Category: Auto Defects

It is true that for many individuals worldwide, Polaris signifies excitement and experience in their everyday lives. The Polaris started evolving UTVs in 2007 with the aim of developing the utmost fanatic sports vehicle. However, no one can deny their unparalleled brilliance in UTVs. Because of these impeccable vehicles, Polaris has become essential in people’s daily lives. In addition, the Polaris released the unrivaled beast, i.e., the RZR PRO XP, in 2019, which is the most recent monarch of this range. However, in recent years Polaris industries had a major issue with the Polaris RZRs vehicles causing fire hazards that led to injuries and deaths. Therefore, this caused a number of recalls of Polaris RZRs.

Recall Insights of Polaris Off-Road Vehicles

The recall of the off-road vehicles by Polaris includes the PRO XP 4 Turbo Ultimate, Premium, and Sports models 2021-2022. This recall took place voluntarily by Polaris under the fast-track Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) method of recall. In order to provide solutions to prevent customers from certain hazards. All of the vehicles that Polaris recalled were in 5 different colors: green, orange, white, black, and graphite. On the other hand, these sold vehicles were in four-seat configurations. The front grille has a Polaris imprint on it, while the sides of the vehicle have stamps of RZR and Polaris. The model label is on the edges of the frame. Additionally, there is a VIN on the left side of its rear wheel.

Problems Appeared In Polaris RZRs

Although Polaris is a prominent name in the off-road vehicle market, its product still has some flaws. Firstly, the main reason for recalling the Polaris RZR vehicles is the fire risk. There are cases where the vehicle caught fire while driving at high speed. In this regard, several injury and death reports came front. Secondly, the trouble with the air intake of this RZR vehicle raises serious questions about its rating. The air filters let the dust penetrate inside the motor. It makes the user dissipate all the potential following the acceleration. Thirdly, it is hard to believe how the owner of the RZR vehicle complained about a dead battery. However, a couple of factors can hinder it, such as the wrong installation of the wiring or high temperature. The stock battery of the Polaris off-road vehicle is not capable of providing enough power to devices like light bars, stereos, winches, and others. 

Why Polaris Went Through Numerous Recalls?

The cause behind the numerous recalls of the globally renowned Off-Road Vehicles Company is the dereliction of duty. Despite ensuring definite checks about 100% safety for its usage, the company delivers the vehicle to the market knowing that any error can occur that might be a threat to human life. On the contrary, there appear to be a number of lawsuits against the Polaris Company. Having said that, Polaris was held liable to its customers for the harm caused. Significantly, it is their utmost responsibility to give clarification about their vehicles catching fire. Also, explain the necessary design modifications that aim to promise safety. 

One-Stop Ride/Stop Sale Command from Polaris

In previous years, there have been multiple recalls of different RZR vehicle models, with few recalls due to fire hazards. However, there is a stop ride/stop sale command for the Polaris RZRs PRO XP 4 in 2021-2022. As discussed earlier, the reasons for fire hazards are due to oil drainage, dead batteries, overturning, and others. Keeping this in mind, the Polaris Company has also received hefty penalties for the risk of death and injury. In that response, the company recalled the RZR vehicles to bring about certain changes in those models.

What Is The Pervasiveness Of The Certain Problem?

Recall is the mainstay of the manufacturing process. Polaris has received several complaints on this; it has not happened for the first time. As per the reports of CPSC, Polaris has thorough knowledge about its RZRs being defective and causing harm to its owners. Though, the company did not bother to inform the agency of the issues promptly. By the time it could take action, there were already several cases of fire hazards. Therefore, to resolve this problem, NHTSA is increasing its insight to move rapidly upon discovering the defects. 

What Action Can Consumers Take?

The CPSC has conveyed that the clients with the mentioned VINs should stop using the Polaris off-road vehicles. Most importantly, the customer should never execute any type of repair and maintenance that leads to the involvement of corresponding parts, namely heat shield washers, gaskets, brake pads, and others. In addition, they should demand Polaris to fix the product damages. In return, the vehicle company will take the responsibility of performing essential steps that enables the safety of their vehicles.

How to Prevent Polaris RZRs from Fire Hazards?

The problems that are associated with the Polaris RZRs are mostly ingrained in the vehicle. Howbeit, it can occur due to human-caused errors as well. Here are the actions that can be taken to minimize the risk of fire hazards. Coming to the solution to these problems, the dual battery system can be established. In this way, this battery configuration can boost additional accessories while the main battery can make sure about constant side-by-side activation at any point. Aside from this, one can buy robust OEM post-market automotive parts. It will give you a smooth drive while postponing the wear and tear, no matter how roughly the vehicle is used. 

Wrap-Up

If you own any of the Polaris models with the aforementioned recall, we encourage you to contact Lemon-firm at (833) lemon-firm. For a free consult with a Lemon Law expert. At the Lemon firm, our trial attorneys have experience in litigating off-road vehicles. You can contact us for any queries!

CarMax has been the subject of increased scrutiny due to the massive number of complaints alleging that lemons are being sold at its dealerships. Several customers accused CarMax of selling cars with major defects without informing them before purchase. The investigation began when authorities learned that consumers may not have been aware of unrepaired and unreported safety recalls in used vehicles purchased from the manufacturer. As CarMax is a prominent company in the car retailing industry, it was assumed that this could have far-reaching implications for the whole industry.

Unveiling the Investigation

State authorities allege that buyers were not informed of the defects before they purchased the vehicles. CarMax was accused of selling cars with defective safety parts, including airbags, brakes, and fuel pumps. It has been claimed that these cars were involved in accidents but listed as “accident-free” vehicles. Moreover, some car models have severe safety issues that could put customers at risk while driving on roads or highways. Although this CarMax investigation has been ongoing for several years, the company denies any wrongdoing.

Consumer Allegations against CarMax

Recently, CarMax has seen an uptick in complaints from customers who allege that the company sold them lemons. In some cases, customers said they were not made aware that the vehicles they were purchasing had been in accidents or had other major damages. Others alleged that CarMax misrepresented the condition of the cars, leading them to believe they were getting a good deal. Many complaints alleged that CarMax sold customers lemons, and dozens of those customers say they were not informed of the car’s damage until they had purchased it. 

Outcomes of the Investigation

The State Attorney General’s office investigated complaints that CarMax sold customers “lemons” or used cars with major mechanical defects. They were investigating whether CarMax misled customers about the quality of the vehicles they were selling or whether the company properly disclosed all the flaws of the cars before they were sold. It was found that CarMax failed to notify the customers, and the company was fined and forced to change its business practices.

What CarMax Has To Say?

CarMax has stated in response to the complaints that they take the concerns of their customers seriously and are investigating the matter. They also stated that they have a rigorous inspection process for all their vehicles and stand behind their quality. Despite CarMax’s assurances, many customers are still concerned and say they will never buy from the company again. 

What To Do If Your Car Is A Lemon?

If you think your car may be a lemon, there are a few steps you can take to get relief. Try to resolve the issue with the dealership or manufacturer. Most of the time, these cars have major problems that can’t be fixed, no matter how often you take them to the dealership or repair shop.

If you cannot resolve the issue, contact your state’s Lemon Law hotline for more information. Also, you can file a complaint with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. You may be entitled to a refund or a replacement vehicle if you find that your car is a lemon. But it’s important to know your rights and understand the process before you take action. Further, you can just sell the car and cut your losses. If you do that, make sure you tell the buyer about the problem so they can make an informed decision.

What’s Next For CarMax?

The future of CarMax is uncertain in light of recent events. The company has been fined for selling recalled cars without disclosing the recalls to the buyers. Regardless of these allegations, CarMax insists it is committed to selling quality vehicles. The company said these settlement terms align with CarMax’s existing practices and are not new. CarMax has vowed to cooperate fully with authorities. In the meantime, the company will continue to sell quality vehicles to consumers. CarMax’s commitment to quality of sale vehicles is admirable, but only time will tell if the company will bounce back from this scandal.

CarMax Lawsuit Settlements

In 2016, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) made similar claims against the company. The FTC said that CarMax had advertised vehicles with open safety recalls for defects that could cause serious injury. CarMax settled the charges in 2016 but was not required to pay any fines. As part of the settlement, CarMax was restricted from making statements about the safety of its vehicles unless they were free of defects. The company has not breached that settlement. CarMax has committed to displaying QR codes for autos on its sales lots, which will link directly to recall information. In addition, customers will be given hard copies of recall notices before they sign a contract. This way, buyers will have all the information they need to make a decision. CarMax has been disclosing open recalls on a vehicle-specific basis since November 2014 and is currently negotiating a multi-state settlement with the Attorneys General. However, CarMax has agreed to pay a $1 million fine.

Bottom Line

After being scrutinized by AG, CarMax is under fire for selling used cars with hazardous defects. In some cases, these automobiles were sold without divulging the flaws. Thus, if you are in the market for a used car, do research and ask plenty of questions before you make a purchase. It is also important to get a thorough pre-purchase inspection from a qualified mechanic. Plus, get a vehicle history report. Make sure that any promises the seller makes are in writing, and keep copies of all documents related to the purchase. This will help you avoid any problems later on.

Please contact us if you’ve experienced any of the issues mentioned in this article or any others. The Lemon firm has successfully helped our clients recover compensation, and we are ready to do the same for you. Call (833) Lemon-firm to speak with an experienced attorney who can evaluate your case and provide guidance about your next steps.

If you are looking to buy a new vehicle but are on a tight budget, a certified pre-owned (CPO) car can be a good idea. It could save you some money and will afford you the luxury of having the extension of the manufacturer’s warranty.

Some automakers introduced the CPO program in the early 1990s. Many vehicles were returning to dealerships in excellent condition, so manufacturers decided to resell the cars with detailed inspections, reconditioning, extended warranties, extra perks, and added peace of mind instead for perspective buyers.

What Is a Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle?

Unlike a used vehicle, a certified pre-owned car undergoes a mandatory inspection and should be refurbished to factory standards by technicians. Different dealerships have different conditions for their quality inspection but generally make sure that the car is in top-notch condition before putting it on sale. They also give you an extension of the manufacturer warranty coverage and piece of mind of the car’s new-like condition.

How Much Does a Certified Pre-owned Vehicle Cost?

CPO vehicles generally cost more than used vehicles as they undergo a thorough inspection and refurbishing process. They also come with a manufacturer-backed warranty that may include extra perks like free maintenance, free roadside assistance, and a complimentary loaner vehicle.

Right now, we are seeing a hike in used car pricing compared to last year and it’s hard to get an affordable used car of any kind. So do good research before investing in a vehicle.

Is There Value in A Certified Pre-owned Vehicle? 

The present car market is growing like the housing market. We are already seeing 10% higher pricing than last year. Looking at the raw figures, people are investing more in used cars than new ones. 

The used car market is huge and CPO cars are a small part of it. For now, the used-vehicle market has a 48-day supply and average prices are nearly $20,000 less than a new car. Certified pre-owned cars have mileage limits and look attractive with good enough shape and extended warranty. These cars are usually late models off-lease cars with less than 40,000 miles. Let’s see some CPO practices these days:

Older, High-Mileage Vehicles

We are seeing older and high mileage cars being labeled as certified pre-owned cars these days. In the coming months, Nissan will certify non-Nissan vehicles with a six-year/60000-mile warranty than the seven-year/100,000-mile warranty that Nissan vehicles get. General Motors is launching Car Bravo, a new consumer CPO service to certify any brand’s vehicle. 

Ford is selling all brand vehicles under its Blue Advantage program for up to 120,000 miles and offers a 14-day/1000-mile return policy. Honda is certifying 10-year-old cars with no mileage limits under its Honda True Used program. More manufacturers will soon start selling old, high mileage vehicles to cash in on the present demand.

Fewer Quality Checks, Potentially Higher Risk

Certified Pre-owned vehicles are supposed to undergo a thorough quality inspection where the dealership will check off nearly 200 items on the paper. The automaker sets the audit rules and practices, but CPO vehicles don’t get inspected by factory employees. 

Depending on dealership diligence, a CPO vehicle still could have underlying issues that were present at the time of trade in so it still may be worth your while to bring to a mechanic to diagnosis prior to purchase. Manufacturers are introducing high-mileage CPO programs in multiple tiers of CPO cars with separate names—and they each have wildly varying certification requirements. Not all CPO’s are created equal.

For example, Honda now has three CPO labels (Honda True Used, Honda True Certified, Honda True Certified+) all with different warranty coverages and age limitations. Ford has a 139-point inspection on Blue Certified vehicles vs the 172 points on Gold Certified vehicles.

So not all are right for every buyer, and you may be better off with a brand new car than a used car. It’s the most discouraging buyer’s market in decades so if you’re going for a certified pre-owned car, make sure to check everything thoroughly.

Have A Lemon Vehicle? Talk With Us Now

If you are an automobile owner and have manufacturing issues, you can contact us regarding your involvement in this or any potential class-action lawsuit. Serious vehicle problems require serious legal representation, especially when you are bringing a claim against a major automaker. 

At the Lemon Firm, our experienced Attorneys have been able to successfully recover compensation for our clients who were sold a vehicle with manufacturer defects, and we can do the same for you. Call (833) Lemon-Firm to speak with a Lemon law expert today.