Archive for March, 2010

Investment schemes, bank overdraft fees, Toyota accelerator defects, Lexus paint issues – make no mistake, consumer complaints are growing by the day, as more businesses provide unacceptable products and services.

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), identity theft was the top complaint filed by consumers in 2009. Other consumer complaints that made the list include:

Maddox Hargett & Caruso, P.C. is committed to defending consumers against unscrupulous businesses and corporations. We make companies take responsibility for faulty products, false advertising or misrepresentation. If you’ve been wronged by a company’s product or service, contact us today. We will fight for your rights.

Acceleration flaws on Toyota Motor’s vehicles now have the attention of NASA, which the government is recruiting to study the issue as part of its investigation into the automaker. At least 51 deaths have been linked to acceleration problems on Toyota vehicles. 

The government also has tapped the National Research Council for its insight. The studies will cost some $3 million. 

Toyota has recalled more than 8 million cars and trucks worldwide for defects. As reported March 30 by Bloomberg, the company faces at least 27 lawsuits and more than 80 class-action cases linking electronics systems to deaths or injuries in crashes. 

If you have had concerns about your Toyota vehicle, please contact us. We want to hear your story. We will investigate the matter and advise regarding your legal options.

With the value of Toyota vehicles plummeting in the face of massive recalls, the six million affected consumers are, in turn, filing lawsuits in record numbers. At least 89 class-action lawsuits have been filed to date, which could end up costing Toyota more than $3 billion. According to a review by the Associated Press, the financial estimates are just the tip of the iceberg because they don’t include potential payouts for wrongful death and injury lawsuits. Lawsuits against Toyota began escalating last year, following a slew of recalls connected to sudden unintended acceleration. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has since reported that 52 people died in accelerator-related crashes.

Useless and patronizing are the words many consumers use to describe Lexus management and their response to alleged paint defects with Lexus vehicles. Now the Lexus story has taken a more dangerous turn involving unintended acceleration problems causing safety concerns.

As reported March 10 by the Washington Post, investigators who conducted a 2007 inquiry found that at least three of every 100 Lexus ES 350 owners in Ohio reported experiencing unintended acceleration issues. 

“Anything over 1 percent would raise a red flag, particularly for the manufacturer,” said James C. Fell in the story. Fell worked at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for 30 years, as well as served as chief of research for traffic safety programs. 

Lexus is a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corp., which has found itself in the hot seat because of massive recalls tied to problems with its Toyota and Lexus brands. To date, 8.1 million vehicles worldwide have been recalled by Toyota, with the possibility of more to come.

In December 2009, an article in Consumer Reports stated that 41% of the sudden acceleration complaints received at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in 2008 were related to Toyota and Lexus.

A March 10, 2010, Associated Press report says that class action lawsuits related to Toyota’s recalls over unintended acceleration could wind up costing the automaker $3 billion or more. The common allegation in the lawsuits centers on whether Toyota knew about accelerator problems and concealed them from buyers.  

Federal prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation into Toyota’s safety problems, and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is looking into what the automaker revealed to investors and consumers about past acceleration complaints.

Paint issues have become a growing source of frustration for many Lexus owners. Some consumers report that vehicles as new as 30 days are already showing signs of paint chipping on the car’s hood, as well as on the side mirrors. To the dismay of Lexus owners, however, the dealerships don’t appear to be coming up with an effective resolution. 

A simple Google of “Lexus paint problems” will produce a rash of complaints from Lexus owners who all voice similar dissatisfaction with their Lexus purchases. Whether it’s a paint quality issue, faulty workmanship or defective paint in general, it’s not what buyers expect in a premium, high-priced vehicle like the Lexus.

The bottom line: More and more once-proud Lexus owners are fast becoming unhappy customers. If you purchased or leased a Lexus automobile and experienced chipped or nicked paint and/or scratches on the car’s painted surface, contact us today.