Mar 15 2009
What if the Car I Purchased is a Lemon?
Lemon laws are designed to protect consumers and allow them to get a refund or a similar replacement automobile when their car initially turns out to be much less than expected or advertised. General definition: A lemon is a car that doesn’t operate reasonably within the period in which it has been owned.
The usual question is “do lemon laws cover used cars” and “do lemon laws cover leased cars”? Most lemon law detais depend on the state you live in. Your best order of business when it comes to lemon laws is to contact your state attorney general’s office and ask a lot of questions. Here are a few you might begin with…
Some steps might be made for resolving the situation with the dealer or party who sold you the vehicle. Make sure if you contact a manufacturer or its representative by mail you send it certified so you’ll have records of all your dealings. Keep detailed paperwork of everything you do. The next step would probably be to pursue arbitration. You can typicaly purse arbitration in case you meet the following requirements:
The manufacturer’s warranty covers the problem
You have informed the manufacturer about the problem
The problem impairs the value, use, or safety of your vehicle
The problem has not been satisfactorily repaired
The manufacturer has an arbitration program
Pursuing lemon laws can be arduous if not handled properly. It’s very important to ask as many questions as you can. The laws after all are designed to protect the consumer. The state attorney general can have a government website detailing what is and isn’t covered under their lemon law and what action you can take as a consumer. It’s important to you act fast though if you feel like you’re in the middle of a potential case because all lemon laws come with their own time and mileage limitations.