Is Your Car A Lemon?

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By By Herb Weisbaum

Summary

The state's Lemon Law is designed to protect owners of vehicles that need repeated repairs during the first few years on the road.

Story Published: Sep 12, 2005 at 11:58 PM PDT

Story Updated: Aug 31, 2006 at 2:04 AM PDT

Is Your Car A Lemon?
SEATTLE - Buy a new vehicle and there's always the chance you'll get stuck with a lemon; a car or truck that needs repeated repair work during its first few years on the road.

Washington State has one of the best Lemon Laws in the country. I'm proud to say my reporting helped get that law passed back in 1987. It’s designed to give you a way to make the manufacturer stand behind its product when you truly get stuck with a trouble-prone vehicle.

So what is a lemon? Your vehicle might be a lemon if at least one of the following applies:

  • You’ve had your car into the shop at least twice for diagnosis or repair of a serious safety defect, and the problem has not been fixed. At least one of those repair attempts must be during the warranty period.

  • Or you’ve had repair work done four or more times to solve a problem that makes your vehicle “unreliable” or “diminishes its retail value.” Again, at least one of those attempts must have been made while the car was still under warranty.

  • Or your vehicle has been out of service for a total of 30 days, for diagnosis or repair or a serious safety defect, or a problem that makes your vehicle unreliable or diminishes its value. At least 15 of those 30 days out of service must fall within the original warranty period.

Washington State's Lemon Law covers most classes of motor vehicles including "demonstrators" which have an original retail purchase or lease in Washington and are originally registered in the state. A military exception may apply to this registration requirement.

You do not have to be the original owner of the vehicle to request a Lemon Law hearing, but you must make that request within 30 months of the vehicle's original delivery date to its first owner.

By the way, the state's Lemon Law also covers big motorcycles -- more than 750ccs -- and the “motor” portion of motor homes, but the requirements for motor homes are different.

Does the Lemon Law work? Consumers don't always win, but the settlements reached with automakers each year total millions of dollars.

For More Information:

Washington State Lemon Law