Legal Definitions - lemon law

Lemon laws are laws that help protect buyers of new or used vehicles. These laws make it easier for buyers to sue for damages or replacement if the vehicle they purchased is not working properly after a reasonable number of attempts to fix it.

For example, in California, a reasonable number of attempts to fix a vehicle is presumed to have been made if:

• The same problem has been repaired two or more times and could cause serious injury if driven
• The same problem has been repaired four or more times
• The vehicle has been out of service for more than 30 days due to repairs

In New York, a reasonable number of attempts is either four or more attempts to repair or if the car is out of service for 30 or more days because of repairs.

For example, if a person buys a new car and the brakes fail multiple times, even after being repaired, they may be able to use the lemon law to sue the manufacturer for damages or a replacement vehicle.

Overall, lemon laws help protect consumers from being stuck with a faulty vehicle and provide legal remedies for those who have purchased a lemon.