Every state has a motor vehicle Lemon Law. This summary tells you the basics of all motor vehicle Lemon Laws, what vehicles they usually cover, the main similarities and differences, and how they work to help you get rid of a bad car or truck, a bad motorhome or other motor vehicle.
1
The Purpose of Lemon Laws
Bad motor vehicles are called "lemons" and no matter how hard you try to avoid buying one, sometimes it happens. Before Lemon Laws were passed, it was difficult to get a refund or a replacement vehicle because older laws did not define what was a lemon. And even if you did prove you had a lemon, older laws required the consumer to pay their own attorney fees in most cases, so a lemon owner could go to court and win and end up with less than if he or she had just traded the lemon off in the first place, making it someone else's problem. State Lemon Laws were intended to fix that. Now, every state has a definition of what a lemon vehicle is and most states make the manufacturer pay the consumer's legal costs too. If you end up with a lemon, now you stand a good chance of getting rid of it and not losing your shirt in the process.
2
What Vehicles are Covered?
Most state Lemon Laws cover all passenger cars and light trucks and vans. With the notable exception of Oregon and Indiana, where many Rv's are built, a large number of states also cover the non-living portions of motorhomes and Rv's. A few state Lemon Laws, like Ohio, also cover motorcycles and ATV's; basically, in these states if it has wheels and an engine, it's covered by the state Lemon Law.
3
What is the Definition of a Lemon Motor Vehicle?
A lemon vehicle is usually defined as one that has been in the repair shop 3 or 4 times for the same problem or has been out of service for a total of 30 days or more within 2 years of original sale. As long as at least 1of the repair attempts occurred inside of 2 years then the Lemon Law may apply, but some states require all the repair attempts to occur within the coverage period. The days out of service usually do not have to be consecutive, though, and not all for the same defect either. Under that definition you just count up the days. 15 states also have a "deadly defect" definition that often gives the dealer only 1 or 2 chances to fix a problem that is likely to cause serious injury or death if it goes unrepaired. Check the Lemon Law Summaries link below to see what your state lemon vehicle definitions are.
4
Do I Have to Notify the Manufacturer Myself?
Usually, yes. Many state Lemon Laws require the consumer to directly notify the manufacturer if you think you have a lemon, before your Lemon Laws become "ripe" legally. That means you may have a lemon, but you can't do anything about it legally in most states if you have not sent a written notice direct to the manufacturer first, often by certified mail (so you can prove you sent it). To find your vehicle manufacturer's contact info, check the link below for a Motor Vehicle Manufacturer's Contact Info. Still, a few state Lemon Laws say that giving notice to the manufacturer's authorized dealer is enough. Step 8 below explains how to start a Lemon Law claim.
5
Do I Have to "Arbitrate" my Lemon Law Claim?
Maybe. Many state Lemon Laws have a provision that requires you to arbitrate your claim before you can file a lawsuit if, and it's a big "if", the manufacturer has an arbitration process that complies with the Federal Lemon Law's arbitration standards. Many manufacturers don't comply and almost no motorhome builder complies. Some states have set up their own state-run arbitration process and where that exists, it may be your best bet for fairness. You may be able to handle the arbitration process yourself if you are thoroughly prepared but be careful. Just because you think you have a lemon, does not mean you will win. And many arbitration processes require you to pay something for the use you got out of your vehicle, even though your state Lemon Law may not require it at all. You can learn more about arbitration by checking the Arbitration Clauses link below. Virtually all arbitration processes allow you to use a lawyer if you want, too.
Comments - add comment