Ford Motor Company is known for some of the world’s most iconic automobiles, including the Mustang and the F-150. While the company prides itself on producing solid and reliable cars, many Ford models have had significant defects throughout the years, including Ford Explorer transmission issues. For example, a recall was issued by the manufacturer in June 2022 for nearly 3 million Explorers from model years 2013 to 2021.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a defective or missing bushing within the transmission may prevent the vehicle from shifting gears or cause it to drive in the opposite direction when the driver selects Drive or Reverse. This problem posed an exceptionally high risk of accidents, and unfortunately, hard shifting, grinding, unintended loss of power, and other transmission issues continue to plague the Ford Explorer.
If you a Ford owner that’s having repeated malfunctions with your transmission, you have probably wondered about your legal rights under California law. Perhaps you’ve thought about the steps you need to take in order to get a refund from the manufacturer. Or, if you’ve leased your vehicle, you may be curious to know if you can return your lease for a defective Ford Explorer.
Consumers of warranty-backed cars have protections under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, which is often referred to as the California lemon law. Depending on your circumstances, you may be entitled to a refund or a replacement vehicle from the manufacturer, along with other monetary damages. Our lawyers will be happy to explain the legal process and help you take action on a lemon law claim against the manufacturer. Just give us a call to schedule a free case evaluation.
Can I Lemon my Ford Explorer if it’s having Transmission Issues?
Taking your car to the repair shop over and over again is a frustrating and stressful experience. Aside from the inconvenience, you are worried about the money you’ve lost and will continue to lose from the issues with your Explorer’s transmission.
Can I return my car if the problem hasn’t been fixed after multiple repair visits?
If the dealership is unable to fix the transmission on your warranty-covered vehicle, you can return the car and ask for a replacement vehicle or a full refund of the purchase price. However, you must ensure that you’ve given the manufacturer enough opportunities to remedy the transmission problem. The law only states that the manufacturer has a “reasonable” number of repair attempts, so many people have questions on how many times they should take their car in for repairs.
We suggest that you give us a call to discuss your Ford Explorer transmission problems with one of our attorneys. That way, we can determine the severity of your car’s defect and make sure that you’ve taken the proper steps to lay the foundation for a successful lemon law case against Ford.
How to get Your Lease Back if Your Car is a Lemon
If you did not purchase your vehicle outright, you may have concerns about the protections you can seek under the California lemon law. Can I return my car and terminate my lease if my Ford Explorer’s transmission keeps having the same problem? Can I get my money back from the manufacturer?
Yes, you still have the right to pursue a lemon law case if the defect with your car hasn’t been fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts. You can ask for the same types of compensation, which include a full refund or a replacement vehicle, plus incidental costs that you incurred due to your car breaking down.
Second Opinion from an Experienced Lemon Law Attorney
Are you receiving the time and attention you deserve form your current attorney? Do you have concerns about your lemon case that are not being addressed by your law firm? A second opinion consultation may be just what you need, which is a free service here at Guardian Lemon Law Group. Whether you have questions about the California lemon law or want to ask about switching lawyers with a pending case, we are happy to meet with you for a private, one-on-one consultation. You are under no pressure to leave your law firm or take any other action that you’re not completely comfortable with. For a free second opinion, simply give us a call at your earliest convenience.
What is the Average Case Value of a Lemon Lawsuit?
The amount you are entitled to from a lemon lawsuit depends on many factors, such as the purchase price of your car, your out of pocket expenses, and if you’ve sustained any injuries due to your car’s defect. The value of these losses is different for each consumer, so at the end of the day, there’s no such thing as an “average” lemon law settlement. If we had to come up with a range of settlement values, we would say the majority of cases fall between $30,000 and $350,000. If you’d like to obtain a more accurate assessment of what your lemon law claim is worth, contact us any time for a free consultation with one of our attorneys.
How Long will it take to Settle my Case?
Frankly, this is a tough question to answer, as there are many complications that may arise throughout your case. Since we can’t predict these issues ahead of time, the best we can say is that the majority of claims are settled within 3 to 6 months. In some cases, we may get lucky and resolve a case within 30 days from start to finish. On the other hand, some lawsuits have incredibly complex issues that will take longer to work through, meaning it can take over a year to recover the client’s payment.
Filing Deadline to Pursue a Lemon Law Claim
Under the state’s lemon law, consumers have 4 years to seek monetary compensation from the manufacturer if they were sold a defective Ford Explorer. The problem lies in trying to figure out exactly when the 4-year period starts. Many people assume that the statute of limitations starts on the date that they first noticed the transmission problem with their vehicle. That is true in many cases, but there are exceptions to this rule based on the type of claim you are filing and the terms of your warranty. To verify the deadline that applies to your situation, please call us to speak with a knowledgeable lemon law lawyer.
Contact us for More Information
As a consumer that was sold a defective product, it’s in your best interest to hire an attorney as soon as possible. However, most people assume that they are unable to afford a lawyer, and as a result, struggle to obtain the compensation they deserve.
First and foremost, we want to assure you that there is no cost to the client if they hire a lemon lawyer to represent them. According to the lemon law, the manufacturer pays the bills for any legal fees, which means you can take immediate action on a lemon complaint with no upfront cost. We provide additional protection in the form of the Zero Fee Guarantee, so that you won’t be responsible for any legal fees if we don’t win your case.
If you are ready to learn more about the legal actions that are available to you, contact Guardian Lemon Law to schedule a free case review.
