California Lemon Law: Beware of Ford Rental Car Agreement

By: Norman Taylor Click author's name for more of his/her articles

Picture this: You are having trouble with a new Ford vehicle you recently purchased. You take it in to the dealership for repairs. Since your car has to be in the dealership overnight or for a few days, the dealer offers you a free rental car. They hand you a form to sign for the rental car, saying something like, "It's just a standard agreement." You sign it and are on your way. Some time later, you realize you own a defective vehicle?a lemon. You hire an attorney and bring a lemon law case against Ford. Much to your surprise, they produce as evidence a form, with your signature on it, releasing them from any liability regarding defects in your vehicle. It's that very same form you signed for that rental car.

If you think this is fiction, think again, for this is exactly what Ford Motor Company is currently doing.

"When a consumer has their vehicle in a couple times for the same defect at Ford, they have their dealers offer a rental car while the consumer's vehicle is in the shop for repairs, or while it is waiting for parts," explained Norman Taylor, leading California Lemon Law attorney. "However, there is a catch, a nasty one: in exchange for the free rental car, the consumer has to sign a release, which in theory would bar them from bringing a lemon law claim later. Would a court uphold such a release? Maybe, maybe not. And that is the problem."

Taylor has seen many such tactics in use. He has been a California lemon law specialist since 1987, and he and his firm, Norman Taylor and Associates, have handled over 8,000 cases for consumers with a 98 percent success rate.

At a glance, the form is quite misleading, and a bit confusing. At the top it is labeled, "MUTUAL RELEASE?Ford Motor Company?Alternate Transportation Assistance." The form then goes on to release Ford Motor Company, Ford Credit Company and all associated parties of any and all claims and damages of any kind or nature. As a consumer, you would be totally correct in wondering why such language would have anything to do with a rental car.

For this and many other reasons, it is vitally important that a consumer carefully inspect any document that he or she is signing. It is well-documented that dealers and manufacturers will take many actions designed to distract or deflect a consumer from bringing a lemon law claim?and it's apparent that Ford has devised yet another one in this release. If a form doesn't make sense, and if it has not been satisfactorily explained to you, don't sign it.

If you think you might be driving a lemon, it is best to contact a qualified California lemon law attorney right away.

About Norman Taylor & Associates

Norman Taylor and Associates have been assisting consumers since 1987. At Norman Taylor and Associates, the goal is to provide clients with the highest quality of legal representation if they are one of the unfortunate residents of California who have had the misfortune of purchasing defective vehicles or goods and who have recourse under the Lemon Law. The firm represents consumers in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. With a twenty-two year history of successful cases, Norman Taylor & Associates has established their reputation as a firm of consumer advocates that get the job done.

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About The Author: Norman Taylor studied engineering at Arizona State University as an undergraduate. He attended Glendale School of Law, graduated and passed the Bar in 1986. Aside from advocating consumer rights he volunteers for international human rights efforts and sponsors drug education speakers in the public school system. For more information about the California Lemon Law, visit www.normantaylor.com.