The Maryland lemon law allows consumers to seek a refund or replacement for new vehicles with persistent defects.

Lemon laws around the country allow consumers to seek relief if their new or used vehicle is plagued by a persistent defect which cannot be repaired or impairs the use and value of the vehicle.

Sometimes, vehicles are recalled if a defect has affected a number of cars or car parts. Lemon laws allow those whose vehicles may be plagued by a more individualized issue — or one that hasn’t yet sparked a recall — to seek a replacement or compensation.

Under Maryland’s lemon law, consumers can return their vehicle for a refund or have their car replaced in certain situations.

The Maryland lemon law applies to new vehicles such as cars, light trucks, and motorcycles. Vehicles are eligible if registered in Maryland, driven for less than 18,000 miles, and owned for less than 24 months.

Used vehicles may be eligible if the first owner purchased the vehicle less than 24 months before and the vehicle has less than 18,000 miles on it. Maryland is one of several states that include provisions for used vehicles, though they each have varying specifications. States with used vehicle provisions in their lemon laws include New York, California, Kentucky, Alabama, and Texas.

Other states, such as Illinois and Colorado, don’t cover used vehicles in their lemon laws.

When owners or lessees notice a defect with their new vehicle, they should write a letter to the vehicle manufacturer detailing the issue. Within 30 days of receiving the letter through certified mail, the manufacturer must correct the problem free of charge.

Unfortunately, even after repairs are made, some defects may continue. After a reasonable number of repair attempts, the Maryland lemon law allows consumers to either replace their vehicle or get their money back. Repairs must bring a vehicle back within Maryland’s safety inspection standards.

The number of repairs allowed depends on the type of defect. Dealers and manufacturers have only one chance to correct a brake or steering failure but have up to four chances to fix a defect which impairs a vehicle’s use or market value. Regardless of the number of repairs attempted, consumers can act under the Maryland lemon law if their vehicle is out of service for 30 or more days. These days do not have to be consecutive.

If their vehicle is a “lemon,” consumers can contact the auto manufacturer to start the process. They may also submit a lemon law complaint form through the Maryland attorney general’s website.

In some cases, consumers may be able to go through an optional arbitration process with the manufacturer. If arbitration fails or the manufacturer refuses to comply with the Maryland lemon law, consumers have three years to file a lawsuit.

Preparing to make this kind of claim should include gathering evidence from your records. Relevant records may include any record of attempts to fix the problem (receipts, communications with the manufacturer or repair shop) and record of when your vehicle is in the shop and for how long, such as service records and phone records.

A consumer may be entitled to a refund or replacement vehicle under Maryland lemon law if at least one of the following applies:

• The brake or steering failure was not corrected after the first repair attempt, and that causes the vehicle to fail Maryland’s safety inspection.
• The car has any one problem that substantially impairs the use and market value of the vehicle that was not corrected in four repair attempts.
• The car has any number of problems that substantially impair the use and market value of the vehicle that have caused it to be out of service for a cumulative total of 30 or more days.

Should I contact a Maryland lemon law lawyer?

It may be difficult to understand your options under Maryland’s lemon law. You may be confused about if your vehicle is eligible, what steps you need to take to correct your car’s defects, and how to find a Maryland lemon law lawyer.

Top Class Actions has taken the guesswork out of this process by connecting our readers directly to qualified legal professionals. These attorneys can review your situation and determine your eligibility to take action under your state’s lemon law. This can range between an individual complaint and filing a class action lawsuit if many other consumers have also been affected by lemon law violations.

Join a free lemon law defective vehicle investigation

You may qualify for this Lemon Law investigation under the following circumstances:

• You purchased your vehicle new;
• Your purchased your vehicle in 2018–2020;
• Your vehicle is still under warranty;
• You have taken your vehicle in for repair several times; and
• It is still having the same problem.

(Note: Residents of North Carolina do not qualify for this investigation.)

See if you qualify by filling out the form on this page for a case evaluation by experienced Lemon Law lawyers or call (877) 289-0615.

Get a Free Case Evaluation