Motor vehicle manufacturers in the US announced 1,073 safety recalls in 2024, affecting more than 29 million cars and 10.2% of all registered vehicles in the country. These figures show how easy it is to end up with factory defects after spending thousands of dollars on a new motor vehicle. What happens when such defects remain after a reasonable number of repair attempts, potentially affecting the safe usage and value of the car?
That’s where Lemon Law comes in. It’s a law that protects the rights of motor vehicle owners in the face of recurring factory defects. The Ohio Lemon Law caters to Ohio vehicle owners, making it possible for them to receive cash settlements and other relief where applicable. But what you get out of such claims depends a lot on the strength of your argument and the experience of your lemon law lawyer.
Easy Lemon is one of the most reputable law firms in Ohio that handles all kinds of lemon law claims. Our team of Ohio Lemon Law Attorneys helps owners of new and used motor vehicles get reliefs like full refunds, replacement vehicles, and cash settlements from their manufacturers. If you believe your car is a “lemon,” you deserve to be promptly compensated. Contact us now to book a free case evaluation.
This article covers the essential requirements to qualify for an Ohio Lemon Law claim. It captures the process involved in filing a claim and how lemon law attorney services can increase your chances of success.
What Is the Lemon Law in Ohio?
The Ohio Lemon Law was enacted in 1987 to provide protection for consumers who purchase or lease vehicles with significant defects. It covers defects that continue to impair the vehicle’s use, value, or safety, despite a reasonable number of repair attempts.
The law offers customer protection on the basis that the defects are reported within the first 12 months or 18,000 miles—whichever comes first—of purchase. If an Ohio consumer’s lemon law claim is justified, the manufacturer or car dealer is mandated to refund or replace the vehicle. In some cases, a customer may get a cash-and-keep settlement.
4 Main Grounds for an Ohio Lemon Law Claim
The primary Ohio Lemon Law qualification is that the vehicle owner must have made a “reasonable number of attempts” to fix the car, within the first 12 months or 18,000 miles, without success. A reasonable number of attempts can be interpreted in four different ways and if your vehicle meets one or more of these conditions, you may file for a lemon law claim:
- The 3 Repair Attempts Rule: According to this rule, you may be eligible for a lemon law claim if you have made three or more attempts to resolve the same problem, which in this case doesn’t have to be life-threatening. As long as the issue negatively affects the car’s usage, value, and safety, an Ohio consumer can demand a refund or replacement vehicle from the manufacturer under Ohio law.
- One Life-Threatening Repair Attempt: Some defects, such as faulty brakes, airbag defects, and fuel system leaks, can be life-threatening or may lead to serious injury. In this case, you need to make at least one attempt to repair the issue. If the attempt is unsuccessful, you may be considered for a claim under Ohio State law.
- Eight or More Attempts: If your vehicle doesn’t meet any of the first two rules we’ve discussed, the third ground for filing a claim is that you must have made a total of eight repair attempts or more on different issues in the vehicle. If the problem persists after these attempts, your car can be considered a lemon.
- The 30-Day Out-of-Service Rule: Finally, your new vehicle may qualify for a lemon law claim if it develops a defect(s) that puts it out of service or in the mechanic workshop for a total of 30 or more days. The 30 days of your vehicle’s inactivity must not occur consecutively. They can be an accumulation of multiple repair visits to the workshop for different or the same defects.
Other Ohio Lemon Law Requirements and Rules
Apart from the four principal grounds for seeking redress, the Ohio State Lemon Law has other strict rules and requirements guiding its implementation, which Ohio consumers must abide by to get the justice they deserve.
The Manufacturer’s Warranty
One of the crucial requirements for qualifying a car as a lemon is that the customer must have received a valid manufacturer’s warranty at the time of purchase. A warranty serves as a legal obligation of the manufacturer to fix the issues it covers.
As a result, vehicle warranties are of different types, including bumper-to-bumper, powertrain, corrosion, and emissions control warranties. Without a valid manufacturer’s warranty capturing the defect under consideration, there is no “lemon” to claim.
Eligibility Period
Notwithstanding the defects your car has suffered, you can only file for a lemon law claim if the issues occurred within the first 18,000 miles or 12 months of its usage from the date of the original warranty issuance. That means you’re not eligible to file a claim if you satisfied the condition outside of this timeline.
Note that this condition doesn’t automatically reset the moment a vehicle is resold to another buyer as a used car. For the avoidance of doubts, the Ohio Lemon Law supports used cars as long as the second purchase and the defects happened within this timeline.
If your used car has recurring faults and you’ve exceeded the Ohio Lemon Law timeline, you can seek legal redress under the Federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. This law applies to only motor vehicles with valid written warranties.
Defect Must Substantially Impact Use, Safety, or Value
If the defects under consideration do not impede the safe usage of the vehicle or its value, the arbitrators will deny your claim. Some of the issues that won’t qualify your car as a lemon include mirror scratches, brake-pad wear, unauthorized modifications, flood damage, and other environmental disaster-caused damages.
Others are defects caused by accidents, improper maintenance, general wear and tear, or off-road use that do not cause death or serious bodily injury. Also, the Ohio Lemon Law doesn’t consider routine maintenance, such as oil change, a defect worthy of a lemon claim.
Types of Vehicles Covered Under the Ohio Lemon Law
The Ohio Lemon Law covers new motor vehicles such as:
- Passenger cars carrying not more than nine persons or at most 15 passengers in a ride-sharing setup.
- Motorcycles used for personal purposes
- Noncommercial motor vehicles (farm/pickup trucks) designed to carry not more than one-ton load
- Motor homes (chassis portion only), excluding cooking, sleeping, and cold storage facilities.
Also, the law covers used motor vehicles under any of these categories as long as the defects satisfy the “eligibility period” requirement. The same goes for leased cars.
You might be wondering, “Is there a lemon law on travel trailers?” Well, Ohio’s Lemon Law does not distinctly or directly include travel trailers as covered vehicles. If your travel trailer has persistent defects, discuss with your Lemon law lawyer to advise you accordingly.
How to Start a Lemon Law Claim in Ohio in 5 Steps?
Having a clear understanding of the rules is an integral part of filing a successful lemon law claim in Ohio. Here is the step-by-step guide on how to go about it:
Step 1: Confirm Your Vehicle Qualifies
To determine your vehicle’s eligibility status for Ohio Lemon Law protection, it must satisfy any of the four major grounds for qualification we discussed above. These are the three repair attempts, 8 or more repair attempts, one life-threatening repair attempt, or the 30 days out of service requirement.
If you meet any of these requirements, you can file a claim. It is essential to note that any of the above-mentioned criteria must happen within the first 12 months or 18,000 miles (whichever comes first) to qualify. Additionally, the defect you attempted to repair must substantially impair the vehicle’s use, value, or safety.
Step 2: Document the Defects
Documenting your vehicle’s defects is one of the most important steps for a successful claim under Ohio law. It helps you gather proof that your vehicle has suffered different or recurring problems and shows you’ve given the manufacturer a reasonable number of attempts to fix the defect.
One of the best practices for proper documentation is to keep all repair orders received from your car dealer each time you take your vehicle for repair. The order should contain the date of service, mileage in and out, exact description of the problem as reported by the consumer, the effort carried out, and whether the problem was fixed.
Additionally, take visuals such as pictures or videos of visible defects like leaking fluids, strange noises, or flickering lights. They can serve as proof of your defective vehicle.
Furthermore, keep all emails, letters, notices, and texts between you and the authorized dealer or manufacturer, most especially your requests for either the manufacturer’s or dealer’s services, denials or approvals of services, and your final opportunity letter to them. Lastly, endeavor to note down every day your vehicle is inoperable and out of service due to repair.
Step 3: Notify the Manufacturer
The next step to take is to send a “final opportunity to repair” letter to the manufacturer. This serves as a formal written notice of the vehicle’s repair-resistant defect and gives the manufacturer one last chance to fix it before you proceed to take civil action.
The notice must contain your contact info, vehicle identification number (VIN), and other relevant details pertaining to your repair attempts. It must be a certified mail sent to the manufacturer’s address in your region. If you’re not sure, you can get the address from your vehicle manual.
The feedback from the manufacturer determines whether you will proceed to arbitration or not. If you don’t receive a response after ten days or they reply without scheduling a repair, you may move on to the next step. The same applies if the final repair attempt fails.
Step 4: Apply for Manufacturer Arbitration
If the manufacturer offers an Ohio Attorney General-approved arbitration program like BBB Auto Line or a National Center for Dispute Settlement (NCDS), you must go through it. Arbitration is an informal dispute settlement mechanism for lemon claims.
It’s typically faster than court proceedings, taking a maximum of about 40 days. The manufacturer must adhere to the decision of the arbitrator, but their customers aren’t bound by it. If you’re satisfied with the arbitration result, you only need to ensure the manufacturer implements it before you put the case to rest.
However, if you’re not satisfied with the outcome of the arbitration program, you can go ahead and pursue a lemon lawsuit. In the same vein, you may proceed directly to file a lawsuit if the manufacturer doesn’t partake in any arbitration program approved by the Ohio AG’s Office.
Step 5. Consult a Lemon Law Attorney
A lemon law attorney is not required in arbitration, but it’s necessary as it increases your chances of success. For situations where the manufacturer or car dealer proves uncooperative and refuses to resolve a car lemon through arbitration or negotiation, you can file a civil action under Ohio’s Lemon Law or the Federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.
Before proceeding, it is tactical to consult a lemon law lawyer who would handle communication with the manufacturer on your behalf, negotiate settlements, and advise you on the available legal options, and likely outcomes. Easy Lemon provides dedicated attorneys who focus on protecting consumers’ rights throughout this process.
They ensure that your case qualifies for Ohio Lemon Law claims and that your rights are fully exercised to the end that you either get a refund, replacement vehicle, or cash compensation.
What Happens After You File a Lemon Law Claim in Ohio?
Arbitration has a higher patronage in Ohio because it is often required and applies to popular brands like Hyundai, KIA, General Motors, Nissan, and Volkswagen. Also, the costs are usually covered by the manufacturer and not the vehicle owner.
When filing your claim before the manufacturer-approved arbitration program, you’re expected to submit all the documents and materials you gathered as proof for your case. The board will review these to determine your eligibility. If your case is substantial, they will schedule a hearing between you and the manufacturer within the next 30 to 40 days.
During the arbitration process, you have the right to share your side of the story and state what resolution you want. The arbitrator will consider the facts and testimonies before reaching a decision. Arbitration decisions are typically delivered within 10 – 14 days from the hearing date.
The arbitration board may decide that you’re entitled to a full refund, including purchase price, sales taxes, title fees, registration fees, attorney fees, credit insurance, and vehicle rental fees (if it’s a leased car). Other favorable decisions are a replacement vehicle and a cash-and-keep settlement.
Conversely, things could take a negative turn and you could be denied any compensation if they have reasons to believe your argument isn’t strong enough for a lemon law claim. You may either accept their decision or proceed to file a lawsuit against the manufacturer.
How to Boost Your Ohio Lemon Law Case for Success
The number one tip to increase your chances of winning your lemon law case is to keep a concise and well-documented report on all defects and repair attempts done on your vehicle. The second tip is to consult an expert.
Some vehicle manufacturers are bent on ripping their customers off during arbitrations. As such, they have high-end lawyers specially trained to protect themselves and poor customer service. That’s why you need a lemon law attorney to stand up for you and see through any technical grounds for disqualification they may want to capitalize on.
Need an Expert Ohio Lemon Law Attorney?
No one deserves to deal with the headaches of a defective vehicle in Ohio. An experienced Ohio Lemon Law Attorney will guide you through every step of the process—from documentation to negotiating with the manufacturer, filing for arbitration, or even pursuing a lawsuit if necessary.
What many consumers fail to realize is that manufacturers often cover attorney fees if you win your case. That means you can get professional legal support without worrying about out-of-pocket costs. Lemon Law cases usually involve complex requirements and strict deadlines, and having a knowledgeable attorney increases your chances of getting a favorable outcome.
Easy Lemon is one of the leading law firms specialized in all forms of lemon law cases in Ohio and beyond. We are a strong believer in customer protection and will not charge you a dime to handle your case until you’ve won. And as we mentioned earlier, manufacturers often cover these fees. Book a free case evaluation today and let’s show you the odds of getting a juicy settlement.
FAQs
What Qualifies as a Lemon Car in Ohio?
The vehicle must be less than 18,000 miles or 12 months old to qualify as a lemon car. The defects must have substantially impaired the vehicle’s use, value, or safety leading to serious or bodily injury. Also, the lemon must still be under the manufacturer’s express warranty.
Can You Return a Used Car If It Has Problems in Ohio?
Yes, you can return a used car if it has problems in Ohio. Ohio state doesn’t have a dedicated used car lemon law. But you can still seek relief if your used vehicle is still under the original manufacturer’s warranty, and you carry out repair attempts within a year or 18,000 miles of the original purchase, not the second purchase. If your car doesn’t meet the requirements, you may see legal redress under the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act.
How Much Time Do You Have to File an Ohio Lemon Law Claim?
You have five years from the original delivery date of your new vehicle to file a claim under Ohio Lemon Law. However, the defect must occur and be reported within the first 12 months or 18,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Can I Return a Leased Car If It Has Problems in Ohio?
Yes, you can return a defective leased car as long as it has a valid lease agreement and warranty. The Ohio Lemon Law covers warranty issues of this nature and empowers you to seek a refund of the vehicle rental fees, security deposit, monthly lease payments, service contract charges incurred, and any other reasonable costs you must have incurred as a result of the defects.
