Lemon law
A car that keeps going back to the shop
If a new or certified used car has a defect the dealer can't fix in a reasonable number of tries, the manufacturer may have to buy it back or replace it. That includes the down payment, the monthly payments you've made and, usually, the fees of the lawyer who made them do it.
The repair orders are the case. We read them for the dates, the mileage and the words the technician used, and we build the demand from there.
It may be a lemon if
The same problem has been in for repair more than once
The car has spent weeks in the shop in all
A safety defect, like brakes or steering, came back after a repair
It is still under the original warranty, or was when the problem began
Lemon-law work on our desk
Buybacks
A refund of what you paid, less a small amount for the miles before the first repair.
Replacements
A comparable new car from the manufacturer, if that is what you want.
Cash and keep
Money for the trouble when you would rather keep the car.
Questions about lemon law
Does it matter if I bought it used?
It can still qualify if it came with the manufacturer's warranty, such as a certified pre-owned car. Send us the contract and we'll check.
Do I keep making payments?
Yes. Stopping payments can hurt your credit and your case. A buyback refunds the payments you made.
The dealer says it can’t find anything wrong. Does that count?
Often, yes. A visit where you reported the problem counts as a repair attempt, even if the paperwork says ‘could not duplicate.’
How long does it take?
Many cases settle in a few months once the manufacturer sees the repair history. Some go further, and we tell you when that looks likely.
Is your car a lemon? Ask us.
Send the paperwork you have, or call and talk it through.
Lemon, debt-collection and credit-reporting laws often make the company pay the consumer's lawyer fees when the consumer wins. We advance filing fees and other case costs; if we recover nothing, you owe us neither fees nor costs.