What to do if your car is a lemon

On Behalf of | Nov 19, 2021 | Lemon Law

The last thing you want after purchasing a new vehicle is to start experiencing mechanical problems. It can be challenging, especially if you put everything into buying what you thought would be a reliable vehicle to meet your daily transport needs. Fortunately, there are laws in place that protect you, the consumer, if you purchase a vehicle with ongoing issues. 

Under Connecticut’s Lemon Law, you may receive remedy for a defective vehicle if it was sold to you with less than 24,000 miles on it or if the car was under two years of age at the time of purchase. In addition, if your vehicle cannot be fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts, you might have a lemon vehicle. Here is what to do next.

Document your vehicles defects

You will need to show your car’s defects and a reasonable number of repair attempts within a certain period. It is necessary to gather detailed records that will help your case. It includes your car’s service history and the defects, as well as any communication between you and the dealer or manufacturer.

Contact the manufacturer

To get a refund, you need to get in touch with your vehicle manufacturers in writing. The letter should provide all relevant information, such as when you bought the car, when the problems began, dates of attempted repairs, and when you contracted the dealer. The manufacturer’s response will inform your next steps.

Arbitration

If your manufacturer does not offer you a good enough explanation, you may seek legal redress. Most states require lemon law cases to go through an arbitration process before going to court. An impartial arbitrator will review the facts of your case and decide if your vehicle is a lemon or not. If it is, you are entitled to a full refund or a replacement vehicle. 

Bottom line

It is important to be aware of the lemon laws to protect your interests and finances. With the necessary information, you will not be stuck with a lemon of a car that is not worth your money, even if you bought it used.