What are your rights when you buy a new car, believe there's a problem with it, but can't get anyone to listen to you? That's what a local woman says is happening to her.
Megan Roberts of South Lebanon bought her new Chevy Cruze back in November and says she's noticed a noise from the beginning. "Shortly after I bought the vehicle, we had to have it serviced because it was making a popping sound when we hit the brakes. The first time I took it in they just hit it with a hammer and gave it right back to me."
Turns out that didn't quite fix the problem so Roberts said she had to take it back. "Since then I've had it in 4 more times and I have 4 service reports. What do they say was causing the popping sound? They replaced several things on my car. They replaced an end link and a sway bar."
At this point, Roberts says the car has been in for repairs a total of 28 days during which time the dealership replaced many parts. Now she says its still popping but only intermittently. "Its intermittent, it doesn't happen everyday and of course when I take it to the shop it doesn't happen but have heard it."
Since the mechanics can't hear it any longer they've closed the case. But Roberts filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau's Auto Line Program because she still hears the popping noise occasionally and believes it could be safety related. "I found out it mostly happens when its cold because when it was warm for those few weeks I didn't hear it."
So when it got cold overnight last week I told her to try to record the popping noise she did and has an appointment with the dealership tonight.
The lemon laws in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana allow you to get your money back or a new car if it's been in the repair shop 3 or more times for the same problem which affects its safety, value or use or if your new car ends up in the shop more than 30 days within the first year or 18,000 miles. You first need to report it the manufacturer. If you're still not happy, file a complaint with the BBB and it will mediate the problem and if need be take it to arbitration.
