When a vehicle breaks down or suffers from a serious defect, consumers may be able to take action under the lemon law in Washington state.

What is a ‘lemon’?

When purchasing a vehicle, most consumers assume that their new car will be free of serious defects. Unfortunately, this may not always be the case.

The news is constantly reporting on new vehicle recalls for minor reasons, such as software issues, or more serious issues, such as defective airbags. Vehicles with these defects may be called “lemons.”

Luckily, when a new vehicle is defective, consumers may have options to take action. Nearly every state in the country has a lemon law.” Under these laws, consumers may be able to return their vehicle to the manufacturer, recover compensation, or have repairs covered, according to Investopedia.

Is there a lemon law in Washington state?

There is a lemon law in Washington state that provides consumers with a way to take action when faced with continuing problems. Under this law, consumers can request arbitration within 30 months of their vehicle’s delivery date.

According to the Washington state law, a lemon has one or significant defects that impair the use, value, or safety of the vehicle. Defects may include a nonconformity that “substantially impairs” the use, value, or safety of the vehicle, or a “serious safety defect” that is life-threatening due to its effect on vehicle control and operation, or risk for fire or explosion.

The vehicle’s defect must have been subject to numerous repair attempts in order to be eligible for the Washington lemon law. Unlike in some states, Washington law doesn’t put a number on how many attempts are required, instead requiring a “reasonable number of attempts.”

Washington’s lemon law covers new motor vehicles leased or purchased in Washington and covered by a manufacturer’s warranty. This definition does not cover vehicles purchased or leased as part of a business fleet of 10 or more vehicles, trucks with a gross weight rating of 19,000 pounds or more, or motorcycles with engine displacements of less than 750 cubic centimeters.

Non-original owners of eligible vehicles may also be eligible to request arbitration if the situation meets the following criteria:

• The consumer purchased or leased the vehicle within two years or 24,000 miles of it being delivered to the original customer.
• The vehicle meets base criteria for the lemon law in Washington.
• The consumer requests arbitration within 30 months of the original retail delivery date.

If a vehicle is covered under the lemon law, consumers can request arbitration. This process, which costs nothing to consumers, will determine for what relief the consumer is eligible.

Filing a lemon law claim

If you are planning on filing a lemon law claim, you may want to consider seeking legal guidance. There are several different ways to seek compensation for a faulty vehicle, and an experienced attorney can help you decide the best course of action in your state and specific situation.

Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with an experienced attorney who can help you determine if you have a claim, and navigate the complexities of your state’s lemon law.