Every year, Consumer Reports magazine issues a ranking of the most reliable cars based on an intricately tailored set of criteria. The magazine analyzes data from a combination of cumulative tests on automakers’ models and predicted reliability based on reader responses. The magazine’s 2009 findings produced some surprising insights that may run counter to public thought.
Japanese and Korean cars dominate in reliability, with 36 of the top 48 highest reliability scores. All Hondas and Acuras scored above average reliability, while larger companies like Toyota and Nissan produced very few vehicles scoring below average. American brands Dodge, Cadillac and Chrysler rounded out the bottom of the pack.
Perhaps the most unexpected finding from the study was that many luxury brands proved less reliable than more affordable models. Inexpensive small cars and mid-sized family sedans proved to be the most reliable vehicles by category. Luxury brands BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz fell within the bottom third.
Although cars are never guaranteed to run flawlessly, many states have consumer protection laws to protect and help those who have been sold a sub-standard vehicle. Consumers should seek the guidance of an experienced California lemon law attorney to educate them about their rights. If you suspect you’ve been sold a lemon, call the Law Offices of Howard D. Silver for a free consultation about your case at 866-49-LEMON.
Protecting consumers is always important; however, in times of financial crisis, ensuring that buyers are receiving quality products and services is even more crucial. A Yakima Herald-Republic story reports that Washington State lawmakers have passed a series of consumer protection laws. The story mentions that these new laws aim to dissuade individuals from trying to scam or defraud those who are already struggling financially due to the economy.
One of the new consumer protection laws in Washington relates to used car buyer protection against lemon vehicles. This law was introduced after the Attorney General’s Office detected an alarming trend of used car dealers burying lemon cars at auctions for relatively low prices and reselling them at higher prices throughout Washington State. Before the new law, Washington State’s lemon law only covered new cars. Now, used car dealers in Washington State will be required to disclose when a used car was repurchased under the lemon law of a different state.
With this additional protection, used car buyers will also have access to a vehicle’s title information to determine if the car has ever formally been returned to the manufacturer for a problem. Obviously, a title that reflects a used vehicle history of being totaled, reconditioned, salvaged, junked, damaged, rebuilt, or a lemon law return, may affect the vehicle’s resale value.
Even though lemon laws vary from state to state, consumer rights are a major concern across the board. If you believe that your used car may have a different history than what the used car buyer revealed to you, you may be entitled to your money back plus other expenses.
