July 10, 2004

It was time to look into the lemon law. Apparently my car fit all the criteria, twice over. But when I read the lemon law book, it said I couldn't use the form in that book but I had to use the form in the Florida Lemon Law book which I was supposed to have been provided. But I didn't have one. Called the dealer. They had one for me. Went back there, picked it up. The first page was supposed to be filled out when I purchased the car. The dealer must have forgotten. Oops.

Filled out the form. Description of continuing defect(s) or condition(s):

Sunroof works intermittently & there's a problem in the electrical system (battery, starter, starter relay).

Mailed it off to Chrysler, registered mail as required. The postal worker inquired whether I would prefer certified mail as it is significantly less expensive. But for some reason the state of Florida requires registered mail - $9.62, rather pricey. But worth every penny if it gets me out of this car. Mailed off a copy to the Florida Attorney General, regular mail, as required. Got back a receipt saying they received it.

July 21, 2004
Got a call from Chrysler. They asked if the car was still having problems. I told them I wasn't using it. My son is home from college for the summer. He got a summer internship at the same company my husband works at, and they've been carpooling all summer so I've been using his car. I told her I'm afraid to use the car. I told her I had a 70 year old mother who is not well that I have to drive occasionally, and she gets very upset when the car won't start. I told her I have an 11 year old daughter and I can't be having her bake in the 95 degree heat for an hour or more while I wait for a tow truck. I told her I don't want to use the car because it keeps breaking, and as long as I have another vehicle at my disposal I'm not going to use it.

I put 28 miles on the Cruiser this summer, and that was going back and forth to the dealer. The lady from Chrysler said I had to use it because the way this lemon law works is after it's reported, I have to have another problem with the car - at that time, they (Chrysler) makes a final inspection and repair attempt. If I have another problem after that, then they replace the car. And she said all that has to happen within 26 months of date of purchase. I told her my son was going back to school in a few weeks in his ten year old Mitsubishi Galant with 92,000 miles on it that has not had one problem all summer, and at that time I would get back in my 16 month old Chrysler PT Cruiser with 16,000 miles on it, a few hundred of which are from going back and forth to the dealer for repairs, and not one moment sooner.

A week later I received a letter from Chrysler, certified mail, return receipt. Only cost them $4 and change. Wonder why they don't have to send it registered mail? Anyway, it said: "Per our conversation, it is my understanding that currently you do not have any concerns with your vehicle. Should any concerns arise, please call me immediately at ... so an inspection/repair may be undertaken at that time." Apparently me saying I was afraid to drive the damn car led him to understand I had no "concerns." Interesting interpretation, albeit not entirely unexpected. I wonder if I should bother replying...nah, my son is leaving in a couple of weeks and I have the utmost faith that my car will have a problem sometime in the few weeks after that.

And the saga continues...