Legal Definitions - lemon law

A lemon law is a consumer protection statute designed to assist buyers of new vehicles (and in some places, certain used vehicles) that turn out to be significantly defective. These laws provide a legal remedy when a vehicle has a substantial problem that the manufacturer or dealer cannot fix after a reasonable number of repair attempts or an extended period of time out of service for repairs.

If a vehicle qualifies as a "lemon," the consumer may be entitled to a replacement vehicle or a refund of the purchase price, minus a reasonable allowance for the use of the vehicle.

Here are some examples of how lemon laws might apply:

• Example 1: Persistent Mechanical Failure

  A family purchases a brand-new SUV. Within the first few months, the vehicle experiences repeated transmission issues, causing it to stall unexpectedly on multiple occasions. The dealership attempts to repair the transmission four times, but the problem keeps recurring, making the vehicle unreliable and unsafe for family travel.

  Explanation: This scenario illustrates a classic lemon law case. The SUV is a new vehicle with a significant, recurring mechanical defect that the manufacturer or dealer has failed to fix after a reasonable number of attempts. Under a lemon law, the family would likely be able to seek a replacement vehicle or a refund.

• Example 2: Excessive Time Out of Service

  A small business owner buys a new commercial delivery van. Shortly after purchase, the van develops a complex electrical problem that causes the navigation system, air conditioning, and power windows to malfunction intermittently. The van is taken to the service center three separate times for this issue, and each repair visit lasts for more than ten days, resulting in the van being out of service for a cumulative total of 35 days within its first year of ownership.

  Explanation: Even if the number of repair attempts isn't extremely high, many lemon laws consider a vehicle a "lemon" if it has been out of service for repairs for a cumulative period exceeding a certain number of days (e.g., 30 days). The extended downtime significantly impacts the owner's ability to use the vehicle, qualifying it under these provisions.

• Example 3: Unfixable Safety Defect

  A commuter purchases a new sedan, and within weeks, the vehicle's anti-lock braking system (ABS) repeatedly fails to engage properly, causing the car to skid during sudden stops. The dealership attempts to fix the ABS twice, but the issue persists, posing a serious safety risk to the driver and others on the road.

  Explanation: This example demonstrates how a critical safety defect, even after fewer repair attempts, can trigger lemon law protections. Many statutes have specific provisions for defects that are likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, allowing a vehicle to be declared a "lemon" more quickly if such a severe safety issue cannot be resolved.