Buick, Chevrolet Sedan Defects Pose Crash Risk
» Posted January 25, 2021 • Resources | Share This Post
General Motors will soon alert owners of certain Buick and Chevrolet sedans that potentially malfunctioning suspension components could cause serious accidents.
A defect could cause the rear toe link suspension component to fail and force drivers to lose control of their vehicles, GM recently told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The rustproof coating on the rear toe link, which helps keep wheels pointed in the right direction, could chip away and leave the component susceptible to corrosion, GM says.
That, of course, puts drivers, passengers, and everyone else on the road at risk.
“A rear toe link fracture may reduce the ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash,” GM said in a defect notice.
The recall covers more than 213,000 vehicles, including the 2012 and 2013 Buick Regal, 2010 through 2013 Buick Lacrosse, and 2013 Chevrolet Malibu sedans.
The company is recalling covered vehicles in what it calls “corrosion states”: Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin.
GM says it plans to begin notifying the owners of covered vehicles by mid-February. Owners can take their cars to local dealers for repair free of charge.
Legal Protections for California Car Owners
Sadly, the GM recall is a common occurrence: large automakers regularly call hundreds of thousands of cars back because of serious defects that pose significant safety hazards.
The good news for car owners and lessors in California is that the state’s lemon law gives you some valuable rights and protections. The law requires carmakers to perform various repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty. It also forces manufacturers to buy back - or, in some cases, replace - cars that the company is unable or not willing to fix.
There is no specific number of repair requests or attempts that must happen before the buyback or replace requirement kicks in. It is imperative for anyone stuck with a lemon to consult a seasoned California lemon law attorney.
How a California Lemon Law Attorney Can Help
If you are a California car owner who has been stuck with a defective vehicle, an experienced lawyer can help you understand your rights and options.
California lemon law attorney Brian Bickel and his team at Bickel Sannipoli APC have represented hundreds of clients in defective vehicle cases across the state. Our lawyers work aggressively to resolve these cases for the people that we represent, guiding them through the legal process every step of the way. We have a strong track record of successful results for our clients.
Our offices are conveniently located in Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco. Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a California lemon law attorney.
