European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 24, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Tuesday March 24, 1992 the stars and stripes b Page 15 a 1 o is piss Finif no lemon7 Aid in cafes contracts by Luke Britt staff writer Laws that protect stateside americans from poor workmanship or faulty repairs on new cars do not apply to customers of the military a new car sales program because cafes officials chose not to provide such safeguards. Nearly every state in the nation has some form of repair replace Law commonly referred to As a Lemon Laws a requiring automakers and dealers to repair new cars in a timely manner or replace diem. But army and air Force Exchange service officials decided it was not appropriate to include such Protection in their agreement with Auto manufacturers said Thomas Gallagher head of the cafes automotive Branch in Dallas. Consumer advocates and Auto Industry experts say the omission of such Protection places overseas military customers at a severe disadvantage. A i hate to think that there a nothing to prevent the manufacturers from turning their Back on the military Over there. But if they respond to this situation the Way they did for so Long in the United states then they Are really doing a disservice to people in uniform a said Rosemary Dunlap president of motor voters a Washington based consumer advocate group that has championed the spread of Lemon Laws throughout the states. Gallagher and other officials involved with the military new car sales program insist that cafes customers Are not being taken advantage of and that a special Lemon Law for them is unnecessary. During contract negotiations with Chrysler general motors and Ford officials discussed including language that required the automakers to replace defective vehicles Gallagher said. A we decided it was not appropriate a he said. Gallagher and other cafes officials said they believed military people could rely on . Consumer Protection Laws and that these Laws would supersede the new car contract. However attorneys in the states said . Lemon Laws do not apply to car purchases made outside the country. Essentially Lemon Laws require automakers and dealers to repair or replace defective new cars in a fixed period or lace possible court action. The first state to introduce Lemon Law legislation was California in 1982. It was Dunlap a organization then Only a group of angry car buyers that inspired state lawmakers to introduce the measure. Most Lemon Laws set a maximum number of times a dealer can attempt to repair a recurring problem in a new car before the car officially becomes a Lemon. The Laws usually give manufacturers the option of replacing the car or refunding the customers Money Dunlap said. New Yorkus Lemon Law allows the manufacturer or dealer who sold the car four chances to make the same repair. If the problem still exists after the fourth repair the car is considered a Lemon. Also in a car is out of service for More than 30 Days during the first two years of operation because of a factory defect or dealer impair error the car is considered a Iemon. Customers who feel a Dealership or manufacturer has violated a Lemon Law can bring the Case before their states arbitration Board which has the authority to Rule on the Issue and require compliance from the businesses. Since new York enacted its Lemon Law m 1987, More than $60 million in refunds mid other awards have been issued to unsatisfied cat buyers in that state Accord big to the new York assistant attorney general Stephen Mindell. In some cases customers have been awarded thousands it dollars above the Price of the car for o. A amps Jim do Holm sgt. Jeff Mcadams reads a sign detailing problems with Debbie Martinkos Dodge Van at Rhein main a Germany. Martinko who bought the car in the states eventually convinced the Chrysler corp. To refund the Purchase Price of what she called a  Rosemary Dunlap mental anguish caused by receiving poor repair service. Forty seven other states have similar Lemon Laws and the two that done to Alabama and Alaska have legislation in the works Dunlap said. But some cafes customers discovered the hard Way that the Laws do not apply to american military people overseas. For example spec. Michael Carpenter of bad Kissinger Germany purchased a 1991 Plymouth Sundance in March of last year from a Chrysler Dealership in Schweinfurt Germany. The Soldier picked up his new car a few weeks later at the port in Bremerhaven but just two hours into his drive Home the front end began making a strange noise and pulling very hard to the left he said. Carpenter contacted the sales agent who sold him the car and was referred to military car sales in Kronberg. Military car sales is a subsidiary of a new York based firm that handles All Chrysler and general motors sales to military people in Europe. A i told them i did no to want this unsafe car but they kept insisting i take it to a garage that specialized in paint and body work a Carpenter said. A they told me that Lemon taws done to apply in Europe. I have to keep the car they  new Yorkus Mindell explained that because the transaction of buying a car through cafes occurs in Europe no . Laws apply. Those who choose stateside delivery a stand a better Chance of winning a Lemon Case Quot he said. There Are also Many Federal consumer Protection Laws that car buyers in the states have used in Battles with dealers and manufacturers most notably the . Commercial code. However none of these Broad statutes applies to americans overseas either Mindell said. In addition to the troubled front end in carpenters Plymouth other defects surfaced including problems with the Horn turn signals passenger Side door lock and Drivers scat Belt. A i did have the highly acclaimed air bag a Carpenter said. A but thank heavens i did no to have to rely on  As of january some of the repairs still had not been made to the vehicle and although cafes representatives pledged their support Carpenter said he has yet to see the Exchange pressure military car sales to assist in resolving the matter. In some states customers who find safety defects like those in carpenters car do not have to give the dealers an Opportunity to make repairs Mindell said. A people have won arbitration cases where they simply left a car at a Dealership with the keys in it and walked away a he said. Cafes officials said that the car companies have an a a excellent record of dealing with customers who complain of problems with their new cars. A there has never been a situation where i had to threaten or coerce the companies into addressing a problem a said William Munn who doubles As the new car program manager and marketing director for cafes Europe. In that Case Dunlap said there is no reason not to include some form of a Lemon Law clause in the contract Between cafes and the automakers. If the companies involved in the program give such great service a Lemon Law would be a Only a Good Faith formality a she said. A sunday a stars and stripes Survey shows overcharging. A Why customers Are not Well served. A the Ford from  a How the cafes system works. A the Man who controls the military worldwide Market. Today a cafes Isnit the Only game in Europe. A the Quot Lemon Laws Quot that done to apply. A the mystery of the missing  the does and done to of buying a car in Europe