Have you discovered that your Ford E-Transit has the “shakes” when you are traveling at 65 mph or above? Did you take your car in for repairs – perhaps, multiple times – but the dealership can’t figure out what’s causing your van to shake or vibrate continuously at high speeds? Without a doubt, this is a very stressful situation to be in, especially when you are using the car for commercial purposes and there are many lives that may be at stake.
Unfortunately, many owners of Ford trucks and vans have been struggling with this problem for many years. As lemon law attorneys, we are often asked the following questions by concerned Ford owners:
- If they can’t fix the problem, can I lemon my car and get a new truck or van?
- If I can return my truck / van, can I get a refund or do I have to replace my truck with another Ford vehicle?
- What if the manufacturer won’t take me seriously when I tell them that the problem with my vehicle isn’t going away?
In this article, we will go over your rights under the California lemon law, aka the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, and what you can do if your car turns out to be a lemon. However, this information is for general purposes only, so please give us a call if you have questions that you would like to discuss with an experienced lemon law lawyer.
What is the Ford Shake?
The Ford Shake is a term that’s used to describe a persistent shaking or vibrating in Ford trucks and vans during higher speeds, especially at around 65 to 75 mph. This is a scary situation to be in when you are traveling down a busy highway, which is why there have been so many complaints over the years concerning the Ford Shake. No exact cause for this issue has been determined by Ford, but constant shaking may be caused by:
- Uneven wearing of the tires
- Bent or damaged wheels
- Improperly balanced tire-wheel assembly
- Worn out suspension components
- Problems with the engine or transmission
Make sure to schedule a repair service right away at an authorized Ford repair center. Any of these issues can lead to serious problems for you and your vehicle if they are not fixed in a timely manner. If you continue to experience shaking issues, contact us to learn how you can proceed with a lemon law complaint.
If my Van or Truck Shakes at High Speeds, What are my Rights?
There are laws in place to protect consumers of warrantied products, so you may have grounds to demand compensation if your Ford E-Transit continues to shake at highway speeds. Several forms of compensation may be available to you, but the main portion of your settlement is one of two things:
- A replacement vehicle that’s comparable in value / quality to your original van.
- A refund of the price of your vehicle at the time of purchase.
- Cash and keep – if you believe the problem is something you can live with, you keep the car and the manufacturer pays you for the trouble you went through.
There may be applicable fees that can be deducted by the manufacturer, like the mileage offset to account for the usage of the vehicle prior to noticing the defect that classified it as a lemon. While there is a formula to calculate the offset, it’s a good idea to consult an attorney and make sure that you are not being cheated by the manufacturer. Furthermore, the manufacturer must be given enough repair attempts to fix whatever is causing your van to shake. That’s why you should never wait to take your car in for repairs as soon as you notice the Ford Shake.
At this point, you may be wondering, “How many times do I have to take my car in before I can ask for a refund or a new vehicle? This is another issue that you should discuss with a lemon law attorney, as the answer depends on the problem you are having and how it’s impacting the car’s usability or safety. It’s essential that you get this right, so that it can’t be used against you by the manufacturer to invalidate your claim.
Lemon Law Case Settlement Values
What a claimant is entitled to from a lemon lawsuit depends on a variety of factors, primarily, the value of their vehicle at the time of purchase or lease. But consumers that are dealing with a lemon incur a variety of expenses due to the on-going problems with their car. When you take all that into account, a lemon law settlement may vary from $10,000 to $40,000 or more. The most valuable claims may exceed $100,000 or more, which typically involve cases where the manufacturer is found to be in willful violation of the state’s lemon law. For a discussion on all the factors that will affect what your lemon law claim is worth, call us for a free consultation.
How Long Do These Cases Take to Settle?
Unfortunately, it’s impossible to provide a direct answer to this question, as there is no way to predict the various complications that will affect your case timeline. The manufacturer’s cooperation is a critical factor in these cases. As long as they are willing to negotiate in good faith, a few months or less is all that may be needed to resolve your claim. On the other hand, it may be in your best interest to file a lawsuit instead of negotiating directly with the manufacturer. Doing so can mean that it will take longer to settle your case, but it may be necessary if the settlement you are being offered is far below what you deserve under the law. Regardless of the strategy that’s needed, you can count on us to fight tirelessly on your behalf and ensure that you receive a fair settlement for everything you’ve gone through.
What is the Time Limit to File a Lemon Lawsuit?
In California, consumers have 4 years to bring forth a lemon lawsuit if their vehicle has a major defect that the manufacturer is unable to resolve. However, it can be challenging to figure out when the statute of limitations begins and ends. Please don’t rely on the manufacturer to supply this information, as they will try to limit your chances for a lawsuit as much as possible. Instead, talk to a lawyer at our office, who can figure out the correct statute of limitations based on your own circumstances. No matter how much time you have left to file a lemon case, it’s best to take action right away so that you can receive payment and move forward from this incident as soon as possible.
Attorney’s Fees are Covered by the Manufacturer
It’s true – your legal fees as a lemon law claimant are covered by the auto manufacturer under California law. The attorney’s fees provision ensures that consumers have fair and equal access to legal representation when they are going up against a powerful corporation, like Ford Motor Company. In essence, you can hire a lemon lawyer right from the start at no upfront cost, since all their expenses will be billed to the manufacturer. In addition, the lawyer gets a set hourly fee for their services, so you will receive every penny of your settlement award without any deductions for legal fees.
Hopefully, this will put your mind at rest if you’ve been stressing over how you will represent yourself in a lemon law complaint. All you have to do is contact us at our office and schedule a free case review at a time that’s convenient for you. We look forward to discussing your rights and the steps we can take to bring you compensation if your Ford E-Transit has turned out to be a lemon.
Schedule a Free Second Opinion
As someone with a pending lemon law claim, you may benefit from a second opinion from an attorney at our law firm. Some people come to us for a second opinion on important questions, like “Am I getting the best possible settlement offer from the manufacturer?” Others have serious concerns about their lawyer’s experience or commitment to their case and want to verify their suspicions with another lawyer. A free second opinion at our law firm can put your mind at ease or provide you with options to redirect your case in the right direction. Since this is a completely free service, don’t hesitate to contact us if you’re interested in a second opinion consultation.
Learn About Your Rights and Legal Options
Being stuck with a lemon car isn’t just a matter of annoyance. Defects like the Ford Shake are typically caused by serious defects, which have the potential to cause an accident for you, your passengers, and other motorists. That’s why you should take the time to learn about your rights and legal options if repeated repair attempts haven’t stopped the persistent shaking issues with your Ford E-Transit.
Here at Guardian Lemon Law, our sole motivation is to obtain the highest possible settlement for you and your loved ones, while holding the manufacturer responsible for a defective vehicle. As we’ve mentioned, we can take immediate action on your case at no upfront cost, thanks to the attorney’s fees provisions under the state’s lemon law. Not only that, you won’t have to pay us at all if we don’t win your case, as we offer a Zero Fee Guarantee to all our clients.
You can reach us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week if you need representation on a Ford truck or van lemon law claim. Our lawyers are standing by to advise you on a lemon case for any Ford or Lincoln vehicle, including:
- F-150
- F-250
- Ford F-350
- Ford Bronco
- Ford Bronco Sport
- Ford Ecosport
- Ford Escape
- Ford Edge
- Ford Explorer
- Ford Expedition
- Ford Maverick
- Ford Ranger
- Ford Transit Connect
- Lincoln Aviator
- Lincoln Corsair
- Lincoln Navigator
- Lincoln Nautilus
