The Impact of Stop-and-Go Traffic on Vehicle Reliability: Lemon Law Considerations for Los Angeles Drivers

LA drivers are no strangers to stop-and-go traffic. The city, with its congested highways, is home to one of the slowest-moving traffic in the country. In 2021, LA drivers lost 62 hours to the gridlock, a figure that is nearly twice the nationwide amount of 36 hours. The stop-and-go traffic also cost drivers about $968, which is much higher than the national average of $564.

This constant starting and stopping is not only frustrating but also puts strain on your vehicle. Every LA driver should know how stop-and-go traffic affects their vehicle and how this plays into California’s Lemon Law.

Let’s dive in.

What Is Stop-and-Go Driving?

Stop-and-go driving is when you have to come to a stop on the road frequently. Your car crawls a few inches forward and then comes to a screeching halt again. This goes for miles on end.

With the traffic in Los Angeles going from bad to worse, stop-and-go traffic has become the new normal. Every day, traffic on key freeways, like the 405 and the 101, moves at a snail’s pace, especially during peak hours.

How Stop-and-Go Traffic Affects Your Vehicle?

The stop-and-go traffic in Los Angeles is beyond annoying. But the worst part is that it causes significant damage to your vehicle. Like a computer virus, the damage can spread to different areas of your car or pickup, and you won’t notice it until it’s too late. Put simply, it can send your vehicle to the shop for good.

Here is how your vehicle will suffer in stop-and-go traffic:

1. Brake Wear and Tear

The stop-and-go traffic in Los Angeles demands frequent braking. Although your vehicle moves a few paces forward, it has to come to a quick halt, often slamming on the brakes. Constantly tapping your brakes in traffic causes them to wear out faster. Some defects we commonly see are warped rotors, but this only surfaces after the brake pads heat up in the stop and go driving. You might need to change them soon.

2. Frequent Oil Changes

The engine runs differently in stop-and-go traffic. It runs at lower and inconsistent speeds, which increases fuel dilution in your engine oil. That means defects with respect to engines can surface sooner than ordinary driving conditions would demand.

3. Suspension Issues

The stop-and-go traffic in Los Angeles can uncover defects to your vehicle’s suspension system. Worse still, 44% of California’s roads are in poor condition, the most of any state in the U.S. So, between the constant starting and stopping, your vehicle has to tolerate rough road surfaces and potholes. These constant jolts can put extra strain on defects in your vehicle’s suspension system. This can cause the shocks, struts, springs, and control arms to fail.

4. Increased Fuel Consumption

Stop-and-go traffic also affects fuel efficiency. The constant acceleration and deceleration make your engine work harder, resulting in more fuel consumption, not to mention emissions. This may cause a defective engine to surface sooner.

5. Engine Overheating

The harder your engine works, the more likely it is to heat up. In stop-and-go traffic, the engine’s cooling system often struggles to work efficiently. With little air going in the radiator, the cooling system might fail as a result of a defect after a few miles. This can cause your engine to overheat.

6. Clutch Might Need Replacement

If you drive a vehicle with a manual transmission, you will need to engage the clutch more frequently on congested roads. Transmission defects can damage your clutch. Eventually, you may need to change clutch parts like discs, pressure plates, and release bearings.

7. Overworked Battery

Getting stuck in LA traffic means keeping your vehicle idling. Idling can put your battery in overdrive. If your vehicle has a defective battery, it can cause strange electrical problems no different than failing batteries in a child’s toy. Idling also prevents the battery from getting charged.

Vehicle Reliability and California’s Lemon Law

California’s Lemon Law protects consumers who purchase or lease new but defective vehicles.

To qualify under the California’s Lemon Law:

• The defect must substantially impair the vehicle’s use, value, or safety.
• The manufacturer must fail to fix the defect within a reasonable number of repair attempts.
• The issues must arise during the warranty period or a certain number of miles driven.

As you can see, the California Lemon Law typically doesn’t cover issues that arise from wear and tear. So, it can be likely the manufacturer attempts to pass off a defect as arising from stop-and-go driving. But, if it relates to a defect that wasn’t addressed by warranty service, you might have a claim. Don’t be fooled!

How Can a LA Lemon Law Attorney Help

We always recommend talking to a skilled LA lemon law attorney. Most lemon law claims are tricky. Talk to a trusted lawyer immediately if you suspect you were sold a lemon. An LA lemon law attorney will analyze your case. They can help you understand whether the issues with your vehicle qualify under the lemon law. If yes, they can help you prepare and file a claim. They will also negotiate a settlement with the manufacturer and represent you in court if your case goes to trial.

Talk to A Qualified LA Lemon Law Attorney Today!

Stop-and-go traffic doesn’t necessarily damage your vehicle, but a defect in materials or workmanship surely will. Fortunately, the California lemon law can come into play if the damage was caused by these defects. You may have a claim if it was caused by a defect that the manufacturer failed to address in the warranty service. We recommend talking to an LA lemon law attorney.

Looking for a lemon law lawyer in Los Angeles? CLINE APC regularly represents California residents in lemon law cases. We offer a FREE consultation to all our clients. We work on a contingency fee agreement. That means we charge our fees as part of the settlement AFTER we win. You don’t pay us anything UPFRONT.

Call 888-982-6915, email info@clineapc.com, or schedule a free consultation now.