Buying a new car is so exciting! You’ve looked forward to it, and when you finally drive it home, you feel like you’ve marked a goal off your bucket list. Far from most new car owners’ minds is the potential for something to go wrong. Sometimes persistent issues crop up, and in some cases these can lead to numerous documented complaints and potentially to recalls.
But persistent issues and recalls don’t automatically qualify a car as a lemon. Each state has its own version of lemon laws, based on if a vehicle is exhibiting a substantial defect that severely impacts the vehicle’s use, value, or safety. Each state also adds its own criteria to this general definition, so there is more to classifying a vehicle as a lemon than a problem that persists.
We will discuss what generally contributes to a vehicle being classed as a lemon, and then we’ll review several Honda brake issues that, in some cases, have led to lemon law claims. We will then see how lemon law attorneys help their clients gain compensation for their defective vehicles.
Lemon Law Definition of a Substantial Defect
As we stated, under all states’ lemon laws, a vehicle has to demonstrate a substantial defect that severely impacts its use, value, or safety. In the case of Honda over the last few years, reports of brake issues and some recalls have occurred. Usually recall repairs will solve a problem. Sometimes that is not the case, and the vehicle owner is left with a car that can’t be fixed.
State lemon laws allot a set number of reasonable repair attempts to the manufacturer. Often, this is 3–4 repair attempts but can vary by state and sometimes by severity (in some instances, some states will only allow two repair attempts if the issue is safety-related).
How a Vehicle is Determined to be a Lemon?
When a consumer presents their potential claim to a lemon law attorney, they share their accounts of what has occurred. They’ll also share evidence like photos, videos, and call, mail, or email logs documenting repairs and correspondence with the dealer and manufacturer. The attorney will review this information and determine if the vehicle can qualify as a lemon under state law. If so, the manufacturer will be notified that a lemon law claim is being filed on behalf of the client.
Note: In some states, the manufacturer gets a final repair attempt after they are notified of the lemon law claim. The states that include this provision provide a deadline (such as 7-15 days) for the manufacturer to complete the final repair attempt. If the repair is unsuccessful or the manufacturer refuses or doesn’t respond, then the attorney will proceed with the claim.
For more information on arbitration and other frequently asked lemon law questions, click here.
Honda’s Recent Brake Issues and Lemon Laws
So, how does this fit together with some of the Honda braking issues that have been in the news for the last few years? Some consumers may have made out fine and received their recall repair or had other repairs done, and their vehicles are working properly.
Some might not have been so lucky.
There are many reasons for delays or obstacles to vehicle owners pursuing lemon law claims. Even if a defect is persistent and substantial, sometimes people learn to live with it or work around it. The best course of action is to seek counsel from a lemon law attorney as soon as possible. This will help the consumer learn if they have a case that can be pursued for compensation, such as a lemon law buyback or a replacement vehicle.
Sometimes manufacturers deny or minimize vehicle problems, leading to car owner confusion and frustration. The way to know how to deal with these issues is to contact a lemon law attorney (866-440-2460) for a free consultation.
Illustrating Specific Honda Vehicles’ Brake Problems
Based on actual Honda brake recalls and consumer reports (this is but one news story), we’ll review three composite narratives that show how consumers fought for compensation with the help of a lemon law attorney.
Image Source: Pexels
The “Phantom” Stop on the Highway
While driving her 2022 Honda CR-V on a clear highway, a woman experienced a terrifying event: the car suddenly slammed on the brakes with no obstacles in sight. This “phantom braking” occurred multiple times, yet the dealership claimed the computer system was “operating as intended.” Fearing a high-speed rear-end collision, she contacted a lemon law attorney.
The lawyer found that the unpredictable braking constituted a substantial safety impairment. It made the driver not have control over the vehicle’s speed. The attorney filed a claim demanding a full buyback, arguing that the manufacturer failed to repair a defect that put the car owner and the public at risk. The manufacturer settled the claim, and the car owner was provided with the buyback.
The Sinking Pedal and Master Cylinder Failure
A man purchased a 2023 Honda Ridgeline but soon noticed the brake pedal felt “spongy” and would occasionally sink nearly to the floor at stoplights. An inspection revealed that the brake master cylinder was physically separating from the booster due to manufacturing errors. Even after three repair attempts, the owner felt the car was unsafe for daily use.
His lemon law attorney argued that the defect created a serious safety risk, and it also significantly diminished the vehicle’s worth. The firm got the manufacturer to provide a buyback for the faulty vehicle.
Lemon laws are confusing. Read our guide to the lemon law complaint process.
The Loose Brake Pedal Pin
A woman’s 2023 Honda Pilot began to feel “unstable” during braking; the pedal itself felt loose and would move side-to-side. Once when she was driving, the pedal felt so disconnected that she struggled to apply enough pressure to stop. This was eventually traced to a faulty pivot pin that was not properly secured during the vehicle’s assembly at the factory.
Her attorney recognized this as a classic impairment of use, as a driver cannot be expected to operate a vehicle where the primary stop mechanism is physically unstable. The legal team successfully argued for a vehicle replacement. The car owner received a new vehicle of the same make, as she liked that model and wanted to try it again.
How a Lemon Law Attorney Can Help You
As we’ve seen, Honda (and all manufacturers) must be held accountable when substantial defects occur with their vehicles. Having a lemon law attorney represent you is vital, as their negotiating skills put you in the best position to gain the compensation you want, whether that’s a buyback or a replacement.
Note: Your attorney will explain your state’s formula for calculating your buyback. You’ll also learn about the process to pursue a replacement vehicle. In either situation, the attorney will fight for your right to ‘be made whole.’
Tip: It’s vital to work with attorneys who are experts at the lemon law process. When interviewing potential lemon law attorneys for your case, specifically ask about their experience working on cases involving Honda. You can also ask about cases they’ve won that are similar to yours but involve other manufacturers. Your goal is to find out their success rate at gaining compensation for clients, especially for claims like yours.
Trust Allen Stewart, P.C. for Expert Lemon Law Representation
Allen Stewart, P.C. has won many lemon law cases across the country involving Honda vehicles. If you are having issues with your Honda (or any other make of car), we encourage you to contact us now (866-440-2460) for a free consultation.
What happens in a consultation with our lemon law attorneys? You will present your evidence and discuss with us the problems your vehicle is exhibiting. We will review your information, and if your claim is valid, we will offer to represent you against the manufacturer.
But what about cost? You do not have to pay our attorneys to represent you. The manufacturer is obligated to pay your attorney fees when you win your case.
Don’t wait to contact us. Allen Stewart, P.C. is a well-known lemon law firm that knows how to take on manufacturers who may try to ignore, evade, or otherwise diminish the validity of your claim. We will fight to win you the compensation you deserve. Call us at 866-440-2460 or schedule your free consultation online.