North Carolina Lemon Law Blog

The 10 Most Accident Prone Vehicles On the Road

february 12, 2009 06:00am

According to the article "Cars That Will Crack You Up," by Charles Plueddeman of MSN Autos, the ten most accident-prone vehicles on the road aren't necessarily dangerous because of the way they are built, but rather, because of how they are driven.

Kim Hazelbaker, Senior Vice President of the Highway Loss Data Institute, explains: "What we are seeing is a toxic combination of affordable, high-performance vehicles in the hands of drivers lacking maturity and good judgment. The cars at the top of the list are the highest-performance versions of each model, which in particular have a high loss rate."

So here they are...the Top 10 Most Accident-Prone Vehicles:

1. Scion tC
2. Chevrolet Cobalt SS
3. Honda Civic Si
4. Subaru Impreza WRX
5. Hyundai Tiburon
6. Mitsubishi Galant
7. Suzuki Forenza
8. Cadillac STS
9. Mazda RX-8
10. Infiniti G35

If you think you might have a lemon, contact North Carolina Lemon Law attorney Sean Soboleski, at his Asheville, NC office.

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Beyond the NC Lemon Law 2008 Vehicle Reliability Findings

february 03, 2009 06:13am

Are you thinking of replacing your vehicle? If so, make sure you do some research on vehicle reliability first. According to MSN Autos' latest Annual Car Reliability Survey, hundreds of new and used car models provide good reliability; not to mention, many of them are also fuel efficient and cost-effective.

Generally speaking, fuel-efficient vehicles comprise a very reliable segment of the current automotive market. European vehicles, which for the past five years have trailed behind the domestic models, are now showing signs of improvement.

The findings of MSN Autos' 2008 Car Reliability Survey are based on the experiences of those who were polled with 1.4 million vehicles. Respondents were surveyed on any serious problems or defects they had with their vehicles in 17 trouble spots during the last year, the results of which yielded current predicted-reliability ratings for new cars.


According to the survey, nine hybrid models, most from Japanese automakers, earned above-average predicted-reliability ratings. Conventional gas-sippers such as the Honda Fit, Scion xD, Smart ForTwo, and Toyota Yaris had few problems, according to the consumers who were surveyed.

Some European automakers, particularly Mercedes-Benz, had slipped to the bottom of predicted-reliability ratings in recent years. However, the latest survey results indicate a comeback.

Six Mercedes-Benz models, including the redesigned C-Class sedan, the ML350 SUV, and the sporty SL, have improved to average reliability, and as a result, are now recommended to consumers.


If you have purchased or leased a new vehicle that you're finding to be less than reliable, you may have a lemon on your hands. Educate yourself on the Lemon Law of North Carolina, by contacting NC lemon law attorney Sean Soboleski at his Asheville, NC office.


Used Vehicle Reliability

Often, used vehicles offer the best value because you're avoiding the biggest expense associated with purchasing a new car: depreciation.

For example, a seven-year-old Lexus RX SUV, a safe and reliable vehicle that typically costs $40K when new, can be found for $12 to $14K. Furthermore, drivers don't have to settle for a new small car like the Toyota Yaris when they can find a fairly new, roomier, and better equipped used vehicle in the same price range, such as a Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, or Toyota Camry.

To minimize the risks, look for vehicles that have proven their reliability over the years.

These are models that have performed well in CR road tests over the years, and have proved to have several or more years of better-than-average reliability:

Acura Integra
Acura MDX
Acura RL
Acura RSX
Acura TL
Acura TSX
BMW M3
Buick LaCrosse
Honda Accord
Honda Civic
Honda Civic Hybrid
Honda CR-V
Honda Element
Honda Odyssey
Honda Pilot
Honda S2000
Infiniti FX
Infiniti G20
Infiniti G35
Infiniti I30, I35
Infiniti QX4
Lexus ES
Lexus GS (RWD)
Lexus GX
Lexus IS
Lexus LS
Lexus RX
Lexus SC
Lincoln Continental
Lincoln Town Car
Mazda Millenia
Mazda MX-5 Miata
Mazda Protegé
Mazda3
Mitsubishi Endeavor
Mitsubishi Outlander
Nissan Altima
Nissan Maxima
Nissan Murano
Pontiac Vibe
Porsche 911 (except '03)
Scion tC
Scion xB
Subaru Baja
Subaru Forester
Subaru Impreza
Subaru Legacy
Subaru Outback
Toyota 4Runner
Toyota Avalon
Toyota Camry (except '07 V6)
Toyota Camry Solara
Toyota Celica
Toyota Corolla
Toyota Echo
Toyota Highlander
Toyota Land Cruiser
Toyota Matrix
Toyota Prius
Toyota RAV4
Toyota Sequoia
Toyota Sienna
Toyota Tundra (except '07 V8 4WD)
Volvo S60


These vehicles showed multiple Used Car Verdicts that were much worse than average, according to survey respondents. They consistently had more problems than other models overall:

Buick Rendezvous (AWD)
Buick Terraza
Chevrolet Astro
Chevrolet Blazer
Chevrolet Colorado (4WD)
Chevrolet S-10 Pickup (4WD)
Chevrolet Uplander
Chevrolet Venture
Chrysler Town & Country (AWD)
Dodge Grand Caravan (AWD)
GMC Canyon (4WD)
GMC Jimmy
GMC S-15 Sonoma (4WD)
GMC Safari
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Kia Sedona
Land Rover Discovery, LR3
Lincoln Aviator
Mercedes-Benz SL
Nissan Armada (4WD)
Nissan Titan (4WD)
Oldsmobile Bravada
Oldsmobile Silhouette
Pontiac Aztek
Pontiac G6
Pontiac Montana, Trans Sport, Montana SV6
Saturn Relay
Volkswagen Cabriolet
Volkswagen Jetta Sedan (turbo)
Volkswagen Jetta Sedan (V6)
Volkswagen Touareg

For information on the reliability of used vehicles, check out the article "Best and Worst Used Cars", provided by ConsumerReports.org and posted on MSN Autos.

If you have experienced problems with any of the above vehicles, or if you think you might have a lemon, contact North Carolina Lemon Law attorney Sean Soboleski, at his Asheville, NC office.

Posted By: admin

No End In Sight for Automaker Problems

december 24, 2008 07:29am

As General Motors Corp. and the entire U.S. auto industry verges on collapse, automakers in other markets are less than optimistic about their own future.

The demise of any or all three major automakers--GM, Ford Motor Co., Chrysler LLC--would mean massive job losses, not only for employees of the automakers themselves (a workforce of approximately 239,000), but also for other businesses associated with or dependent upon them. If all three companies went under, economists estimate that 2.5 million people would lose their jobs.

Such a blow means consequences for the entire auto industry, both at home and overseas. The bankruptcy of just one of Detroit's Big 3 could mean serious problems for Japanese automakers alone. Because U.S. and Japanese auto manufacturers share many of the same parts suppliers, their collapse would deliver a devastating blow to Japanese production in the U.S--a crucial market. Both Toyota and Honda sell more vehicles in North America than they do in Japan.

Japanese automakers are doing far better financially than their American counterparts, but they are definitely feeling the strain of a deteriorating U.S. vehicle market. Last month, when American auto sales plunged 37% (their worst numbers in over 26 years), Toyota's sales dropped 34%, Honda Motor Co.'s fell 32%, and Nissan's sank 42%.

Vehicle demand in China, Europe, Latin America and India is also on the decline.

Since the U.S. Senate rejected the auto industry bailout last week, the Bush administration is figuring out ways to provide emergency aid to GM and Chrysler, both of whom have indicated that they could be broke in a matter of weeks. Ford says it can make it through 2009, but it is requesting a line of credit from Congress.

For more information on this topic, check out the article, "Big 3 Woes Don't Give Japan's Automakers Joy," by Junji Kurokawa / AP.

Want to learn more about the Lemon Law? North Carolina lemon law attorney Sean Soboleski can help. Please contact our NC lemon law office to schedule a free consultation for your problem vehicle.

Posted By: admin

What Not to Do When Buying a Car

december 17, 2008 09:18am

There are certain things you want to avoid saying, as well as certain behaviors you want to avoid displaying, when negotiating a vehicle purchase. Next time you visit a dealership, keep the following things in mind:

-Don't tell the dealer how much you have to spend, or you can be certain you won't pay lower than that.

-Don't discuss financing until you've settled on a price.

-If you have another vehicle to trade in, don't even mention it until you've settled on a price for the car you're buying. In fact, find out what your trade in is worth at www.kbb.com or some other source. Print it and keep this information in your pocket. If they offer less than the book value, then you can you can pull out the vehicle information and use it to bargain with.

-Don't show too much emotion or indecisiveness. You lose your negotiating power if the dealer is able to read you or feed into your enthusiasm, for example. Keep your game face on!

-If you're negotiating as a couple, don't let the dealer play two of you against each other. Have a game plan when you go in.

-Think long and hard about buying the dealer's extended warranties, or extended warranties from a third party. A manufacturer’s extended warranty is always a better choice than a third party warranty. If your vehicle turns out to have problems, you know you can take it to the authorized dealership for repairs.

-Know your credit score before you head to the dealership.

-Never show desperation. Leverage your ability to walk away from the deal at anytime. If you indicate that you "need a car right now," the dealer could quickly become quite inflexible.

-Standard fees should include sales tax, title, vehicle registration, and delivery fees. Request that any other fees, i.e., "dealer prep" be removed.

-Don't let them sell you extras like "rust proofing coating." Simply keeping your vehicle clean over the years will take care of that problem.

-Before buying a used car, have a mechanic of your choosing inspect it prior to signing any paperwork. If the dealer or private seller won't allow this, don't buy the car.

For more information on this topic, check out the article, "10 Things Not to Say When Buying a Car" by Sam Foley of MSN Autos. If you have questions about the North Carolina lemon law or would like to consult an experienced NC lemon law attorney, please contact our office.

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General Motors Seeks Funding for Merger With Chrysler

november 10, 2008 05:44am

General Motors Corp. Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner is seeking a quick release of funding from federal officials to facilitate a merger with Chrysler LLC. Potential sources of funding include the Energy Department's $25 billion dollar loan program, and the U.S. Treasury, which is managing the $700 billion bank bailout and has the authority to loan money to corporations in crisis. A government official confirmed that GM was seeking around $5 billion in funding, which could be used to refinance Chrysler debt, help pay for buyouts, or cover other tie-up costs.

As auto sales continue their drastic decline, the Detroit Big Three are rapidly burning holes in their pockets. Lobbyists for the Auto Manufacturers state that “It may be in the best interest of the federal government to provide assistance to the companies in the face of potential bankruptcy”, while opponents of such a government bailout for these corporations feel that this would be a misuse of taxpayers’ money, and would cost thousands of jobs. The Treasury currently has officials reviewing GM's request and the company has hired a number of prominent former Treasury officials to lobby on its behalf, according to records filed with the U. S. Senate. GM and its lobbyists are emphasizing the need for “quick access” to that $25 billion loan package.

Families whose livelihoods are tied to Chrysler are waiting nervously to see if the merger will go through, especially after Chrysler recently said it would cut about 5,000 jobs, or a fourth of its salaried work force, by the end of the year. In one of the worst auto markets in decades, GM is also seeking the kind of relief that would boost its cash reserves. By Nov. 1, the company will have reduced its salaried work force by 15 percent, or around 5,000 workers, since June. GM also announced that it would need to make more white-collar cost cuts which would include involuntary layoffs.

The While House has said that it is monitoring the woes of the Big Three automakers, indicating the possibility of a government bailout under the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program. While all involved parties seem to agree that federal aid is crucial to the implementation of a merger between GM and Chrysler, the Energy Department has said that it could take "six to 18 months or more" to release the money.

For more information on this topic, check out this article on www.detnews.com, or contact our NC lemon law office.

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