Car manufacturers asked to check inventory

MANILA, Philippines - Senate President Franklin Drilon yesterday called on all vehicle manufacturers, distributors and dealers to check their inventory to ensure that they would not be penalized under the soon-to-be enacted Lemon Law.

Drilon said vehicle companies should ensure that customers get quality units and refrain from delivering defective vehicles.

“With the impending approval of the Lemon Law, all manufacturers, dealers, distributors and retailers of motor vehicles should now audit and assess the quality of their products,” said Drilon.

He said under the proposed law, vehicle manufacturers, dealers, distributors and retailers would be fined a minimum amount of P100,000 and face criminal and civil liabilities once they sell a defective unit or a lemon vehicle.

Congress approved the proposed Lemon Law just before it adjourned its plenary sessions two weeks ago.

The law seeks to protect motorists from any defects in their vehicles within a year of purchase, or up to a distance of 20,000 kilometers, whichever comes first.

The bill requires a vehicle buyer to notify in writing the manufacturer or dealer about the defects of the unit and his or her intention to invoke the Lemon law.

The buyer is required to bring the vehicle to the manufacturer to have his or her complaint addressed.

Upon receipt of the motor vehicle, the manufacturer or dealer should take actions on the complaint.

If the owner of the vehicle is not satisfied with the actions taken, or if the problem persists, the manufacturer or dealer is required to replace the vehicle.

“This is the kind of legislation that our consumers need these days, considering the influx of motor vehicles in the country,” said Drilon.