Lucid Motors Has First Recall Thanks to Brakes Risk

Just a few months after the company began shipping its first cars to buyers across the country, Lucid Motors has announced that some vehicles already need to be called back.

The luxury electric vehicle startup is recalling just over 200 Lucid Air vehicles because of a defect that could eventually snap the front brake line. That would make brakes much harder to use, increasing the risk of an accident, Lucid told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“The snap ring below the front damper lower spring seat may have been installed incorrectly by the Supplier which may result in snap ring failure, causing sudden loss of ride height, damping force, and possible damage to the front brake line hoses,” Lucid said in an NHTSA defect notice. The problem could result in “possible loss of vehicle control and possible diminished braking authority, leading to an increased likelihood of an accident,” the company added.

The company said it would notify the owners of recalled cars and ask them to bring their vehicles to Lucid studios or Lucid satellite service centers for inspection and repair at no cost. It also said that the supplier has certified to Lucid that all subsequent snap rings have been properly installed.

Last month, Lucid reduced its production forecast to a maximum of 14,000 cars from an earlier target of 20,000 vehicles. The company cited “supply chain and logistics challenges” for the move, according to Reuters.

The company’s chief executive has also recently suggested that Lucid may increase the price tag on its vehicles as a result of "huge inflationary pressures.”

How California Car Owners Can Fight Back

The Air recall may be Lucid’s first, but recalls over serious defects that put people’s lives at risk are all too common across the auto industry. Millions of vehicles are recalled around the world each year, often long after they have left factory floors and dealership lots and have already hit the road.

California car owners do not need to wait for a recall to get defective vehicles fixed. They have some valuable rights and options under the state’s lemon law.

Formally known as the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, the lemon law forces auto manufacturers to perform a broad range of repairs on cars while they are under warranty. The law also requires manufacturers to buy back vehicles that they cannot or refuse to fix. That includes compensating the owner for the purchase price, financing fees and other related expenses like towing and rental cars.

The law permits car manufacturers to offer to replace a vehicle, rather than buy it back. It is up to the owner, however, to decide whether to accept or reject this alternative arrangement. An experienced California lemon law attorney can help you weigh your options.

Speak with a California Lemon Law Attorney

If you have been stuck with a defective or malfunctioning vehicle, a California lemon law attorney at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help you fight back.  

Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a California lemon law attorney.