Laura Pennington  |  March 17, 2020

Category: Auto News

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lemon laws protect car ownersIf you purchase a vehicle that you assume is new and doesn’t have any serious issues, it can be a shock to start experiencing problems with your car shortly after you buy. This could be a sign of a lemon vehicle and certain buyers in Michigan could be entitled to take legal action as a result.

A current lemon law investigation is looking for people who purchased new cars between 2018-2020.

Which Vehicles Are Covered in Michigan’s Lemon Law?

The state of Michigan’s lemon law applies to sport utility vehicles, vans, pickup trucks, and passenger vehicles that were leased or purchased in Michigan or by a resident of the state and are covered by a manufacturer’s warranty.

The Michigan lemon law, however, does not cover trucks outside of vans and pickups, buses, motor homes, off-road vehicles or motorcycles.

What Car Issues Are Covered by the Lemon Law?

Any condition or defect that impairs the value or use of the new motor vehicle or prevents the new motor vehicle from complying or confirming with the manufacturer’s express warranty could be raised in a lemon law case.

The lemon law in Michigan does not cover any condition or defect that was not made by or installed by the manufacturer or is related to damage due to a car accident or neglect of the motor vehicle owner.

What if I Think My Car is a Lemon?

There are steps to follow for resolution if you think you bought a “lemon”. The first step that you must take if you think your car is affected is to report the concern to the authorized dealer or manufacturer within a year of the date of the warranty’s start or of your purchase. The dealer or manufacturer then has the responsibility to take action and repair it. This repair must happen even if the actual repair time exceeds the warranty on the vehicle.

If the manufacturer has been given ample time to fix things and has been unable to do so, you might be entitled to a refund of the lease or purchase price or a comparable vehicle if the problem continues after multiple repair attempts.

How Many Chances Does the Manufacturer Get Under the Michigan Lemon Law?

Consumers should be reasonable when giving the manufacturer a chance to repair the vehicle in question; however, you also don’t have to continuously bring the car back if you have tried to get it fixed multiple times and have been unable to do so. Upon receiving notice, the manufacturer must notify you as soon as reasonably possible of a service facility to take your car or truck to be repaired. After delivery, Michigan Lemon Law says the manufacturer has five business days to repair the vehicle.

If the same condition continues after the car or truck has been repaired four times or more within two years following the first repair attempt, the consumer does not have to continue going through the repair cycle.

Notify the manufacturer in writing of the final need to repair the vehicle before you pursue other options. You can give this notice at any point after the vehicle has been inside the service facility for 25 days or after the third failed attempt to repair it.

What if I Have Issues with the Manufacturer?

You may know your rights, but the dealer or manufacturer might be pushing you to continue getting the car repaired. Make sure you know that you can speak to an attorney about filing a lemon law claim, your individual case, and the next steps. For assistance in a case, make sure you keep copies of all correspondence with the manufacturer and the dealer, and all work orders for repairs.

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

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Join a Free Lemon Law Defective Vehicle Investigation

If you qualify, an attorney will contact you to discuss the details of your potential case at no charge to you.

PLEASE NOTE: If you want to participate in this investigation, it is imperative that you reply to the law firm if they call or email you. Failing to do so may result in you not getting signed up as a client or getting you dropped as a client.

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