As a consumer, you have protection against buying unsafe products and defective goods. In the case of lemon laws, you’re protected from buying or leasing a faulty vehicle. If you find a vehicle is a “lemon,” then you may have the right to seek a refund or repairs from the dealer or manufacturer.
Lemon laws can be tricky to understand. So, to answer your questions, you should read the below:
1. What is a “lemon?”
It’s commonly understood that lemons are yellow fruits that make your face pucker up, but when it’s used in consumer laws, it’s typically referring to a vehicle that has defects. To be exact, a lemon may be classified as a vehicle that had several attempts at repairing a defect without success.
2. What vehicles are covered under lemon laws?
Most lemon laws cover new vehicle purchases, but, in some cases, if a warranty hasn’t expired on a used car, then the laws may still apply. Of these new and used vehicles – cars, pickups, SUVs and vans may be covered under lemon laws.
3. How do I know I have a lemon?
Most people don’t realize they’ve purchased a lemon until shortly after they’ve taken it off the lot. To spot a lemon, for starters, you may want to consider looking at the tires. If the tire has no tread may indicate that the vehicle is poorly maintained, while an uneven tread could signal that the vehicle has alignment issues.
Another way to spot a lemon is if the vehicle has no history. Most cars have some kind of history, but the lack thereof may indicate there are large issues the dealer doesn’t want consumers to know. In some cases, you may even find maintenance history, which can indicate what issues a car previously had and what you might have in the future.
If you believe you’ve purchased a lemon, then you may need to understand your legal rights for a refund or repairs.