Tesla Gets Poor Grade in Driver Survey
» Posted August 21, 2020 • Resources | Share This Post
Tesla owners pay a pretty penny for the right to be able to drive one of Elon Musk & Co.’s luxury electric vehicles. Perhaps that is why they are so vocal when the cars do not live up to their expectations
Tesla owners are the most likely to complain about problems with their vehicles, according to a new J.D. Power study.
The J.D. Power’s Initial Quality Study designed to gauge complaints from the owners of 2020 model vehicles in the first 90 days of ownership. It “measures components that fail and features that are difficult to use, hard to understand or don’t work the way owners want,” according to the consumer intelligence firm.
Tesla owners reported 250 “problems” for every 100 vehicles, J.D. Power said. That was the most on the list, followed closely by Land Rover (228), Audi (225), Volvo (210) and Mercedes-Benz (202).
New Dodge and Kia owners, meanwhile, were least likely to report problems. The 136 problems per vehicle were the fewest on the list, followed by Chevrolet (141), RAM (141) and Genesis (142).
Although Tesla was included in the annual J.D. Power study for the first time this year, the company was not officially ranked. That is because Tesla would not allow J.D. Power to survey owners in 15 states.
Legal Protections for Car Owners in California
Whether you drive a Tesla or are pushing a more modestly priced vehicle, car owners in California have some important rights under the state’s lemon law.
The Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act mandates that car manufacturers make certain repairs to vehicles while they are under warranty. If the manufacturer cannot fix the problem - or refuses to make the repairs - it is obligated to buy the car back. That includes by reimbursing the owner for the purchase price, as well as financing costs and other related expenses.
There is no set number of repair requests or attempts that have to be made before the buyback requirement kicks in. Although the manufacturer can offer to instead replace the vehicle, the owner has the right to reject that offer.
Speak with a California Lemon Law Attorney
If you are a California car owner who has been stuck with a lemon, there are certain steps that you need to take to ensure that you are covered by the state law. A California lemon law attorney at the Bickel Law Firm can help.
We have decades of combined legal experience, representing hundreds of clients in defective vehicle cases across the state. Our attorneys can help you understand your rights and options under the law.
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.
