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Lemon Law

What is Lemon Law?

What is Lemon Law and Why Does It Matter?

Lemon law is a set of consumer-protection statutes, enacted in all 50 U.S. states plus federal law (the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act), that require vehicle manufacturers to refund your money or replace your vehicle when the same defect cannot be repaired within a reasonable number of attempts. Most state lemon laws primarily cover new vehicles; several states also cover used, leased, or commercial vehicles, so coverage varies by state. The core protection holds: you are not required to keep paying for a defective vehicle.

Millions Recovered for Drivers 97%* Resolution Rate 2022 or Newer Vehicles Fast and Simple Process
Couple discovering their car is a lemon after repeated repair attempts
The 60-second answer

Lemon law is a state-by-state consumer protection statute that forces auto manufacturers to refund or replace a new vehicle when they cannot repair a substantial defect within a reasonable number of attempts. Every U.S. state has a lemon law, with most thresholds at 3-4 repair attempts or 30+ cumulative business days out of service.

The federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (15 U.S.C. §§2301–2312) backs state lemon laws by giving consumers a private right of action plus fee-shift representation — courts may order manufacturers to pay your attorney fees if you prevail, and qualifying claims cost $0 upfront. Common qualifying issues: transmission failures, engine defects, electrical problems, brake failures, persistent recalls. Check open recalls on your VIN at NHTSA Recall Lookup.

$50M+**
Recovered
97%*
Resolution Rate
No Attorney’s Fees†
Unless We Recover
★★★★★§
Client Rating
How It Works

How Easy Lemon Works

1

Check if You Qualify

Take our free 30-second qualification check. A rough count of your repair visits is enough to start; the paperwork can come later.

2

We Build Your Case

Repair orders are the evidence. We gather them with the warranty booklet and your purchase or lease contract, then count visits and days out of service against your state's numbers.

3

We Fight the Manufacturer

The demand goes to the automaker; the dealer fixes cars but doesn't write refund checks. If the letter doesn't settle it, we take the next step your state allows, up to a lawsuit.

4

You Get Paid

Once it resolves, the money or the replacement car goes to you. If we recover nothing, you owe us no attorney's fees.

How the Lemon Law Protects You From Defective Vehicles

If the manufacturer can't fix a covered defect in a reasonable number of repair attempts, your state's lemon law can make it buy the car back or replace it. The federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act adds a warranty claim that works in every state. Getting paid under either law takes a record. A Texas client's 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron leaked coolant from its rear motor; after the motor was replaced, electrical modules failed one by one. Three visits came to 166 days out of service, and a dealership sales representative told our client, "The car can't be fixed." Our demand under Tex. Occ. Code §2301.601 to §2301.613 carried that record, and the case ended in a buyback. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Does My Car Qualify for Lemon Law? Check Requirements & Get a Refund
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Does My Car Qualify for Lemon Law? Check Requirements & Get a Refund

Driver protected by lemon law consumer rights and state statutes

Why Choose Us for Your Lemon Law Case?

Your claim runs against the manufacturer. A service advisor can only book you another repair.
A refund, a replacement, or cash so you can keep the car: you choose which one we ask for.
We draft the demand, handle the filings, and send you updates as your case moves forward.
Pay nothing upfront; under fee-shift statutes, the manufacturer covers attorney fees when a case is successful.
If the automaker stops answering, our follow-up goes out in writing and dated, so the silence is on the record.

What is Lemon Law and How Does It Work?

Lemon Laws are legal protections that stop automakers from leaving car buyers stuck with defective vehicles. Think of it as a deal with the manufacturer. It gets a fair shot at fixing the car, usually 3-4 tries at the same defect or 30+ days in the shop, depending on the state. If the problem is still there after that, you may be entitled to a refund, replacement, or cash compensation. Learn more about how the lemon law process works.

Reviewing car purchase agreement after discovering a vehicle defect

Federal vs State Lemon Law

State lemon laws and the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act are parallel routes. Most cases lean on both, and the table shows where each one fits.

Aspect State Lemon Laws Federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act
Coverage New vehicles (used in some states) Any consumer product with a written warranty
Typical threshold 3-4 repair attempts OR 30+ cumulative business days out of service "Reasonable number of attempts" — flexible standard
Remedy Refund, replacement, or cash settlement Damages plus actual attorney fees
Where to file State court or state arbitration board State or federal court
Attorney fees Yes (most states) Yes — fee-shifting in 15 U.S.C. §2310(d)(2)
Statute of limitations 1-6 years depending on state Typically 4 years
Best for Defects that meet your state's threshold Cases that miss state thresholds but breach warranty

Protect Your Rights as a Car Buyer

We don’t let them get away with it. Some manufacturers stall. Once you hire us, the delays, the talk of one more repair, and the low first offer land on our desk, not yours.

Qualify in 30 Seconds →

Why Drivers Nationwide Trust Easy Lemon

$0 Upfront

$0 Upfront Cost

No retainer and no hourly bill. When nothing is recovered, you owe no attorney's fees, and in qualifying claims the fee statute puts them on the manufacturer.

★★★★★

5-Star Rated by Drivers

Easy Lemon has taken on manufacturers in 3,000+ cases.

Recent Results

Real Settlements, Real Payouts

Our case studies include a Kia Telluride in Florida with a rear noise no one could pin down, a leased Volkswagen ID. Buzz in New Jersey, and a Porsche Cayenne in Texas that made nine repair visits. Each one names the car, the defect, and how it ended. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Years of Lemon Law Experience

Our attorneys have 25+ years of combined experience, and they build each case from the repair orders up.

Recognizing early warning signs of a lemon car during ownership

Signs You Might Have a Lemon

Your car might qualify for Lemon Law protections if:

The same problem is back after three or four trips to the dealer (fewer in some states for safety defects).
It has a safety defect in the brakes, steering, or airbags, or it loses power on the road. Texas counts two repair tries on serious safety defects.
30+ days in the shop for covered repairs, all visits combined.
The manufacturer said no to a refund or replacement, or never answered.

What Manufacturers Don’t Want You to Know

They Say
The car just needs one more repair visit.
Truth
After a reasonable number of attempts, you can stop. Some states, Florida among them, want written notice and one final repair attempt first; on our Florida Kia Telluride, that was visit four.
They Say
The problem comes from how you drive.
Truth
Our New York client's Tesla Cybertruck had 15 miles on it at delivery and lost brake pressure within months. That isn't a driving-habit problem. A covered defect that hurts safety, use, or value is the manufacturer's responsibility.
They Say
A Lemon Law case will drag on for years.
Truth
Timing depends on the manufacturer, the state, and the facts. When a case stalls, our follow-ups go out in writing so your case keeps moving.
What Manufacturers Don't Want You to Know

Lemon Law vs. Warranty: What’s the Difference?

Lemon Law

No attorney's fees unless we recover
Applies when repairs keep failing
Can require a refund, replacement, or payout
Protects consumers from repeat defects

Manufacturer’s Warranty

Covers repairs—but doesn’t guarantee a fix
Automaker chooses what repairs to attempt
You may still pay for diagnostics, parts, or labor
Ends when the warranty expires
Filing a lemon law claim with documented vehicle repair history

What Can You Get From a Lemon Law Claim?

A refund of what you paid, taxes, loan payments, and registration fees included, less any usage offset your state allows.
A new vehicle of similar value in place of the bad one.
Cash, if you'd rather keep the car.
Money you spent yourself on repairs, tow trucks, and rental cars.
Legal help at no upfront cost; in qualifying claims the manufacturer covers your legal fees.

First offers tend to come in low. We check each figure against your state's statute and your own receipts, and then you decide.

How Easy Lemon Handles Your Case

97%* Resolution Rate

That's the share of qualifying claims resolved after we sent the manufacturer a demand letter. The footnote at the bottom of the page explains how it's counted.

No Upfront Fees

If we don't recover, you don't pay attorney's fees. In a qualifying claim, the manufacturer is the one who pays them.

A Focused Practice

Lemon law is the only thing we do. No divorces, no DUIs, no slip-and-falls, so your claim isn't waiting behind other kinds of cases.

You Decide on Every Offer

When an offer comes in, we tell you what it's worth under your state's law and what we'd counter with. Taking it is your call.

Car Lemon Law Services We Handle

Used Car Lemon Law Claims

A used car may be covered while it's under warranty or if it was sold with a known defect. New York also has a separate used car lemon law (N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law §198-b).

Leased Vehicle Lemon Law Claims

Leased cars qualify in most states. The Volkswagen ID. Buzz we handled in New Jersey was a lease; its first visit lasted 104 days.

Luxury and High-End Vehicle Lemon Law Claims

Price doesn't buy reliability. Our client's 2022 Porsche Cayenne in Texas first went in at 868 miles and ended up with nine dealer visits for park-assist and computer faults.

Defective Safety System Lemon Law Claims

Some statutes allow fewer tries for a dangerous defect: New Jersey counts one repair attempt. Our New York client's Tesla Cybertruck lost brake pressure, and Tesla took four tries at it.

Electric and Hybrid Lemon Law Claims

Charging faults come up again and again in electric and hybrid claims. A 2025 BMW X5 in Oregon went back seven times; BMW replaced the charging control unit, and the faults came back anyway.

Commercial Vehicle Lemon Law Claims

A work truck parked at the dealer isn't earning anything. Several statutes, Florida's and Texas's among them, cover vehicles bought for personal, family, or household use, so we first check whether your state's law covers a work vehicle.

RV and Motor Home Lemon Law Claims

RVs and motor homes can qualify in some states, under different rules. Florida allows 60 days out of service instead of 30, and other states set their own, so we start with yours.

Fleet and Business Vehicle Lemon Law Claims

One truck down means a route gets covered by someone else, or not at all. We take claims from businesses whose vehicles keep failing.

Dealer Fraud and Misrepresentation Claims

Sometimes the problem is the sale: a known defect kept quiet, or the condition misstated. That's a separate claim against the dealer, and we'll tell you if it's worth pursuing.

Common Myths About Lemon Law

Myth
“I have to keep repairing my car before I qualify.”
Fact
False. Once the manufacturer has had a reasonable number of repair attempts (in New York, four attempts at the same defect or 30 days out of service within the first 2 years or 18,000 miles), you don't have to keep going back.
Myth
“Lemon Laws only apply to brand-new cars.”
Fact
False. Leased cars are covered in most states, and many states also reach used and certified pre-owned vehicles still under warranty.
Myth
“Filing a claim will hurt my credit score.”
Fact
False. It's a warranty dispute with the manufacturer, not a debt, so your credit isn't affected.
Myth
“Legal fees are too expensive.”
Fact
False. Federal law and most state lemon laws let you recover attorney fees from the manufacturer in qualifying claims, so you pay nothing upfront.
Mechanic performing required repair attempts to qualify a vehicle under lemon law

How to Start Your Lemon Law Claim

1

Check If Your Car Qualifies

About 30 seconds, and it costs nothing.

2

We Gather Evidence

Repair orders, dealer emails and texts, the warranty.

3

We File the Claim

A written demand to the automaker, then a lawsuit if needed.

4

We Negotiate a Settlement

Refund, replacement, or cash. You approve the number.

5

You Get Paid

The payment goes to you. No recovery means no attorney's fees.

Real Results. Real Stories.

What Our Clients Say

Common Questions About Lemon Law

How Long Do I Have to File a Lemon Law Claim? +
Usually 1-3 years from purchase or the length of the warranty, depending on your state, and the clock is strict. A few states also end coverage at 18,000 miles or 18 months, whichever comes first. New York allows 4 years from delivery to sue, if the defect was reported within the first 18,000 miles or 2 years. Not sure where you stand? Check your eligibility now.
Can I File a Claim If My Car Is Used? +
Sometimes. Some states protect used cars still under the manufacturer's warranty, or sold with a defect nobody disclosed. New York's used car lemon law covers used cars with serious issues within 90 days or 4,000 miles of purchase.
What If My Car Has a Recall? +
A recall alone doesn't qualify a car for Lemon Law; it's the manufacturer's own fix. It counts when the fix fails or parts sit on backorder for months. Our clients' 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE in New York got its recall during a 74-day visit, and the check engine light was back within weeks. They kept the car and took cash. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What If the Manufacturer Offers Arbitration? +
Whether you can decline it depends on your state, so talk to us first; the rules change at the state line. Florida sends claims to its state-run arbitration board, while New Jersey doesn't require arbitration at all. Automaker-funded programs can be slow or end in a low number, so where your state doesn't require one, we usually negotiate with the manufacturer directly.
How Long Does a Lemon Law Case Take? +
Timelines vary by manufacturer, by state, and by the facts of the claim. Texas claims go through the TxDMV; New Jersey lets you go straight to court. The slow ones are usually slow because an automaker is dragging its feet, hoping you'll quit. Our job is to keep your case moving.
Can I File a Lemon Law Claim If I Leased My Vehicle? +
Yes. In most states leased vehicles qualify for Lemon Law just like owned cars, and repeated defects that impair safety or use can mean a refund of your payments or a replacement vehicle. Our New Jersey client leased a Volkswagen ID. Buzz that was towed in when the charging port wouldn't open; after 3 repair visits and 111+ days in the shop, the claim settled. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What Compensation Can I Get From a Lemon Law Claim? +
A refund, a replacement car, or a cash settlement, depending on your case. A refund can include the repairs, loan payments, and registration fees you paid, plus rental cars and towing you covered yourself, less any usage offset your state allows. Keep the receipts.
Will Filing a Lemon Law Claim Affect My Credit Score? +
No. A lemon law claim is a warranty dispute, not a debt, so it has no effect on your credit score, financing, or loan status. If the claim ends in a buyback, the loan on the car is typically paid off as part of it.
What If I No Longer Own the Car? Can I Still File? +
In some cases, yes. Selling or trading in a defective car after repeated failed repairs doesn't necessarily end your legal options, and some states allow claims within the warranty period even after the car is gone. The paper trail decides it, so find the repair orders from when you owned it.
What If the Dealership Says I Don’t Qualify? +
The dealership doesn't get to decide that. State laws decide Lemon Law claims. A service advisor's job is fixing the car, not telling you whether the statute covers it. Send us your repair orders; Easy Lemon reviews the claim for free and tells you whether you qualify.

Still Have Questions?

Our team reviews every case individually. The fastest answer is a free consultation — no pressure, no commitment.

Get a Free Case Review →
Offices & Mailing Address

Our Easy Lemon Locations

Easy Lemon, New York

1129 Northern Blvd., Suite 404
Manhasset, NY 11030

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Easy Lemon, Texas

1341 W. Mockingbird Lane, Suite 600W
Dallas, TX 75247

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Easy Lemon, New Jersey

972 Broad St, Suite 300
Newark, NJ 07102

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Easy Lemon, Florida

333 SE 2nd Ave, Suite 2000
Miami, FL 33131

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Mail & process service

California Mailing Address

10880 Wilshire Blvd Ste 1290
Los Angeles, CA 90024

Mail and service of process only.

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Resolving Your Lemon Law
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Our experienced attorneys handle everything — from paperwork to manufacturer negotiations. You focus on your life, we'll get you results.

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$50M+**
Recovered
97%*
Resolution Rate
No Attorney’s Fees†
Unless We Recover
★★★★★§
Client Rating