4 Issues That Make A New Car A Lemon
Lemon is an awesome citrus fruit. You always enjoy making a tasty lemonade. Also, you can use it in many recipes and homemade remedies. But in this case, the discussion is not about the lemon fruit. Rather it is a lemon car that no one could wish to own. Lemon in the automotive industry stands for a bad car.
Out of new cars manufactured, at least 1% are lemons. Manufacturers will not disclose this aspect or may not have prior information either. Regardless of the case, no one would wish to own a lemon.
Different states have their version of the Florida Lemon Law to address this issue. The law defines what a lemon is and the qualities that will make your car one. Here are some of them:
The Car Has Substantial Defects
Under the California lemon law, the first qualification for lemon is substantial defect or defects. Your car needs to have some issues that are affecting its operations. Some of these issues include failed brake and transmission systems. If your vehicle computers are also defective, you can apply for a lemon claim.
The law does not cover minor impairment such as worn sport on your upholstery. You cannot file a lemon claim for issues with the glove box. So, any impairment must be substantial to make your car a lemon.
The Defects Are Covered Under Your Original Manufacturer Warranty
Like other automobiles, cars experience wear and tear issues. Your car will develop some malfunctioning issues that will require you to replace various elements. You cannot expect compensation from the manufacturer when this occurs beyond the warranted period.
Your car becomes a lemon if the defect occurs within the warranty period, and it is among the issues covered. You cannot expect compensation for personal caused issues in your car. So, only file lemon claims if the issues occur within and are covered under your original car manufacturer warranty.
They Affect The Safety, Use, And Value Of Your Car
Another aspect is that the defects must have an impact on your car’s use, safety and value. For instance, the malfunctioning of your car breaks is life-threatening. This means it affects the use and safety of the car. Also, engine and vehicle computer issues impact the value of your car. In this essence, they make your car a lemon.
A Reasonable Number Of Repair Attempts Without Succeeding
Sometimes, you will need to visit your car dealer to fix defects. You can go for a brake system replacement and resolve your issue completely. The same case can apply to car computers.
When an issue occurs for the first time, you cannot file a lemon case. The law applies when the defects are unrepairable even after reasonable repair attempts. The car owner must prove that they have tried fixing the problem by visiting the manufacturer’s yard for a reasonable number of times.
As you can see, not every issue can make your car a lemon. The defects affecting your car must meet the above conditions to qualify for lemon law claims.
