The State of Idaho has a Lemon Law enacted to protect customers who purchase or lease vehicles that turn out to be defective. The law empowers them to seek relief in the form of replacement vehicles or refunds. While similar to Lemon Laws in other states, Idaho Lemon Law only applies to new motor vehicles.
It does not cover used vehicles unless they satisfy the law’s eligibility requirements. Apart from meeting these requirements, what you need to pursue a Lemon Law claim successfully is an experienced attorney. Although it’s not mandated by law, hiring a competent Idaho Lemon Law attorney will save you the risks of incurring severe penalties as explained later in the blog.
At Easy Lemon, we have years of trusted experience in helping our clients secure duly deserved compensations from car manufacturers and dealers. Our seasoned Idaho Lemon law attorneys will analyze your case and show you the right strategy for success, without paying any upfront legal fees. Contact us now for a free case evaluation.
This article explains the meaning of Idaho Lemon Law, the state’s eligibility requirements, how to file a claim under the law, and the nature of compensation obtainable.
What Is the Idaho Lemon Law?
The Idaho Lemon Law is formally known as the Idaho Motor Vehicle Warranties Act. Enacted in 1998 under Title 48, Chapter 9 of the Idaho Code, the law provides the framework and guidelines for dealing with Lemon Law cases, while offering adequate protection for motor vehicle lessors, manufacturers, dealers, and buyers.
The Idaho Lemon Law defines “Lemon” as a new motor vehicle that has “nonconformities” that substantially impair its use, market value, or safety. These non-conformities could include engine problems like overheating, intermittent oil leaks, brake system failures, fuel leaks, electrical defects, and many more.
Such defects are covered under the Lemon Law as long as they don’t result from abuse, neglect, or any unauthorized modifications done by the consumer. The law ensures that manufacturers are liable for lemon motor vehicles and provides victims with adequate compensation.
According to the law, if a manufacturer cannot fix a car’s substantial defect after a reasonable number of attempts, they must either replace the vehicle or refund the full purchase price (minus a reasonable allowance deduction).
What Vehicles Are Covered Under Idaho’s Lemon Law?
The Idaho Lemon Law covers new motor vehicles that are purchased or leased in Idaho primarily for household purposes and personal business use. They must have valid manufacturer’s express warranties and must not weigh more than 12,000 lbs.
Such vehicles include new passenger vehicles, pickup trucks, vans, cars, and SUVs designed for transporting people or properties. Conversely, the law does not cover motorcycles, tractors, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), as-in vehicles, and commercial vehicles.
It’s noteworthy that the Idaho Lemon Law typically does not apply to used cars. Nonetheless, Idaho consumers with used vehicles are not left without protection. The Chapter 6 Consumer Protection Act and the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act are notable avenues for used car owners to seek relief when faced with incessant defects.
What Qualifies as a “Lemon” in Idaho?
In Idaho, a vehicle is legally considered a “lemon” if it has recurring defects despite a reasonable number of attempts to fix them. These defects must occur within the vehicle’s first 24 months or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first, and must substantially impair its use, value, or safety, such as a death wobble. The law defines a reasonable number of attempts as any of the following:
- Four unsuccessful repair attempts on the same nonconformity
- One unsuccessful repair attempt on a life-threatening defect, such as complete failure of the steering or brake system.
- One or more repair attempts on the same or different defects, causing the new vehicle to be out of service for at least 30 cumulative business days.
Meeting only one of these three requirements is enough to qualify your vehicle as a lemon.
What Should You Do If You Think Your Vehicle Is a Lemon?
If you suspect your new vehicle is a lemon, it’s important to take deliberate and prompt steps to protect your rights and qualify for a refund or replacement vehicle. However, before you proceed to take any legal action, you need to be certain and not just make an assumption that your vehicle meets the Lemon law qualifications.
Keep a record of every defect and repair done by your authorized dealer. Then inform the manufacturer of all unresolved defects. It’s also advisable to consult a Lemon law attorney to carefully evaluate your options before filing a claim.
How to File a Lemon Law Claim in Idaho
The Lemon law process in Idaho involves various steps that must be followed intentionally to successfully secure the compensation you desire. They include the following:
1. Review Your Warranty and the Lemon Law Criteria
The enforcement of the Idaho Lemon Law is heavily dependent on the car’s applicable express warranty or lease agreement, as the case may be. As such, one of the first steps to take is to ensure that you’re still within the car’s written warranty period.
Also, ascertain that the defects under consideration occurred within the Idaho Lemon law coverage period of 24 months from delivery or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first.
2. Document Every Problem
Keep a detailed record of all the issues and problems you experience with the vehicle. This record should include a clear description of the problems like brake failures, engine light stalling, etc.
You should also document the date and time the problems occurred, how often they happened, and the effects of the nonconforming vehicle, such as serious bodily injury. You may also want to take pictures and video recordings showing the defects in the car, as these may prove helpful during arbitration or lawsuit.
3. Visit the Authorized Dealer for Repairs
For a car to qualify as a lemon, a reasonable number of attempts must have been made to fix its defects. As such, you must visit the manufacturer’s or dealer’s authorized service center to fix the problems. Failing to use an authorized dealer for repairs could weaken your Lemon law claim because the manufacturer might argue that the problem wasn’t properly addressed or that unauthorized repairs caused the issue.
Always ensure you obtain a repair order and repair invoice each time you visit the authorized service center. The former is issued before or during the repair and captures the car’s diagnosed problems. On the other hand, the repair invoice is issued at the end of the repair attempt.
It details the problem addressed, the covered items involved, and whether the repair attempt was successful or not. Both documents will serve as evidence when you file for the Lemon law claim. In the same vein, note the odometer reading each time you visit and leave the repair shop, and document the number of days the car was inoperable due to the repairs.
Another piece of evidence that can strengthen your case is the Manufacturer’s Technical Service Bulletin (TSB). A TSB contains a list of problems that a manufacturer has identified in various models of their vehicles.
You can check it to know if the problem in your car’s issue is listed there, proving that the manufacturer and dealer are aware of the factory defects. The manufacturer can provide you with the TSB at a reasonable cost or simply check the NHTSA website for a free copy.
4. Notify the Manufacturer in Writing
Since most manufacturers delegate repairs to authorized service centers, they may not be expressly aware of every lemon issue their customers face. Hence, the Idaho Code requires you to send a written notice to the manufacturer informing them of the challenges you’ve been facing.
Notifying the manufacturer in writing gives them one final opportunity to repair the vehicle. The letter should contain a detailed report of the defects, efforts made to fix them, and your plans to escalate the issue as a Lemon law case.
To ensure your notice was delivered, send it via certified mail with the return receipt requested. If you don’t receive a return receipt, it may mean the letter wasn’t delivered or accepted. Without proof of receipt, your legal claim could be weakened. Always track your mail, resend if necessary, and consider legal assistance to protect your rights.
5. Apply for Arbitration
Automobile manufacturers in Idaho are required by law to offer or participate in arbitration programs. They serve as an informal medium to resolve disputes between manufacturers and customers. A consumer must undergo this program before filing a lemon lawsuit, except in cases where the manufacturer does not require it.
Once the application is accepted, you will be to an arbitration hearing, involving the manufacturer’s and/or dealer’s representatives, an arbitrator (panel), witnesses, and your Lemon law attorney, if you decide to hire one. Note that the arbitration’s decision is binding to both parties.
However, an unsatisfied party may pursue subsequent legal actions. In that case, the first step is to file a motion to set aside the arbitrator’s decision, moving the case to the District Court for trial. Such a motion must be filed within 30 days from the ruling date. After this, you have a total of three months from the same date to file an appeal.
6. File a Lawsuit or Appeal
If the manufacturer does not require an informal dispute settlement mechanism to handle a consumer’s dispute, you may bypass the previous step to file a lawsuit in court. On the other hand, if you went through the arbitration process and submitted a motion to remove its decision, the next step is to file an appeal in the District Court.
The State of Idaho takes Lemon law appeals seriously and you should only pursue it if your attorney shows you a clear-cut path to success. The reason to be careful is that the court typically penalizes initiators of bad faith appeals with three times the original damages awarded, attorney fees, and court costs.
This type of appeal simply means trumped-up charges and assertions without merit. The risk of receiving such a penalty is why you must work with an experienced Lemon law attorney in Idaho, even before you apply for arbitration. With guidance from Easy Lemon, you’ll have expert attorneys handling your case from start to finish.
What Can You Get From Idaho’s Lemon Law?
If you win the arbitration hearing, you may be entitled to a full refund amounting to a maximum of 105% of the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP). The refund also includes the sales tax, license fees, registration fees, and other related costs. However, manufacturers may deduct a reasonable allowance based on how long you used the vehicle before the repurchase.
Alternatively, you may be offered a comparable motor vehicle in place of the defective one. But you may reject it and request a refund instead, depending on what you want. In addition to these remedies, Idaho’s Lemon Law also provides for reimbursement of incidental expenses, such as towing or rental car costs directly related to the defect.
If it’s a leased vehicle, you will be awarded a refund of a portion of your down payment, depending on the mileage you have driven before the ruling. You’re also entitled to receive the rental vehicle expenses incurred, early termination charges, and the residual value of the vehicle. However, all these must not exceed 105% of the MSRP.
When Can You File a Lemon Law Claim in Idaho?
In Idaho, you must file a Lemon law claim within three years from the motor vehicle’s original delivery date to you. However, to qualify for a claim the defect must be reported to the manufacturer or authorized dealer within the first 24,000 miles, or 12 months from the date of delivery, whichever comes first.
This means that even if your manufacturer’s warranty lasts longer, Idaho’s Lemon Law protections apply only if the defect is reported within these limits. Once reported, you have up to three years from the vehicle’s delivery date to initiate legal action.
Should You Hire a Lemon Law Lawyer in Idaho?
Yes, hiring a Lemon law lawyer in Idaho is highly recommended especially if you’re dealing with a manufacturer, denied claims, or unclear legal steps. While Idaho’s Lemon Law provides strong protections, successfully navigating the process often requires legal expertise to ensure your rights are fully enforced and your compensation is fair.
At Easy Lemon, our team understands the stress and financial burden that comes with owning a defective vehicle. Having a thorough and practical knowledge of Idaho Lemon Law, we’re committed to fighting for your rights with integrity and transparency. Our proven track record, client-first approach, and legal precision set us apart as the best Lemon law firm in Idaho. Contact us now for a free case evaluation.
FAQ
1. Is There a Lemon Law for Used Cars in Idaho?
No, Idaho does not have a dedicated Lemon Law for used vehicles. However, a used vehicle may be eligible for claims as long as it’s still within the first 24 months or 24,000 miles from the date of the original purchase. If you don’t meet this requirement and other eligibility conditions for a new car Lemon Law, seek relief under the Idaho Consumer Protection Act.
2. Can I File a Lemon Law Claim If I Purchased My Vehicle Out-of-State?
Yes, you can file a Lemon law claim in Idaho even if you purchased your vehicle out-of-state provided that it was registered in Idaho and meets all the Lemon law qualifications.
3. How Long Does a Lemon Law Claim Typically Take in Idaho?
A Lemon law claim in Idaho typically takes up to six months, depending on whether arbitration or court is involved. Cases involving court trials are typically longer than those resolved through an arbitration program.
