Is my car a lemon?

Question

I bought a 2004 Honda Accord from a Ford dealership in Sept. 2006. I have been having problems with it. I noticed some tiny oily looking water mark dots on it and the dealer says it is acid rain. Since I bought the car, I have had to change the brake pads. The car also blew a tire, and the front rotors had to be replaced because it would shake when I brake. Now the left turn signal is not working. When the bulb is replaced it blows up. I was told the switch is malfunctioning and needs to be replaced. This is too much trouble for a three-year old Honda car. Did I buy a lemon? If so, do I have any legal recourse in South Carolina especially since it has been 14 months since I purchased the car and there is no warranty left on it. I always maintain my cars properly so it is not a problem of maintenance. I have also noticed that the paint on the car is not as shiny as it could be. It is black but looks a little dull. Am I being paranoid here? Please help

Thanks for all the answers. Quiet.buck, I just asked a question. there was no need for you to go off on me with the subtle insults. I have always owned Hondas and this is the first time I had this number of problems so soon after purchase, so I was concerned. I don't expect to buy a car and never have problems, this was just a little unusual for me and I turned to people I thought were experts and who know better than I do. Easy with the insults, please.

Answer 1

the problem with your brake-rotors is you use your brake to much and they heat up and warp with a common problem, the tire maybe was defective and for you turn single look for a melted wire which happened to me from leaving the turn single light on to long can happen a lot . no i don't think your car is a lemon. I think your Honda may be a junkie car I never liked Honda's because they have a lot of issues.

Answer 2

no, it looks like you bought a car that was not maintained well by the previous owner, it was probably driven hard and that is why you had all the brake problems. The blown tire could also have been warn from hard cornering, brakeing and accelerating. the only issue listed here that could possibly be hondas issue is the signal switch and then the car only becomes a lemon if the problem cannot be fixed and even after replacing the switch and probably the light housing as well. this is the risk you take when buying a used car especially an off lease car as cars that were leased ar not always treated as well because the owner does not have to worry about whether the car will develop problems in the future b/c it will already be returned to the dealer. So they can drive the piss out of a car and not worry about it and just return the car to the dealer at the end of the lease and get there new one.

Answer 3

1. paint is paint, air is air. doesn't matter if you drive a Ferrari or a Hyundai, acid rain is out there and effects all cars. Honda actually has one of the weakest paint jobs on the market. Hate to say it, but Ford does a better paint job.

2. brake pads are normal daily wear on a car. depends on miles, how much and hard you brake and the quality of the pads and rotors. You might be changing these ever year or 2. So the fact that its 3 years old and you are doing them, 100% normal.

3. a car shaking and the rotors replaced is due to warped rotors. Any car gets these when the brakes are abused or slammed hard. Quick stopping can easily warp them. So say that one time on the freeway during rush hour you were doing 60mph and then had to slam on the brakes cause traffic stopped. That simple act could of easily warped them. Again, common normal maintenance item on a car.

4. turn signal bulbs do not last the life of a car. does a lightbulb work for as long as you own your home? no. fact the bulb keeps blowing is just a fluke. Either bad switch or the actual plug for the bulb got water in it and then rusted out, in turn shorting out the outlet. Again, 100% common on any car as cars are out in the weather, drive through rain and get wet.

Black car and its dull..... have you even waxed it? Did you know YOU have to wax it at least 3 times a year being black?

5. you did not buy a lemon and if you think this is high maintenance, then my best advice would be to sell the car and buy a bicycle. Cause I am not being mean but it seems like you think a car is something you buy and never touch it again. Sorry, but cars break down, cars need fixed on a regular basis and items like tires, brakes, etc are fixed on a non ending basis. If you can't handle that expense, don't own a car.

6. how can you even think the dealer is involved here? This is what I just TOTALLY HATE about the retail public. No offense but they are past stupid.

If you bought a sweater from say Walmart and 6 months later it shrunk in the dryer. Would you blame Walmart for the sweater shrinking? no.

So why do so many blame the dealerships for the same exact thing? How can a dealer be responsible for a tire that blows out? No one knows when that will happen. How can a dealership be responsible for brakes on a car that you drive? How can a dealership be responsible for the polution in the air world wide that causes acid rain? How can a dealership be responsible for you lack of knowledge about cars and not waxing your own to keep it shiny?

That would be like trying to sue LawnBoy for not mowing your grass cause you own one of their mowers. Its your job to do the mowing.

This kinda of thinking makes me just sick and I hate to say it, makes me "want" people to get ripped off by their ignorance over dealerships. And people wonder why dealers give them attitudes.... we see this non thinking all day long by people.

Answer 4

Lemon Law's only cover new purchased cars. Yes your a little psychotic just get another Mechanic to sort out the problems. A 4 year old accord is a great car 2008 honda Accord at dealers now. Turn signal brake pads rotors are normal maintenance items just find a Honda technician to help keep it in the best condition. Or trade it for a new one only you have driven.

Answer 5

Every part you mention except the turn signal switch is a normal wear and tear part that needs to be periodically replaced. I would check with the dealership to see if they will help cover the replacement of the switch, other than that I don't believe you have any legal right under lemon laws. As for the paint, probably just needs to be polished, go to a good detailer and they can make it shine.

Answer 6

properly, if it works and there is no longer severe structural deficiencies, that's no longer a lemon. the internet won't be able to take a glance at your automobile or tension it for you. whether you over payed, it does no longer mean the vehicle is a lemon. that's no longer continually the corporation's fault. particularly circumstances the customer would not evaluate the vehicle precise. there are tactics to tell if a automobile has acres of Bondo under the paint, or catastrophic mechanical failure in the close to destiny. maximum of that's checked actual with the aid of a valuable mechanic, appreciably greater wisely than with the aid of examining issues off an internet site. fairly while you're unfamiliar with vehicles. in certainty, in case you got a automobile at honest-industry-fee, or above, it has to function for a minimum predetermined time (in accordance on your state...right here that's 2 weeks) at finished means, with none important problems. A broken belt or failing brake do no longer fall decrease than this, because of fact they are seen consumables which could bypass at any minute, in spite of a automobile's age. whether, a seized motor, slipping transmission, broken guidance linkage or blown axle are no longer issues that are allowed to ensue interior that ingredient era. you are able to many times return the vehicle if a variety of issues ensue. distinctive states have distinctive rules on the subject of this. additionally, many places have a definite cost (properly decrease than industry fee) at which the vehicle is seen non-returnable.