We Americans have high expectations for the products we buy, especially for our vehicles. We want our cars and trucks to go where we point them, to not burst into flame in our garages, and to keep their various parts attached, even while in motion. But given the number of vehicles recalled over the past decades, we might be better off calling these hopes, rather than expectations...

#10 Ford 1987 (3.6 million vehicles)

Engine-compartment fires caused by faulty fuel-line connectors compelled Ford to issue this recall in 1987. While not the biggest in terms of vehicle numbers, this recall may be the widest: affected vehicles included virtually every model Ford made, including F150-350 trucks, and all Lincoln and Mercury models.

#9 GM 2004 (3.6 million vehicles)

From 1999 to 2004, tailgating took on a new dimension for the 134 customers who suffered minor accidents from collapsing tailgates. Corroded cables were the culprits. In 2004, GM offered to replace the tailgate cables on Silverados, Sierras, Escalades, and Avalanches. In their defense, it should be noted that customers are clearly warned not to stand on open tailgates. At least 134 have not read that part of the owner's manual.

#8 Volkswagen 1972 (3.7 million vehicles)

Lost visibility can be just as dangerous as fire or a failing seatbelt. Some Volkswagen of America customers found this out the hard way when their windshield wiper arms worked themselves loose and went spinning off into the rain or snow. So in 1972, Volkswagen offered to replace the part in Bugs built between 1949 and 1969.

#7 Honda 1995 (3.7 million vehicles)

In 1995, American Honda Motor Co. dealt with a serious concern in some of its models. Cracked and disintegrating safety-belt release buttons were causing belts to fail or-just as potentially dangerous-trapping passengers in their cars after an accident. The recall included Civic, Prelude, Accord, Acura, Legend, Integra, and NSX models.

#6 GM 1973 (3.7 million vehicles)

The ability to control where your car actually goes is important. GM saw the truth of this in 1973 when they agreed to install engine shields to prevent stones from disabling the steering assembly. 18 models were affected: Centurion, Electra, Estate Wagon, LeSabre, Riviera, Belair, Biscayne, Brookwood, Caprice, Impala, Kingswood, Kingswood Estate, Townsmen, Olds 88 and 98, Bonneville, Grand Ville, and Catalina.

#5. Ford 1971 (4.1 million vehicles)

Seatbelt shoulder harnesses on 1970 and '71 Ford Rancheros, Lincolns, Mercurys, and Fords (yes, there was at one time a Ford Ford) had an annoying tendency to fray and detach from the metal holding it to the frame. And though few drivers were even wearing seatbelts back then, Ford did the right thing and issued the recall.

#4 GM 1981 (5.8 million vehicles)

Some drivers learned the hard way that suspension bolts in certain GM models had a way of wiggling themselves loose. The result? The loss of ability to steer the car. In 1981, GM offered to replace the dubious bolts in the Century, Regal, El Camino, Malibu, Monte Carlo, Caballero, Cutlass, Grand Prix, and Lemans.

#3. GM 1971 (6.7 million vehicles)

In 1971, some GM customers got the ride of their lives as engine mounts began separating from frames and falling back onto throttles. The models with these rocket-like tendencies included Belair, Brookwood, Camaro, Caprice, Chevrolet, Chevy II, G Series, Impala, Kingswood, Nova, P Series, C Series, and Townsmen.

#2. Ford 1996 (8.6 million vehicles)

In 1996, after customers complained of fires caused by faulty ignition systems, Ford Motor Co. recalled vehicles including 1998-'93 Escorts, Mustangs, Tempos, Thunderbirds, Cougars, Crown Vics, Grand Marquis, Lincoln Town Cars, Aerostars, Broncos, and F-series trucks.

#1 Ford 2008 (12 million vehicles)

In February of 2008, Ford issued the industry's largest-ever recall, affecting Lincoln and Mercury SUVs, pickups, cars, and vans of model years '93 to '04. The lowly cruise-control switch was behind this mother-of-all do-overs. It had a nasty habit of catching fire, sometimes hours after the vehicle had been parked and turned off. Owner response, however, has been slow, so in a rare move Ford reissued the recall in September of 2008 for the 5 million vehicles still unrepaired.

Other recalls stand out in our automotive memory-exploding Ford Pintos and GM trucks with side-saddle gas tanks, for example-but these 10, affecting 55.5 million vehicles, represent the biggest so far. But we Americans have high expectations, and records here don't last long.

Each year our firm receives many phone calls from Pennsylvania consumers seeking lemon law help for defective home improvement work. Unfortunately Pennsylvania does not have a lemon law for defective home improvements, however Pennsylvania is finally poised to pass a law which would protect consumers from fraudulent and or shoddy home improvement work.

The State House could vote on legislation this week that would require all contractors to register with the state, allowing consumers to verify a contractors reputation. Each contractor would be assigned a registration number which could be accessed by the public by phone or computer. The registration number would be required for all advertisements by contractors. Pennsylvania would join more than 35 states that register or license home improvement contractors.

In addition to the registration, the legislation would also create a new criminal offense for home improvement fraud, which would allow for easier prosecution. Finally the legislation would create a guarantee fund. Contractors would have to pay into the fund, which would be used to reimburse fraud victims.

1-800-MY-LEMON, Pennsylvania Lemon Law Attorneys, urges the house to pass this act and supports this bill which was sponsored by Sen. Robert Tomlinson, a Republican from lower Bucks County. Lehigh Valley Sens. Pat Browne, Lisa Boscola and Rob Wonderling.

Click here to review the legislation.

Here at MyLemon.com we find a number of people coming to our site using a variety of different spellings for 'lemon law'. While the searches vary from the more understandable, like lemmon law, to the downright weird, leamon law or lemaon law, the information and protection that people are looking for doesn't vary.

Here at MyLemon.com we take great pride in helping residents of Pennsylvania and New Jersey understand their rights when it comes to their state's lemon laws.

As reported in the automotive news, General Motors is recalling about 42,408 Saturn Vue compact SUVs built from February to July due to a potential leak of power steering fluid that could cause a fire, it said today.

GM said there had been no reports of accidents or injuries stemming from a potential loosening of a nut that secures the power steering line to the power steering pump. A fluid leak could lead to a possible engine compartment fire.

The recall covers a group of Saturn Vues from the 2008 and 2009 model years that are equipped with six-cylinder engines. GM said dealers would inspect and tighten the nut and check the fluid level as needed.

If you are driving a Saturn Vue, which was purchased in Pennsylvania or New Jersey, and have experienced a problem call our law firm at 1-800-MY-LEMON for free legal help

An extended warranty may be purchased at the time you buy your vehicle; it's also possible to purchase one much further along in your ownership experience. If you're the type who likes to be prepared for all eventualities, an extended warranty may be just what you're looking for. Bearing in mind the ever-increasing cost of vehicle repairs, these contracts can make a lot of sense.

In deciding whether an extended warranty is right for you, and in selecting the best plan for your needs, you'll need to ask yourself the following questions:

1. To what extent is your vehicle already under warranty, and is this coverage in sync with how long you anticipate owning it? If the car you've just bought is new, take a close look at its factory warranty before making an extended warranty decision. If, for example, the vehicle has a factory warranty of three years or 36,000 miles, and you plan on keeping it for two or three years -- with an anticipated annual mileage of about 10,000 -- then an extended warranty makes little sense, since you'll likely be covered under the manufacturer's plan. However, if you plan on keeping the car long after the factory warranty expires, an extended warranty is worth considering. If the car you've just purchased is used, you'll need to ascertain if there is warranty coverage from the dealership (coverage periods may range from as little as a month to up to a year, or more). If you're buying a late-model used vehicle, it's possible that the vehicle's original factory warranty is still in effect (this will be dependent on how many miles the car has under its tires, and on how much time has passed since it was originally titled). Some manufacturers also offer "certified used" programs that extend original factory warranty terms on pre-owned vehicles. If the car isn't under warranty, or if you plan on keeping it past its warranty's expiration, an extended warranty makes sense.


2. What's the reliability record of the model you're purchasing? Take a look at the reliability history of the model you're buying. Though this is by no means a fail-safe way of predicting what your repair bill will look like, it does give you an idea of what you may be in for service-wise; bear this information in mind when making a warranty decision.


3. Who is behind the warranty that you're considering? An extended warranty may be backed by an independent warranty company (these are known as aftermarket warranties) or by the covered vehicle's manufacturer. Knowing who will be underwriting your policy can give you insight into the strengths and weaknesses of the contract you're considering. Manufacturer-backed warranties score very highly when it comes to ease of use. However, aftermarket warranties are often cheaper. (If you opt to purchase an aftermarket warranty, take a look at how the company's financial strength has been rated by A.M. Best and/or Standard & Poor's; this will give you an indication as to its ability to pay your claim. Your safest bet is to choose a company that has a minimum "A" rating with Standard & Poor's, and/or a minimum "A" or "A-" rating with A.M. Best.)


4. What's the nature of its deductible? Fully investigate a policy's deductible before signing on the dotted line. Consider not only its amount, but also whether it's per visit or per repair. With a per visit deductible, each visit to the shop will run you a fixed amount, regardless of how many parts are repaired; a per repair deductible applies to each serviced part. What sounds like a minor difference may, under certain circumstances, have a major impact on your wallet. If, for example, you've got a $100 per repair deductible and you take your car in to get the air conditioner, fuel pump and alternator serviced, you'll be out $300; had you opted for a per visit deductible, those repairs would only have cost you $100. Charier still is a $0 deductible policy. You will have to pay extra for this, but if your circumstances become such that you have to take your car in frequently, you'll find that this policy more than pays for itself.


5. Is the warranty transferable? Some warranties end when the person who bought the warranty sells the car. A warranty that allows you to transfer it to a new buyer is preferable; it's an excellent selling point for prospective buyers.


6. Can repairs be performed at any repair shop? Some warranties stipulate that repairs must be performed at the dealership from which the warranty was purchased; this can prove limiting and inconvenient. It's best to opt for a warranty that, at the very least, gives you more than one service facility to choose from. You'll appreciate this should the vehicle ever need service while you're on a road trip, miles away from home.


7. What exactly is covered? Know what's covered -- and what's not covered -- by the warranty you're considering. Does the contract cover breakdown as well as wear and tear? Under a "breakdown" warranty, coverage is extended only to parts that break. Such a policy can prove less inclusive than is desirable, since not all parts fail due to breakage. Some need to be replaced because they've worn down over a period of time; a "wear-and-tear" warranty extends coverage to worn-down parts in need of replacement. Additionally, some "entry level" contracts don't cover ABS brakes, so if your vehicle has this feature, you should consider upgrading to this level. And overheating -- regardless of its cause -- isn't covered in many warranties. Thus, if overheating occurred due to problems with an expensive part such as your radiator, you'd be stuck with a hefty repair bill. Before committing to a warranty, take the time to fully explore the ins and outs of its coverage implications. The distinctions between the various plans might seem slight, but they can prove quite important.


8. Is a cash layout required for repairs? Some warranties require that you pay the bill, then send the receipt in and wait for reimbursement; in many cases, months elapse before you get your money back. Ideally, you'll want a warranty that pays the dealership directly with a credit card.

Remember to compare all your options before making a warranty decision. Utilize the Internet; many companies sell directly online, and, at the very least, getting quotes from them can help give you a ballpark idea of what an extended warranty with your desired features should cost. In warranty buying, as in so many other aspects of life, it helps to be fully informed.

It's not a day at the Jersey beach, unless the 1-800-MY-LEMON air banner flys by. Click here to see the most recent sighting as captured by a beach goer and recently posted on YouTube.