others in the same household for a multi-car discount. You can add extra policies to get extra auto insurance policies for you and your roommate.

Policies that allow you to get a multi-car discount and significant savings:

• Student discounts such as a good student credit for maintaining a B average
• A driver in your household is living away at school and not driving as much
• Spin off policies from a parent's policy for a young driver who wants his own policy

Refresh your driving skills a state-approved defensive driving course. If you complete a state-approved defensive driving course you could qualify for savings. Drivers under the age of 21 with a driver training course can also qualify for savings. Your education can also bring in a nice discount on your auto policy. The more educated you are the cheaper the rate of the insurance policy becomes.

Research thoroughly before you buy a car. A safer car costs less to repair and less to insure. Research thoroughly for crash-test reports, repair records and manufacturer recalls of any car you are considering. Research thoroughly on-line or even a consumer protection magazine can even be equally useful.

Never pause your auto insurance but continue it even if your present car is confined to the garage in a dilapidated stage. Try to maintain its auto insurance even if you do not own a car. If you discontinue it, you might have to pay a sizable surcharge when you go to buy another policy sooner or later.

Have an independent agent as your personal insurance expert. An independent agent generally has very good relationships with many an insurance company. He would be highly obliged to shop for you for an insurance policy. The same guy would also be handy as your personal insurance expert you can always fall back on. An insurance agent may not cost you anything extra, but the support you get from him will be worth more than what you pay for.

Free Lemon Law Case Review

Once in a while, when you are behind the wheel in your car, you may see a red light come on and illuminate words like "Check Engine" or "Oil Pressure”.  How do you react to these warning signs? Do you choose to pull to the side of the road and follow the check signals accordingly? Or, will you continue to drive on, without batting an eye lid?

Warning lights are there in a car for a safety purpose. These warning lights keep you informed if something goes wrong with your car. In some cases, ignoring a warning light can quickly result in catastrophic damage to your car's engine and worse to its occupants. It is very important that you know what each warning means and what you should do if it is lit, while driving.

Here are three very important warning lights you may encounter on your car, sooner or later, if they have not done before:

Charging System Light
The charging system light usually appears as a battery symbol, ALT or GEN. It glows when the power by the alternator stops the supply to vehicle's electrical system. A failure of charging system may not result in serious mechanical damage. This warning light gives you an ample chance to react. You can start with cutting down all unnecessary electrical loads, like the radio, heater, air conditioning, etc. Then drive the vehicle to a repair facility for further inspection. You will have a minimum of fifteen minutes of daylight driving time, the non-headlight use before the battery voltage drops for the ignition system and the engine to quit.

Engine Temperature Light

The engine temperature warning light appears as a thermometer or as TEMP. It comes on when the engine temperature exceeds the safe maximum level temperature. High engine temperatures can cause major engine damage and failure. This warning gives you time to deal with the situation unlike the oil pressure warning. Check if there are any signs of a cooling system leak, like the steam or liquid coolant coming from under the hood. Check if there is trailing off behind your vehicle. Pull your vehicle off the road at the earliest and safest opportunity. Switch the engine off and call for assistance. Do not get in contact with boiling coolant to prevent getting scorched. Take extra caution while opening the hood in the presence of steam. Never attempt to remove the radiator cap when the engine is still hot.

If there is a visible absence of these signs, it is possible that the overheating is the result of a temporary overload of the cooling system. A temporary overload of the cooling system can sometimes occur in hot weather when the vehicle is heavily loaded or is carrying a trailer with it. In order to lower the engine temperature, first decrease the speed of vehicle. You can turn off the air conditioning. You should also roll the windows down. Since the heater is actually a second radiator that can provide additional cooling for the engine, set the heater to the full hot position and operate the heater fan on its highest setting. Move to the nearest service station for a technician can help you correct the situation.

Oil Pressure Light
The oil pressure light generally appears as a symbol of an oil can or is just shown as "OIL". This oil pressure light illuminates when there is a major drop in engine oil pressure. This is a serious warning. Oil lubricates the vital components of your car's engine. In the absence of a proper lubrication, your car's engine can quickly grind itself to a junk. If you notice the oil pressure light flashing, pull your car off the road immediately. Switch off the engine and call for help. Do not attempt to drive the vehicle any farther than is needed. If you attempt to drive the vehicle any farther than is needed, it will only increase the possibilities of the engine damage. Besides, attempting to drive the vehicle any farther than is needed in such situation will further aggravate the problem. Where you could have done with a minor repair, you will have it blown into a full fledged problem that might need a complete engine replacement.

Free Lemon Law Case Review

The economic repercussions of Japan’s devastating earthquake and tsunami are creating shock waves in the global auto industry. The dual disaster have shuttered many Japanese factories alright, they are also causing worries about the impact on the production shutdowns in North America. While Japan is grappling with the situation created as the after math of the earthquake, auto makers are scrambling to assess the full impact of the twin natural disasters and Japan’s ongoing nuclear crisis.

There are already signs that Japanese auto plant shuttering will interrupt supply chains beyond its borders. It is affecting the auto industry's global supply chain. The auto companies outside Japan keep their fingers crossed and hope that the disruption does not stay long enough to affect the deliveries of the car parts or shipments. Japan’s ravaged northeastern region is a major hub for auto parts suppliers and critical infrastructure. The auto parts suppliers have traditionally ensured the flow of goods to overseas markets earlier before persistent power outages came in. Even though only 7 to 8 per cent of a North-American built car comes from Japan, all it takes is one critical supplier to be out of business and you can’t make vehicles.

Because the industry’s global supply chain is so integrated, it is predicted that short-term disruptions of both vehicle parts and some popular models are imminent:

• Nissan Inc. said some Infiniti models, as well as the GTR and 370Z, could face delayed shipment to Canada and the United States
• The North American supply of fuel-efficient cars such as the Toyota Yaris,  xB and xD models of the Scion, Toyota Prius hybrid and Honda Fit are at risk because those cars are only made in Japan

While Japanese auto makers are grappling with the situation to restart production, the automakers around the world can feel the ripples caused by the twin natural disasters and Japan’s ongoing nuclear crisis, as the following:

• British parts maker GKN Plc (GKN.L) says that it may have to cut the number of components it makes because some of its Japanese customers, which include Mitsubishi (7211.T) and Nissan (7201.T) may be unable to take deliveries
• Shutdowns could affect Toyota Canada Inc. and Honda Canada Inc., who have two assembly plants each in Canada
• French car parts maker Valeo's (VLOF.PA) five factories in Japan, which supply local car makers, are operating but it is too soon to say if they would have to lower the rate of production
• The potential shortage of “high-value” Japanese-made components, such as engines, transmissions and electronics that are used in North American-made cars, is the biggest concern
• Both Nissan Canada and Mazda do not produce in Canada but the fallout from their Japanese shutdowns are still unknown
• Nissan, Honda (7267.T) and Toyota (7203.T) export their luxury cars to China instead of producing locally. Exports to China will suffer now, as the big three have shut their Japan plants
• Nissan who has an engine factory in the region supplying around 12 percent of its global need for engines, might be hardest hit
• European car makers, Renault would be affected, because of its cross-shareholding with Nissan
• Truck makers Daimler and Volvo (VOLVb.ST) with significant production in Japan are also exposed
• Volvo said it had halted production at its Japanese unit UD trucks' four plants until March 21
• Japanese auto makers’ manufacturing facilities in Canada and the US will likely get hit by short-term shutdowns by the end of this week

Auto makers typically keep a 90-day inventory on hand, providing a buffer when production is interrupted. But foreign makers have typically kept less extra supply on hand. Though auto makers are optimistic of resuming production, shutdowns could reoccur. It is still not clear if power supplies will be sufficient to restart entire operations or just the offices.

General Motors Co is recalling its newer Buick Lacrosse and Cadillac SRX vehicles. The recall is over a software defect that could create potential problems with the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in the vehicles. In the MY 2011 Buick LaCrosse and Cadillac SRX vehicles,  the software in the electronic climate control (ECC) module may disable the ability to adjust the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system settings. Consequently, the driver will be unable to control the heating, cooling, and ventilation of his/her vehicle.

According to General Motors Co:

• 10,179 vehicles for the model year 2011 were affected by the recall
• These vehicles showed problems resulting from a faulty defrost system
• The faulty defrost prevented clearing the windshield when the defrosters stopped working
• Software in the electronic climate control modules in the said vehicles may prevent the driver from controlling the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems
• On the road the flaw can hamper visibility and increase the risk of a crash by keeping the defogging and defrosting systems from properly clearing the windshield

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the said vehicles are recalled as they failed to fulfill the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 103, “windshield defrosting and defogging systems”.

According to the federal regulators:

• The problem in the climate control electronics module would disable control of the whole climate control system
• The disabled control in turn will lead to a possible loss of window defrost/defog capability
• Loss of window defrost/defog capability in a vehicle is a gross violation of federal safety rules on driver visibility

Meanwhile, General Motors has assured that there have been no untoward incidents or accidents arising from the problem so far. Actually, the defect in the climate control electronics module was discovered in an internal test when working on a new version of the software, but not when the vehicle was on the road, by the consumer.
As the potential fault lies with the software and not with the components themselves, dealers will carry out the necessary upgrades and recalibration on the modules with the problem.

The recall is expected to begin on or before the 11th of March. Notifications to owners of the affected vehicles will be sent and technicians at the dealership will reprogram the module free of cost to the consumer.

Fuel hose spider infestations have set off a mass Mazda recall of 65,000 cars. Mazda announced one of the strangest recalls in automobile history, this month. According to a spokesperson for the National Traffic Safety and Highway, the recall is over the presence of Yellow Sac spider that may weave its web in the evaporator canister vent line in the affected cars. The webs and the spiders subsequently can lead to blocking critical fuel lines that will eventually cause fuel tanks to leak.

The bizarre recall affects 52,000 Mazda6's in the US, and 13,000 in Puerto Rico, Canada and Mexico. These Mazda's were believed to have been built in 2009 and 2010.

Though Mazda has found over 20 cases of the spider infestations so far, the employees of the Japanese automaker are clueless as to why the tiny arachnids chose only their Mazda6 brand. Mazda6′s are manufactured in Flat Rock, Michigan and the recall affects four-cylinder models.

The spiders have been weaving small sacs in rubber hoses attached to the cars' fuel tank system, blocking ventilation and causing pressure that could lead to cracks, gas leaks and in the worst-case scenario a fire. The company reports there have been no serious incidents related to this bizarre infestations.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

• The recalling of thousands of 2009 and 2010 Mazda6's is due to the Yellow Sac Spider which lives predominately in the US
• This type of spider hates cold weather and the US went through one of the coldest winters on record this year
• The spiders seeking warm shelter make their way into the vehicles’ fuel cylinders and start weaving webs
• The web can make its way into the evaporator canister vent line and may cause a restriction and damage to the line
• The pressure could cause thousands of tanks to crack, spilling fuel and increasing fire hazard
• It could also cause vapor emissions which would be harmful to the vehicles’ occupants

It was unclear why the eight-legged pests were partial to the Mazda 6, the only model affected so far, over other models, brands or other automakers. This particular spider is about the size of a dime and weaves a small sac instead of a large web.

According to a Mazda spokesperson, they really do not know how the Yellow Sac Spiders are getting in. It is even speculated that the spiders are attracted to the smell of gasoline, but Arachnid experts disagree. Gasoline would kill them if they come in contact with it, and if they were attracted to it, the scientists would have known it long back.
In all its likelihood, they like to spend their time in little tight spaces which is more likely related to how the fuel system in the Mazda6 is constructed.

According to the automaker, it will notify owners of the affected cars, this month. Dealers will inspect and clean out the fuel lines if necessary, though Mazda is apprehensive of ever solving the mystery of the fuel line-dwelling spiders.