Other Approaches You Can Try

Other Approaches You Can Try


If you cannot get satisfaction from the dealer or from a
manufacturer's zone representative, contact the Better Business
Bureau or a state agency, such as the office of the attorney
general, the department of motor vehicles, or a consumer
protection office. Many states also have county and city
offices that intervene or mediate on behalf of individual
consumers to resolve complaints.

You also might consider using a dispute resolution
organization to arbitrate your disagreement if you and the
dealer are willing. Under the terms of many warranties, this
may be a required first step before you can sue the dealer or
manufacturer. Check your warranty to see if this is the case.
If you bought your car from a franchised dealer, you may be
able to seek mediation through the Automotive Consumer Action
Program (AUTOCAP), a dispute resolution program coordinated
nationally by the National Automobile Dealers Association and
sponsored through state and local dealer associations in many
cities. Check with the dealer association in your area to see
if they operate a mediation program.

If none of these steps is successful, you can consider
going to small claims court, where you can resolve disputes
involving small amounts of money for a low cost, often without
an attorney. The clerk of your local small claims court can
tell you how to file a suit and what the dollar limit is in
your state.

The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act also may be helpful. Under
this federal law, you can sue based on breach of express
warranties, implied warranties, or a service contract. If
successful, consumers can recover reasonable attorney's fees
and other court costs. A lawyer can advise you if this law
applies to your situation.