Lemon Laws for New Vehicles

Lemon Laws for New Vehicles by Greg Artim

Every state has some type of Lemon Law for new cars. A Lemon Law is a law that sets forth your rights and the potential remedies available to you in the event that you have purchased a defective vehicle from a manufacturer. While some states’ Lemon Laws are better than others, they are all very powerful and for the most part are very consumer oriented.
A typical Lemon Law is based on the premise that any vehicle which exhibits a defect or non-conformity that substantially impairs the use, value or safety of that vehicle is a lemon. Generally speaking, defects involving the engine, transmission, brakes, suspension, electrical system, water leakage and steering are the types of defects that make a vehicle a lemon. Please know that the offered list is not all inclusive, as there are other types of defects or situations that can make a vehicle a lemon.

Lemon laws typically provide that the manufacturer must be given a reasonable opportunity to repair the alleged defects. The number of repair attempts that are deemed reasonable varies from state to state, but it would be safe to say that the average number of repair attempts that are sufficient to meet the “reasonable” standard is three to four.

If the manufacturer is unable to correct the defect or nonconformity after making those repair attempts, most states provide that you are entitled to either a full refund of the purchase price or a free replacement vehicle. A full refund means that you are entitled to recoup any down-payment, trade-in equity, payments made and associated costs that you had with the purchase of the vehicle. A free replacement vehicle means that you can receive a brand new model of the vehicle that you are driving, at no increased cost to you. With either of the aforesaid options, the manufacturer is often entitled to a deduction for mileage that you have driven the “lemon” vehicle. This deduction typically amounts to a few hundred dollars.

Please know that this has been merely a general overview of Lemon Laws for new vehicles. You should consult either an experienced lemon law attorney in your state or your state’s lemon law for a definitive answer regarding any questions that you may have regarding these types of laws and your new vehicle.

About the Author
Greg Artim is a Lemon Law Attorney based in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. He recommends visiting www.50stateslemonlaw.com to find answers to more of your lemon law questions.