Lest Toyota breathe a sigh of relief, the Washington Post reports that a federal grand jury issued subpoenas to the automaker for information about potentially defective steering relay rods. The steering relay rods relate to 4Runner SUVs, T100 pickups, and other pickups, and can allegedly wear out, causing drivers to lose control of their vehicles.

When typesetting was done manually, letters were inserted backwards. Thus, typesetters were told to “mind your p’s and q’s,” because the two letters could be easily confused. Clearly, it’s now time to mind your commas.

Although the Senate version of the bill and the House version of the bill need to be combined (a process that could take several weeks), it appears as though auto dealers will face much-deserved scrutiny by the new consumer protection agency. That’s a victory for hard-working Americans all across the country.

Unfortunately, those who are serving our country are all too often the victims of scams like yo-yo financing, falsified credit applications, failure to pay off liens on trade-in vehicles, and excessive dealer markups. The Department of Defense has recognized this problem, and has encouraged the Treasury Department to advocate for the inclusion of oversight of auto financing and sales in the Consumer Financial Protection Agency.

As might be expected, lobbyists for car dealers have been pushing back hard, and convinced Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) to introduce an amendment to exempt auto dealers and their lending practices from the financial reform bill. The Military Coalition, comprised of groups ranging from the Veterans of Foreign Wars to the Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America to the Military Officers Association of America wrote to Senate Banking Committee ranking members Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Richard Shelby (R-AL) in opposition of the amendment.

The latest news is that the full Senate may vote on this important issue today. If you agree that our men and women in uniform shouldn’t get scammed, call your U.S. Senator today. You can find his or her phone number by clicking here.

If you are a service member (or are a family member) and have been scammed by auto dealers, you can also let Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety know by clicking here. They’re collecting anecdotal information to help ensure that our troops receive the protections they deserve.

When Consumer Reports magazine put the Toyota Lexus GX 460 on its “do not buy” list, Toyota responded immediately, telling dealers to stop selling the SUV. Chalking one up in the “lessons learned” column after the PR disaster over sudden acceleration, Toyota is now going one step further. According to the Los Angeles Times, in the wake of charges that the Lexus was at risk for rolling over, the automaker will also now check the stability controls in the Highlander and the 4Runner.

In the meantime, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is also conducting tests on the Lexus GX 460, and has issued its own warning to consumers.

Basically, Arkansas lemon law covers new vehicles that are purchased or leased, including motor homes (but not the living quarters). If your vehicle is defective, the lemon law says that the dealer or manufacturer has three chances to fix it, plus one final attempt. However, if the defect is so serious that it could cause serious injury or death, Arkansas lemon law says that the vehicle can be considered a lemon after only two repair attempts. Alternately, if your vehicle has a number of unrelated defects, the manufacturer or dealer has five attempts to repair the problem, or your vehicle must be out of service because for a total of 30 days before being considered a lemon.

Arkansas Lemon Laws for Used Cars

Like many states, Arkansas doesn’t have a lemon law for used cars. Nevertheless, there are other laws on the books that can help if you’ve purchased a defective used car. For example, the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act covers all purchases (from iPods to cars), and the Federal Trade Commission has what’s called a “Used Car Rule.” If the dealer doesn’t follow the Used Car Rule, you may have a case. Similarly, if the odometer’s been tampered with or if the dealer engaged in financing shenanigans, you may have a legal basis for getting some or all of your money back.

Selecting an Arkansas Lemon Law Attorney

When you select an Arkansas lemon law attorney, you’ll be assured that the letter of the law will be followed in order to establish that your vehicle is a lemon. For example, the law requires that the manufacturer be notified in writing after the third repair attempt, and the letter must be sent by certified mail with a return receipt requested. Then, the manufacturer has 10 calendar days to schedule a final repair attempt.

It’s important to get the timing right and to cover all the legal bases in order to get protection under Arkansas lemon law. The legal team at LemonJustice.com can help you maneuver through the system and may even be able to negotiate a settlement on your behalf. Moreover, they’ll go to the mat for you and take the manufacturer to court in order to get the justice you deserve.

Arizona defective automobile laws address the lemon law warranty period and lemon buybacks, but don’t deal with the more general issue of car dealer fraud. According to Arizona lemon law, new vehicles are covered by the lemon law for either the term of the manufacturer’s warranty, for two years from the original delivery date of the vehicle, or for the first 24,000 miles – whichever comes first.

Arizona lemon law requires that you take your defective vehicle in for repair four times, or that the vehicle is out of service for a cumulative total of 30 calendar days, before it can be declared a lemon. If you do have a lemon, though, the manufacturer must offer a lemon buyback or a replacement vehicle.

Arizona Lemon Laws for Used Cars

Many states don’t have one, but Arizona has a lemon law for used cars. The Arizona lemon law for used cars is very narrow, though, and only covers a vehicle for 15 days or 500 miles after purchase – whichever comes first. In addition, it only covers major components that break down, and requires you to pay $25 for the first two repairs.

Selecting an Arizona Lemon Law Attorney

When you select an Arizona lemon law attorney, you’ll have the peace of mind that comes from knowing that someone is on your side. Automakers are notorious for trying to run out the clock on lemon law claims, hoping that their stalling tactics will ultimately keep them from having to offer a lemon buyback or replacement vehicle.

With an Arizona lemon law attorney, you’ll be on equal footing with the car manufacturer, and you’ll have a much better chance of negotiating a settlement or winning your court case against the automaker. The legal team at LemonJustice.com can provide you with a free case evaluation and guide you through the final steps necessary to establish a valid Arizona lemon law claim.

Alaska law defines a “lemon” as one that has defects that cannot be repaired in a “reasonable” number of attempts. What’s considered “reasonable”? According to Alaska lemon law, it’s either one defect that the dealer or manufacturer has tried to fix three times, or a combination of defects that puts the vehicle out of service for a total of 30 or more business days. The law covers a vehicle during the term or the express warranty or one year of the original delivery date – whichever comes first. However, if you think you have a defective vehicle and want to pursue a lemon buyback, you must give the manufacturer written notice and allow the automaker one final attempt at fixing the problem.

Alaska Lemon Laws for Used Cars

Unfortunately, Alaska does not have a lemon law for used cars. However, the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act covers any product, including a used car. Therefore, you can seek protection under that federal law if you think you have a used car lemon.

While Alaska doesn’t have a lemon law for used cars, it does have a lemon law for boats and ATVs. This new law, passed in 2009, covers boats, snow machines, and ATVs for problems that can’t be fixed within the first 12 months after you buy it. As with new vehicles, defective boats, snow machines, and ATVs are subject to three repair attempts, a final notification to the manufacturer, and a final repair attempt before being considered lemons.

Selecting an Alaska Lemon Law Attorney

When you select an Alaska lemon law attorney, he or she can help you navigate the waters of Alaska lemon law. For example, the law says that if the manufacturer has an informal dispute settlement procedure in place that’s been approved by the Attorney General, you must participate in that before going to court. However, if there isn’t an approved program in place, you can go directly to court.

It can be difficult to sort out the nuances of the law, which is why you need a lemon law attorney at your side. Automakers have teams of lawyers to fight lemon law claims – both in informal arbitration and in a court of law. You’ll only be on equal ground if you have a legal eagle with you. The attorneys at LemonJustice.com can help guide you through the process, and can often negotiate a favorable settlement for you without ever having to go to court.