Free Utah Lemon Law FAQs | Free Utah Lemon Law Legal Documents

How Do I Avoid Getting A Lemon?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

Only a small number of cars are really lemons. However, to avoid lemontype problems, there are some steps you can take to ensure greater satisfaction with your new car purchase.

Make sure the car you buy is exactly:
- The car you ordered. Check to make sure all options, equipment and accessories you want are included and every service listed has been completed.
- What the receipted bill of sale says you bought. Compare your bill of sale against both the car and the window sticker.
Wait for dealer prep. New cars require checking and varying degrees of service before they are delivered to the purchaser. Make sure the dealer prep is completed by the dealer and that the service is listed and marked paid on the bill of sale.
Make sure there is a manufacturer`s warranty with your new vehicle. Also, if you purchase a dealer service contract, keep in mind that your service contract may not be honored at all other dealerships.
Do not complete the purchase of the vehicle until credit and financing have been approved by a lender.
Inspect and road test the car. Drive it on roads you normally drive, with the loads you normally carry. If possible, drive it through a car wash to test for leaks.

Have all problems taken care of before you take possession.

What Is The Lemon Law?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

Consumers who buy or lease a new automobile or motor home with significant defects that can`t be repaired, or in other words is simply a lemon, can obtain relief under the New Motor Vehicle Warranties Act or Lemon Law.

The Lemon Law applies to new cars under warranty and was extended in 1990 to also cover new leased vehicles and motor homes.

What Qualifies As A Lemon?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

The vehicle must have been purchased in the state of Utah.
The vehicle must be new and under warranty.
The vehicle must be a car or truck weighing less than 12,000 pounds, or a motor home.
The defect must substantially impair the use, market value or safety of the vehicle.
The vehicle must have been in for repairs for the same defect at least four times or out of service to the consumer a total of 30 days in either one year or the warranty period, whichever is less.
The defect cannot be the result of abuse, neglect or unauthorized modifications of the vehicle.
The consumer must first go through any informal dispute settlement or arbitration procedure the manufacturer may have established.

The following table summarizes what is covered, how many times the vehicle has to be repaired for the same defect and the warranty period.

Vehicles Covered

Repair Interval and Coverage Period

A car or truck weighing less than 12,000 pounds, or a motor home.

4 repair attempts or 30 business days out of service.

Warranty period or 1 year.

Note:

Generally, the term Repair Attempts, as it relates to Lemon Law, refers to one or more attempts to fix the same defect although some states consider a vehicle to be a lemon if it required the specified number of repairs within the coverage period.

A car is out of service while being repaired or waiting for parts.

Warranty Period refers to the Manufacturer`s Express Warranty. Where the Coverage Period lists more than 1 option, the period applies to that option which occurs first.

This is only a summary, to get the complete Lemon Law Statute select your state from the combo box menu on the right side of this page, and click Get Statute.

What's Next?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

If your vehicle meets all of the criteria, your next step is to file a complaint with the Division of Consumer Protection in the Department of Commerce.

The complaint must furnish two signed and notarized affidavits from two different certified mechanics that have witnessed the mechanical problems or defects.

After your vehicle is determined to be a lemon by the Division, you qualify for either a replacement or a cash refund. The manufacturer has the right to charge you a reasonable amount for use of the vehicle, usually 10 to 23 cents per mile. You can have the Division try to obtain restitution for you or you can take private action with your own attorney.

Contact the Division at

Where Can I Get More Information About The Lemon Law?

Tue, 29 May 2007 21:19:00 GMT

Utah Department of Commerce
Division of Consumer Protection
8015306601
They can help you with general Lemon Law questions as well as lead you towards resolution with the manufacturer.

Center for Auto Safety (CAS)
2001 S Street NW
Washington DC 200091160
2023287700
www.autosafety.org
CAS is a non profit consumer group specializing in auto issues. They can help you find out about safety recalls, Lemon Law, secret warranties, and other general information.

Car Talk Car Reports:
You might want to run a Car Talk Car Report (http://cartalk.cars.com/Tools/carreport.pl) on your car, to see if there have been any recalls, Technical Service Bulletins, or a large number of complaints on file relating to your particular problem.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
400 Seventh Street SW, Washington, DC 20590
Auto Safety Hotline: 8004249393
NHTSA can give you information on the safety recall history of your vehicle.

Free Lemon Law Attorney FAQs

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:16:14 GMT

Free Lemon Law Attorney FAQs