Under the South Carolina lemon law, new vehicles with safety defects can be replaced or refunded if repairs cannot fix the problem.

When consumers purchase a new vehicle, they expect that their new purchase will be free of defects. Unfortunately, this may not always be the case. If a vehicle has a serious defect that cannot be solved despite repair attempts, the car may be a “lemon.”

Fortunately for consumers, most states have lemon laws that allow residents to recover compensation, replace their vehicle, or even take legal action.

The South Carolina lemon law is one such law. The law requires manufacturers to repair any defect, replace the car, or refund customers in the case of a lemon.

Unlike other state lemon laws, which may include provisions for used vehicles, the South Carolina lemon law only covers new vehicles. Under the law, new vehicles must meet the following conditions:

• The vehicle was sold to a dealer by the automotive manufacturer, not a previous owner.
• The vehicle was only used for test drives before being purchased.
• A title has not been previously issued for the vehicle.

The law has additional stipulations about which defects are covered. A vehicle is eligible for the South Carolina lemon law if the defect at issue occurs within the first 12,000 miles or 12 months of ownership, whichever comes first. The problem must impair a vehicle’s use, market value, or safety.

Once a defect occurs, the manufacturer must repair the issue within a reasonable amount of time or provide a replacement or refund. The South Carolina lemon law, unlike the Washington lemon law, allows up to three repair attempts by the manufacturer, or until the vehicle is out of service for 30 days or more due to the defect. If the manufacturer cannot repair the defect within this time frame, it is deemed a “lemon.”

After a vehicle is declared a lemon, consumers will need to go through a manufacturer’s arbitration process. This process will vary depending on the manufacturer but should allow consumers to either have their car replaced or their purchase refunded.

Although the arbitration process is binding for the vehicle manufacturer, consumers can still take legal action if they are dissatisfied with the arbitration decision. Filing a lawsuit against a manufacturer may force the company to comply with South Carolina’s lemon law—resulting in a refund or replacement for the customer.

Top Class Actions has made part of the legal process simpler by connecting our readers to reputable legal professionals. If you think your vehicle is a lemon eligible for the South Carolina lemon law, you may be able to take action.

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;
• You purchased your vehicle in 2018-2022;
• 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