Opinion ID: 2625597
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Objective impairment

Text: Mr. Waddell testified that as a result of the RV's defects, he and his wife were unable to enjoy the RV as they had intended. Mr. Waddell further testified that the RV's engine would overheat within ten miles of embarking if the travel included any climbing. As a result of the overheating, the Waddells were forced to park on the side of the road and wait for the engine to cool down before continuing. Consequently, the RV spent a total of 213 days, or seven months and one day, at Wheeler's service department during the eighteen months immediately following the purchase. This testimony is sufficient to demonstrate an objective, substantial impairment of value. The Supreme Court of Ohio has stated that a nonconformity effects a substantial impairment of value if it shakes the buyer's faith or undermines his confidence in the reliability and integrity of the purchased item. [5] The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts has recognized that even cosmetic or minor defects that go unrepaired . . . or defects which do not totally prevent the buyer from using the goods, but circumscribe that use . . . can substantially impair the goods' value to the buyer. [6] The United States District Court for the District of Nevada recently reiterated that `the [seller's] inability to correct defects in [motor] vehicles creates a major hardship and an unacceptable economic burden on the consumer.' [7] In this case, the chronic engine overheating shook the Waddells' faith in the RV and undermined their confidence in the RV's reliability and integrity. [8] Not only did this problem make travel in the RV unreliable and stressful to the Waddells, the overheating made travel in the vehicle objectively unsafe. Accordingly, we conclude that substantial evidence exists to support revocation of acceptance under NRS 104.2608(1).