As a vehicle owner, you must have heard of the term “lemon car or vehicle”. But as to human nature, you might not have given it much thought since your car is still in good condition. While not finding yourself in such an experience is great for any consumer, it’s good to keep yourself informed in case you’re faced with such a situation in future.
In simple terms, the lemon term about consumer goods such as a car means that your car has suffered from numerous and severe manufacturer defects hindering it from operating effectively. So, when is your vehicle considered a lemon?
Early Discovery of Problem(s)
For your car to be considered a lemon, you should have discovered your car’s problem early enough. While there is no specific time frame of “early”, according to experts this should be between 1-2 years of car ownership.
Therefore, you should be able to provide evidence of having repaired the problem severally at least within two years of a car purchase or the first 18,000 miles of use. So, if it’s second hand, the first owner should provide you with this information.
The Problem Was Reported to the Dealer
You should be able to prove that you as the consumer reported your car’s problem to the deal. And not just that, but as early as possible. Also, the dealer must have addressed the problem under their manufacturer’s warranty.
Remember, waiting for too long to report a problem can make it difficult to discover whether it was caused by manufacturer defects or normal wear and tear.
Have Had Numerous Car Repair Attempts
If you had promptly reported the car problem as suggested above, and the problem persists even after numerous repair attempts by the same dealer, it might be considered a lemon.
Kindly note that the authorized dealer repair attempts should be at least four or more, without success.
Also, the lemon law can apply if the vehicle has not been in service for more than 20 days cumulatively, during the repair/ or awaiting repair. It’s required of the consumer to directly notify the manufacturer of the defects through writing. A repair period should be allocated by the customer to the dealer to allow ample problem fixing, but it shouldn’t exceed 15 calendar days.
Pro Tip: Always ensure you communicate with the manufacturer in writing. Don’t let the dealer talk you out of it, as it will deny you rights under the law.
Consult an Experienced Lemon Law Attorney
Law Office of Jacob K. Kashani offers you free case evaluation to help you gather all the important facts, review your purchase contract and repair orders. They will also explain your lemon law rights, and determine how to best handle your case.
So, if you are having doubts as to whether your vehicle qualifies as a lemon, it’s best to reach out to a lemon law attorney for professional assessment and advice.