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I Have A Lemon. What Should I Do?

Gather all your documents, records, and repair reports and organize them. Evaluate how your vehicle qualifies as a lemon based on your records.
Write to the manufacturer requesting the repurchase or replacement of your vehicle. To locate the manufacturer`s address look in your owner`s manual, ask the dealership, or contact the Lemon Law Administration.
The written request to the manufacturer should include:
- Make, Model, Year, and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN);
- An explanation of the problem(s);
- Name(s) of dealership(s) where diagnosis/repair attempts have been made, including dates of attempts;
- You must request replacement or repurchase of the motor vehicle.
You should send the letter to the manufacturer by certified mail with a return receipt requested. This will verify the date that the manufacturer received your letter. KEEP A COPY OF YOUR LETTER AND YOUR RETURN RECEIPT IN YOUR RECORDS.
The manufacturer should be allowed 40 days to respond in most instances (see Note below). If the manufacturer does not respond or if the response is unsatisfactory, you can submit the Request For Arbitration form to the Lemon Law Administration in the Attorney General`s Office.
Note: A Request For Arbitration Form must be received by the Lemon Law Administration within 30 months of the vehicles` original retail delivery date whether or not the 40 day response period has expired.
Call 8005418898 or 8002769883 for the hearing impaired to get a Request for Arbitration form.

Other Washington Lemon Law FAQs

Q: What Is The Lemon Law?
A: The Washington State Motor Vehicle Lemon Law is designed to help new vehicle owners who have substantial continuing problems with warranty repairs. The law allows the … More
Q: What Vehicles Are Covered Under The Lemon Law?
A: The law covers most classes of motor vehicles including demonstrators which have an original retail purchase or lease in Washington and are originally registered in … More
Q: What Vehicles Are Not Covered Under Lemon Law?
A: The law does not cover problems caused by owner abuse or negligence, or any unauthorized modifications or alterations made to the vehicle. Nor does the Lemon Law cover … More
Q: What Is A Lemon?
A: Your vehicle may qualify as a lemon if it has one or more substantial defects that have been subject to a reasonable number of attempts to diagnose or repair the … More
Q: What Is The Warranty Period?
A: To determine whether you have a claim under Lemon Law you will have to determine whether at least one attempt to diagnose or repair each defect occurred under the … More
Q: What Information Needs To Be Included On The Request For Arbitration Form?
A: When completing the form, clearly describe each defect, when each attempt to diagnose or repair occurred, the mileage on your vehicle at the time of each attempt, the … More
Q: What Is An Arbitration Hearing?
A: Arbitration hearings are much less complicated than court trialsthere are no formal rules of evidence or court procedures, and the hearings are designed to be as easy … More
Q: Scheduling An Arbitration Hearing
A: On the Request For Arbitration form you are asked to state a preferred time for the hearing. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER THIS CAREFULLY. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT (AND … More
Q: Who Will Attend The Arbitration Hearing?
A: Hearings usually will be attended by you and any witnesses, a manufacturer`s representative, any manufacturer witnesses, and the arbitrator. All hearings are open to … More
Q: What Must I Prove At The Arbitration Hearing?
A: At the hearing you must establish that your vehicle is eligible and that the manufacturer received your written request for repurchase or replacement of the vehicle. … More

Lemon Law Sub-categories

Lemon Law Attorney