Lemon laws help protect people who purchase new vehicles. When a vehicle bought brand-new from a dealership doesn’t conform to warranty standards, the new owner has certain rights under both federal law and state statutes.
Typically, they have the right to return the vehicle for repairs. If the dealership is unable to repair the vehicle in a timely manner, then the owner might be able to request either a replacement vehicle or a refund of the amount paid for the vehicle. Some people jump to the conclusion that a vehicle is a lemon the first time something goes wrong with it. However, the situation has to meet certain standards for lemon laws to apply.
What are some of the warning signs that a vehicle might be a lemon?
An extended turnaround time on repairs
When there seems to be a latent defect with a relatively new vehicle, the dealership should be able to make repairs quickly. Once someone drops off their vehicle for service, it should typically only take a few days to make it necessary repairs. In cases where the dealership must order parts, repairs can sometimes take a bit longer. Overall, however, the owners should expect a rapid turnaround time on dealership repairs and new vehicles. When repairs take multiple weeks, that can be a warning sign of significant issues that the dealership cannot readily address.
Challenges diagnosing the issue
Sometimes, a dealership makes repairs to a vehicle, only to have the same issue arise again days later. Mechanics can have a difficult time diagnosing the root source of a vehicle’s issues. In some cases, a vehicle recently repaired at a dealership immediately starts presenting similar issues when the owner regains possession. If a dealership repeatedly attempts to repair an issue only to have it recur because mechanics can’t identify the underlying cause, that can be an indicator that the vehicle might be a lemon,
A cascade of different issues
Sometimes, one issue arises with a brand-new vehicle within weeks of its purchase. The dealership corrects the issue, only to have another problem arise a few weeks later. Multiple successive issues arising one after the next can be indicative of a lemon even when the issues don’t share the same underlying cause. Any vehicle that develops repeated issues or a variety of different issues while still under warranty could potentially be a lemon that an owner needs to return or replace.
Laws unique to the jurisdiction where someone has purchased a vehicle can help clarify what needs to occur for a local Lemon Law to apply. Recognizing early warning signs of serious vehicle issues can help buyers respond appropriately when a new vehicle turns out to be a lemon.