Honda Won’t Recall CR-Vs Over Oil Problems
» Posted January 28, 2019 • Resources | Share This Post
Buying a car costs a lot of money. When you make that kind of investment, you expect the vehicle to work as advertised. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. New reports about an oil problem with some Honda CR-Vs are a reminder that many automobile defects can be difficult to notice.
Honda owners have filed complaints with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration about rising oil levels in their cars. The company says the problem is mostly impacting 2017 and 2018 CRVs driven short distances in cold weather, according to Car and Driver. A company official told the publication the issue appears to be caused by unburned gasoline diluting the oil. That gasoline doesn’t have a chance to burn out of the oil on shorter trips.
The company says it won’t issue a recall because the problem doesn’t raise any safety concerns. But some CRV drivers have reported their cars stalling as a result of gasoline diluting the oil. Honda also recalled some 380,000 CR-Vs and Civics in China last year as a result of a similar issue, according to Consumer Reports.
California Lemon Law May Help
CR-V owners in California may have some protections available under state law.
The California lemon law gives car buyers who drive off the lot and later find out their vehicle has a defect to get the vehicle repaired, replaced or sent back to the manufacturer. The law requires a car maker to take certain steps to fix a malfunctioning vehicle while it’s under warranty. If repair efforts are not successful, the manufacturer has to take the car back and compensate the owner for the purchase price and/or down payment, financing charges, outstanding loan balance. The car maker is also on the hook for related expenses, like car rental, towing and repair costs.
The law applies to both new and used cars, if repair attempts happen during the vehicle’s warranty period. The number of opportunities the manufacturer has to be given to fix the problem before invoking the law depends on the type of defect and the specific safety concerns it poses.
We Can Help You Enforce Your California Lemon Law Rights
If you’re a California car owner driving a lemon, it is vital that you consult an experienced lawyer to consider your rights an options. At the Bickel Law Firm, our attorneys have represented hundreds of clients in defective vehicle cases under the California lemon law. We understand the significant stress that can come with haggling with car dealers and manufacturers. Our lawyers work aggressively to resolve these cases for the people that we represent.
Our offices are conveniently located in San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with an attorney.
