- What kinds of defects or problems must my vehicle have to qualify for lemon law protection, and what are examples of “non-substantial” defects? The automobile lemon law is looking for defects (problems) that substantially impair the use, value, or safety of the vehicle while under the manufacturers limited new car (or certified pre-owned used vehicle) factory warranties. Examples of substantial defects/problems under our Nevada lemon law would include, but not limited to: engine, turbo-charger, cooling system, steering system, braking system defects/problems, SRS/airbag system, suspension, driveline, rear differential, axle system, alignment (won’t stay in alignment), CHECK ENGINE warning light, SES warning light, SRS warning light, BRAKE warning light, engine stalling, lack of power, smoke from tailpipe, excessive oil consumption, all types of transmission symptoms/drivability, fuel injection, diesel injection, air conditioning, heating system, navigation system, power windows, power door locks, instrument cluster, sunroof operation, electrical problems, I-drive system, clutch problems under warranty, no-start, ABS brakes, traction control, ESP, paint defects from factory, seat belt problems, faulty fuel gauge readout system, power seats, convertible top problems, fuel filler/filling problems, overheating, and engine mis-fire, This is only a partial listing to the myriad of defects (problems) a vehicle may incur with repeated repair attempts under warranty. “Non-substantial” defects include, but are not limited to: consumer complaints where the vehicle is proven to be operating correctly with no defects in parts or workmanship but simply a “operating characteristic” of all the vehicles produced of that model. (Unless proven to be a substantial impairment to use or safety with multiple warranty repair attempts). Other non-substantial defects would be minor seat covering wrinkling, poorly fitting trim pieces, small trim pieces (non-operational) falling off and/or defective, minor squeaks and rattles, need for normal scheduled 4-wheel alignments for tire wear, poor fuel economy (unless accompanied by engine running problems and warranty replacement of parts by the authorized dealer), adjustments to doors/hood/trunk, and other minor annoyances.
- Am I required to contact the automobile manufacturer, or can I contact a lemon law attorney first to resolve my “lemon” issue? Lemon Law does not require the consumer to contact the automobile manufacturers.
- Am I required to notify the vehicle manufacturer and give them an opportunity to repair a problem before pursuing a Lemon Law claim? So long as the manufacturer’s authorized warranty repair facility has had a reasonable number of opportunities to repair a warranty problem, the manufacturer need not be given notice or an opportunity to repair the problem.
- Does the Lemon Law apply to vehicles that are older than one or two years? As long as the vehicle is having warranty problems, state or federal Lemon Laws potentially can apply no matter hold old the vehicle is. State or Federal Lemon Laws may also apply to a vehicle even if the original new vehicle warranty has expired, so long as the vehicle is still having problems complained about on repair orders during the original warranty period.
- Does the Lemon Law apply to vehicle that is years old? As long as the vehicle is having warranty problems, the Lemon Law may apply.
- Is a vehicle registered to a business on lease or purchase covered by the Lemon Law? It might be. Please contact our law firm for more information on business use/owned/leased vehicles.
- Is there a specific number of repair attempts that must be completed in order to have a valid Lemon Law claim? There must be a reasonable number of repair attempts. The definition of what constitutes a reasonable number of repair attempts will vary given the vehicles’ particular problem(s). In general, if a problem has been subject to at least four separate repair attempts at the manufacturer’s authorized repair facility, or has spent more than 30 days cumulative in the shop, this is often sufficient to establish a reasonable number.
- Are there situations where only 2 repair attempts are considered reasonable? Please contact our law firm for more information on this topic.
- Does the Lemon Law apply only to passenger cars? The Lemon Law applies not only to passenger cars, but also to trucks, SUV’s, vans, motorcycles, and all consumer goods that are covered by a manufacturer’s warranty and are used primarily for personal, family or household use.
- Does the Lemon Law apply to vehicles that are purchased used? The Lemon Law can apply to a used vehicle. The vehicle must be covered by a warranty.
- Does the Lemon Law apply to minor defects, or only significant defects? In general, state and federal lemon laws deal with defects that constitute a substantial impairment to the use, value or safety of the vehicle to the owner or lessee. Therefore, inconveniences (static or poor reception in the radio, for example) normally are not substantial enough to make a Lemon Law claim. Serious problems with brakes, transmission, engine function, SRS/airbag, inoperable air conditioning, persistent water leaking, engine oil or transmission oil leaks, overheating, “CHECK ENGINE”, to cite a few, are examples of Lemon Law levels of substantial impairment to use, value, or safety of the vehicle. There are other federal laws that further expand on what is considered to be a “defect” that constitutes monetary compensation in a lemon law case.
- Why haven’t I heard more about State and Federal Lemon Laws? Though not drenched in media attention, State and Federal Lemon Laws offer “consumer friendly” protection. It is for this reason that you should take advantage of it. The Law Offices of William R. McGee can defend your rights and bring a swift and fair resolution to your lemon ownership experience.
- What am I entitled to under State or Federal Lemon Laws? You are entitled to monetary compensation for your “lemon” experience. We invite you to call and speak to a lemon law attorney at our law firm to discuss your entitlement.
- How long can this process take? As you can see, after you retain our firm it can be a very quick And we keep you updated on your case’s progress. You no longer need to be involved with car dealers or auto manufacturers and suffer the frustration and anxiety of dealing with these problems. After retaining our firm, we can usually reach a settlement with the manufacturer within 30-90 days. A very large number of cases are settled in as little as 30 days! You will not damage or compromise your credit by taking advantage of the Lemon Law.
- What is “Cash-and-Keep” as it applies to Nevada lemon law cases? We offer “cash-and-keep“, wherein the manufacturer agrees to pay an amount to our client that is negotiated by the attorney that allows the client to retain their vehicle and put substantial “cash in their pocket”.
- “I purchased a used vehicle from a car dealership, and it was sold “AS-IS”, can I qualify for Lemon Law protection?” Answer: no. Firstly, on the “AS-IS” point, if there is no warranty being provided, it automatically means no lemon law claim or case as there is no warranty in place.
- “I want to know if the lemon law applies to me – my vehicle is out of warranty”. State and Federal lemon laws can afford warranty protection past the factory new car limited warranty period if the consumer continues to bring the car back into the dealership for warranty repairs in a continuous manner for the unresolved repeating issue. Lemon laws are looking for repetition in bringing the car back for repair, establishing how serious the problems are for your lemon law case and claim. State and Federal Lemon Laws can also apply for a vehicle that sustained numerous repeated defect warranty repair visits during warranty, but is currently an out-of-warranty vehicle wherein that defect has been cured. Call us for more details on out-of-warranty lemon law claims and cases.
(Your vehicle is a 2017 - 2025, purchased or leased in Nevada.)