How Does a Lemon Law Work?
A lemon law is a law in the United States that gives consumers a remedy if they’re unhappy with a product. The lemon laws help consumers obtain compensation for products that don’t meet their quality and performance standards. If you’re unhappy with a product that you’ve purchased, you can file a claim under a state lemon-law. Whether your product has a lemon-law claim or not, here’s how it works.
First, there must be a defect in the product. A major problem, such as a faulty engine, can qualify as a major problem. Likewise, a small number of less-significant problems can add up to a large impairment of value. You can even file a lemon-law claim if the car was modified, abused, or damaged in some other way. To qualify for a lemon-law claim, your vehicle must have been out of service for 30 days or more.
In order to qualify for a lemon-law claim, a consumer must have purchased a defective product that’s still under warranty. Although the laws vary slightly by state, most states have some kind of law that protects consumers. You can sue a manufacturer in court for a repair or replacement of a defective product, or you can use a state-run arbitration program. The main requirement of a lemon-law claim is that you file your lawsuit within four years of the date you received the product. If you are successful in your action, the court can also award reasonable attorney’s fees.
Another requirement to qualify for a lemon-law claim is that the problem must be serious enough to justify a consumer’s complaint. A significant engine defect, for instance, would clearly be a substantial problem. However, the cumulative effect of numerous smaller defects could add up to a significant impairment of the car’s value. Similarly, the problems may be the result of a consumer’s abuse, neglect, or unauthorized modification.
In order to qualify for a lemon-law claim, you must have a problem with the vehicle. This problem must be serious enough to justify your claim. A significant defect, such as an engine that isn’t working correctly, could have a negative effect on the car’s performance. This means you must report the non-conformity to the manufacturer, distributor, or retailer within a 12-month period of ownership. This window is limited to 12 months or 12,000 miles.
There are many reasons to file a lemon-law claim. The most common reason is that a vehicle has a significant problem and the same problem after multiple repairs. Unlike other forms of consumer protection, a lemon law claim can be filed for any safety or non-safety issue. The only criteria to file a claim are the car’s age and the severity of the problem. You must be able to prove that the car is out of warranty.