This Lemon of a Truck is finally at the end of the rope! My Friend Pete finally gets satisfaction as he turns in his old truck for a new one! Lemon Laws are here for a reason! If you feel your car has turned "SOUR" on you -- FIGHT BACK and Take Charge!

#NewVehicle #LemonLaw

In order to qualify as a lemon under most state laws, the car must (1) have a substantial defect covered by the warranty that occurred within a certain period of time or number of miles after you bought the car, and (2) not be fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts. In most states, the lemon law only applies to new cars (but see below).

Substantial Defect

A "substantial defect" is a problem covered by the warranty that impairs the car's use, value, or safety, such as faulty brakes or steering. Minor defects such as loose radio knobs and door handles do not meet the legal definition of "substantial defect."

As with most legal definitions, the line between a "minor" and a "substantial" defect is not always clear. Some not-so-obvious conditions, such as defective paint jobs or horrible smells, have been found to be substantial defects.

In all states, the substantial defect must occur within a certain period of time (usually one or two years) or within a certain number of miles (usually 12,000 or 24,000). The defect must not be caused by abuse.
Reasonable Repair Attempts

You must allow the dealer or manufacturer to make a "reasonable" number of attempts to fix a substantial problem before your car is considered to be a lemon. Usually, you must meet one of the following standards to be protected under your state's lemon law:

If the defect is a serious safety defect (for example, involving brakes or steering), it must remain unfixed after one repair attempt.
If the defect is not a serious safety defect, it must remain unfixed after three or four repair attempts (the number varies by state).
If the vehicle is in the shop a certain number of days (usually 30 days in a one-year period) to fix one or more substantial warranty defects, it may fit the definition of a lemon.

If your car meets the lemon law requirements for your state, you have the right to obtain a refund or replacement car from the manufacturer. Although the process for getting this relief is different in each state, in all states you must first notify the manufacturer of the defect. If you're not offered a satisfactory settlement, most states require you to go to arbitration before going to court.
Preparing for a Lemon Law Arbitration

Manufacturers use a number of different arbitration programs. In many cases, the manufacturer will select the program for you. If you are given the opportunity to choose, you'll probably do better if you choose a state consumer protection agency program, rather than a manufacturer's in-house program or a private arbitration program.
BBB Auto Line Lemon Law Program

Consumers who bring substantial documentation and evidence to the arbitration hearing tend to do better than those with little evidence to support their claims. The types of documentation that can help include:

brochures and ads about the vehicle (an arbitration panel is likely to make the manufacturer live up to its claims)
vehicle service records showing how often you took the car into the shop, and
any other documents showing your attempts to get the dealer to repair your car, including old calendars and phone records.

The arbitrator will hear both sides of the dispute and make a decision, usually within 60 days after the hearing. Under the BBB Auto Line program, the timeline is much shorter -- usually three business days. If the arbitrator decides that your car is a lemon, you will be entitled to a refund or replacement.

It is important to take the arbitration seriously and be as prepared as possible. Although usually you can appeal a bad arbitration decision in court, the decision can greatly influence your case.

This whole process can take a long time. Most lemon laws allow you to keep using your car while pursuing a claim. But be careful:
More Information on Lemon Laws

Your rights will depend on the laws of the particular state where you live or where you bought the car.

To get your state's lemon law, visit www.autopedia.com or www.lemonlawamerica.com.

What Makes a Car a Lemon? - RAM POWER WAGON

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