Tag Archives: consumer alert

CONSUMER ALERT: GM Recalls Trucks, Vans for Roll-Away Problem

Over the weekend, GM announced a recall of approximately 69,000 2013-model full-size trucks and vans including the Cadillac Escalade and Chevy Silverado.

According to General Motors, there has been a problem with these vehicles shifting out of park and rolling away. They believe the problem could be defective transmission interlocks, but GM has also said that the problem could be due to a fractured park-lock cable or a deformed steering –column lock-actuator gear.

Recalled vehicles include:

  • Cadillac Escalade
  • Chevrolet Avalanche
  • Chevrolet Express
  • Chevrolet Silverado
  • Chevrolet Suburban
  • Chevrolet Tahoe
  • GMC Savana
  • GMC Sierra
  • GMC Yukon

Fortunately, most of the vehicles affected by the recall are still on dealer lots since they are 2013 models, but any car owners affected by the recall will be contacted by GM about replacing the vehicle’s steering column for no charge. If you think your vehicle might be affected and have not heard from GM, you can call 1-800-630-2438 for Chevrolet vehicles, 1-866-982-2339 for Cadillacs, and 1-866-996-9463 for GMC vehicles.

For the latest consumer alerts, auto news, and car buying tips, be sure to like Approved Loan Store on Facebook, follow Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribe to Approved Loan Store on YouTube. Looking for a new or used car? Approved Loan Store can help! Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we want to get you into a car you want at rates you can afford! Get started by filling out our secure online auto loan application here.

CONSUMER ALERT: Jeep Recall on Certain Jeep Grand Cherokee, Liberty Vehicles

Last Friday, Chrysler announced that they will be recalling certain Jeep Grand Cherokee and Liberty vehicles after discovering an issue with the airbags system.

According to the NHTSA, the front and side curtain airbags in some vehicles have been deploying inadvertently which can cause the driver to be injured or to lose control of the vehicle. The affected vehicles are 2002 and 2003 Jeep Liberty vehicles that were manufactured between January 9, 2001 and March 28, 2003 as well as 2002, 2003, and 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokees manufactured between February 13, 2001 and May 23, 2003. Chrysler has stated that any affected owners will be contacted, and owners can take their vehicles to their local Chrysler dealership to have their airbag system fixed free of charge.

If owners have any questions about the recall, go to http://www.safercar.gov or call Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753 or the NHTSA at 1-888-327-4236.

We at the Approved Loan Store want to keep our readers safe on the road, and you can get the latest auto news and consumer alerts by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook, following Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribing to Approved Loan Store on YouTube. Also, if you are looking for a new or used vehicle, we are ready to help you!  Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we want to get you in the car you want at rates you can afford! Fill out our secure online auto loan application here, and we will contact you with the Approved Loan Store location nearest you!

CONSUMER ALERT: Counterfeit Air Bags

This morning, the NHTSA released a safety advisory to consumers regarding counterfeit air bags that were installed at repair shops not associated with a new car dealership. At Approved Loan Store, we want to keep our readers informed of any and all consumer alerts from organizations that could affect their driving safety, so we wanted to break down the advisory and give you strictly the information that you need to know.

First off, this is potentially only going to affect less than 0.1 percent of vehicles, but since they don’t have all the pertinent data, it could be more than that. Any consumer who bought their car new and never had their air bags replaced is not affected by this advisory, and consumers who had their car’s air bag installed at a repair shop associated with a new car dealership are also not affected.

If the following qualifications apply to you, then you should contact a local call center and get your car checked out at a new car dealership’s repair shop. You can get the number for your local call center at www.SaferCar.gov.

  • Replaced vehicle’s air bags within the past three years at a repair shop not associated with a new car dealership
  • Purchased a used car and are unsure of the car’s full history
  • Purchased a car with a title branded salvage, rebuilt, or reconstructed
  • Purchased a replacement air bag from a non-certified source such as eBay

If you believe that your car might be affected, take care of it right away. The NHTSA has released a frightening video of what happens when these counterfeit air bags are deployed. Jalopnik is hosting the video here. This is not something to put off for a few days or a few weeks. If your car fits any of the categories listed above, get it checked out as soon as possible.

Are you looking for a new or used car you can rely on? Approved Loan Store wants to help you get into a safe and affordable vehicle today! Fill out our secure online auto loan application here, and get the latest auto news and consumer alerts like today’s air bag advisory by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook, following Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribing to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!

Consumer Alert: Westchester Car Buying Scam

At Approved Loan Store, we want to make your car buying process easier and more pleasant. Unfortunately, there are people who offer car terms that are too good to be true, and we have to deal with the fall-out of disillusioned consumers who fell prey to these scams. That is why we wanted to alert our readers to a recent car buying scam in Westchester. It is our hope that by reporting about this scam, car shoppers in the New York City area will not fall for it and then wind up out of money and without a car.

We heard about this car buying scam through the Scarsdale Patch. According to their report, a Westchester man was trying to buy a 1961 Impala from a seller on Auto Trader. The buyer was instructed by the seller to wire the payment for the car through a Google Wallet account. Once the transaction was complete, the seller promised that the car would be shipped. Anyone familiar with these kinds of scams will know how it turned out. After wiring the money late last month, the buyer suddenly couldn’t get a hold of the seller, and even more infuriating, the buyer saw that the car was still listed as available on the Auto Trader Website.

Not everyone who purchases a car through Auto Trader, Craigslist, or other websites has a poor experience. Car buying online can seem convenient, and we have many car buying tools on our website including our online auto loan application. However, there are risks to going through a private buyer on Auto Trader or Craigslist. Even if the seller had shipped the 1961 Impala, there is no telling what condition that car would be in. Furthermore, if a seller asks to have money wired in advance, run the other way. Money transfers are an immediate red flag. To avoid these problems, we recommend buying from a car dealership, preferably an Approved Loan Store dealership. If a private seller still seems promising, though, deal with the seller in person and get the vehicle inspected before purchasing.

Are you looking to get into a new or used car? Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we want to help you get into a great car at terms you can afford! Fill out our secure online auto loan application here, and connect with us by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook, following Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribing to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!

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